I am still few digital water meters in Italy. In the country, out of a total of 21 million water meters, only 3,5 million (about 17%) are currently digitalized and considered “smart”. Over the next few years, 13,5 million traditional meters are expected to be replaced with digitalized versions, in order to improve the collection of accurate data on running water consumption.
The results come from an unpublished analysis of the Italian market water metering conducted by the research office of MetRSit, a company controlled by SIT Group, specialized in the sector. The company operates in the production of smart gas meters, capable of running on 100% green hydrogen.
Water Metering in Italy
Il water metering is the process of measuring and recording water use through the installation of specific meters. This sector in Italy it is expected to grow mainly driven by the replacement of traditional meters with smart devices. Even if at the moment the replacement is not mandatory, is considered important and necessary, since in Italy around 40% of water waste (double the European percentage) is attributable to one obsolete water network.
The Pnrr plays a central role in this modernization process, targeting 900 million to projects aimed at reduction of losses in networks of water distribution, including digitalisation and network monitoring interventions.
29 races in one year
Il dynamism of the Italian market of water metering is also evident through the number of races called by utilities and public bodies for the supply of meters. In the period from August 2022 to September 2023, they were carried out 29 races for the assignment of 2,7 million water meters. According to data processed by MeteRSIT, voverall value of the contracts assigned amounts to approx 250 million.
Another important element to make the water network "smart" is the use of technology so-called metrology “ultrasonic”. This technology not only allows for more efficient management, but can also reduce by 50% the percentage of waste of water. In addition, it favors a increased awareness by end consumers and allows energy operators to promptly identify losses in the network.
Smartio: the new smart meter
MeteRSit, in joint venture with possible, Swiss technology partner e Janz, another Sit company, created Smartio. It is a innovative ultrasonic smart meter designed for residential applications. The new device will be presented during the ENLIT Europe event, which will be held from 28 to 30 November 2023.
"To date only around 20% of Italian users It has a smart meter installed, compared to an average of 30% in Europe” he declared Gianpaolo Anselmi, head of the Water Metering business unit of SIT group, "according to our estimates, the equipment installed in Italy has an average age of 25 years, and is therefore ready for modernization, which can contribute to improve the sustainable management of the resource, together with a civil awareness that is now urgent. We are in fact among the European countries subject to one medium-high water stress, as we use, on average, between 30% and 35% of renewable water resources, compared to the European efficiency objective which envisages not extracting more than 20% of available renewable water resources. In this context – Anselmi underlines – the our product roadmap for the precise reading of water consumption it is structured and ready to meet the needs of the Italian but also European market. That's why the Smartio launch coincides with Enlit Europe, where we will show for the first time to our customers and partners the ultrasonic meter for residential applications in the water market born from the collaboration between the SIT group and GWF".
