Smart Meters With Integrated Valves the New Frontier in Water Debt Management
News | 7/20/2025
Smart meters with integrated valves: the new frontier in water debt management
The digitisation of water services is making significant progress, and one of the most important developments concerns the introduction of smart water meters with integrated valves. These devices respond to the growing need among operators to manage water arrears remotely, with an efficient, timely approach that complies with the regulations of the Authority.
Why a valve is needed in water meters
Unlike the gas sector, whose arrears we have already discussed previously, water is, by definition, a basic necessity. Legislation, in line with European principles, protects the right of access to a minimum vital quantity of resources, even in the case of users in arrears. However, a planned limitation of the flow is permitted to encourage regularisation of payments.
This means that distribution companies can reduce the supply to the so-called “minimum vital”, a daily limit of litres of water established by local regulations, while still guaranteeing an essential supply. As long as this limitation could only be achieved through manual intervention, management costs were high and the timeliness of intervention was reduced, especially in the case of meters installed inside homes. The introduction of smart meters with remote management functionality and integrated valves, on the other hand, allows these processes to be managed remotely, eliminating the need for physical intervention.
The advantages of remote valve management
Traditional water meters do not have any automatic shut-off or limitation mechanisms: in the event of non-payment or the need to interrupt or activate a supply, it was (and still is, in many cases) necessary to send a specialised technician to the site. This method involves long waiting times, high operating costs and practical difficulties, such as physical access to meters located inside private homes or in hard-to-reach places.
The arrival of smart meters with remote communication modules (RadioFrequency, NB-IoT, etc.) represented a first step forward, allowing consumption to be read without physical intervention. However, without an integrated valve, active flow management was still dependent on manual intervention.
The new generation of smart meters with integrated or external valves solves this limitation: the valve, which can be controlled remotely, allows the water flow to be opened, closed or modulated automatically.
Digitization
The adoption of smart water meters with remotely controlled valves offers multiple benefits:
operational savings: it is no longer necessary to send teams on site to open, close or limit the supply;
efficiency and speed: interventions can be carried out in real time with a simple remote command;
accessibility: the meter can be installed in hard-to-reach places, such as inside homes, without hindering management.
In the event of non-payment or water scarcity, as mentioned above, it is possible to set up a reduced supply regime: the meter is programmed to deliver a maximum daily volume (e.g. 50 litres), after which the valve closes automatically until the following day.
Internal or external valve: two solutions compared
When designing new smart water meters for the market, manufacturers are developing two main architectures for integrating the valve into the metering system:
meter with integrated internal valve: in this configuration, the valve is an integral part of the meter body. The main advantages are the compactness of the device and unified measurement and flow control management. However, in the event of a valve failure, it is often necessary to replace the entire meter;
Smart meter with external valve: here, the valve is a separate component, installed near the meter. This approach offers greater flexibility: if the valve fails, it can be replaced without changing the entire meter. On the other hand, managing a mixed fleet of meters (with internal and external valves) can lead to complexity in maintenance and spare parts.
Innovation
Advanced features: leak and contract management
The smart valve's functions go beyond simply reducing supply. The most common cases include:
opening/closing at the start or end of a contract: when connecting a new user or in the event of a change of account holder, the operator can activate or deactivate the supply in real time, without sending teams out into the field;
scheduled flow reduction: in the event of non-payment, a maximum daily volume can be set. Once the threshold is reached, the valve automatically closes the flow until the following day, preventing excessive consumption;
leak detection and management: data analysis algorithms can be used to detect abnormal or constant consumption (e.g. during the night, when there should be no consumption). In the event of a suspected hidden leak, the valve can be closed remotely to avoid waste and further damage, pending targeted technical intervention;
network security: in emergency situations (floods, network failures, extraordinary works), the ability to quickly isolate individual users or network sections is a further advantage for service resilience.
Regulations and future challenges
Today, the installation of smart water meters with valves is still gradually spreading in Italy. Some operators are launching pilot projects and targeted replacements in areas with high rates of non-payment or water loss.
The future of this technology depends on three key factors:
regulations and technical standards: uniform guidelines are needed for the installation, management and security of remote management systems;
economic sustainability: the initial installation cost is higher than for traditional meters, but the operational savings and long-term benefits justify the investment;
social acceptance: since water is a universal right, it is essential to clearly communicate that the smart valve is not a tool for arbitrary disconnection, but a way to ensure fairness of service and prevent waste.
The evolution towards smart water meters with integrated or external valves is a fundamental step in the digitalisation of water networks. Thanks to remote management, operators can address complex issues such as arrears and resource loss in a more sustainable and responsible manner, while guaranteeing everyone's right to a minimum vital supply.
In a context of climate change and growing attention to the efficient use of resources, technologies of this type are set to become a standard for the water service of the future.
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