Water Meter Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented, By Product Type (Standard Water Meter, and Smart Water Meter), By Distribution Channel (Online and Offline), By End-User (Residential, Commercial, and Industrial), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 31.85 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	4.61%
Fastest Growing Segment	Smart Water Meter
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 41.74 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Water Meter Market will grow from USD 31.85 Billion in 2025 to USD 41.74 Billion by 2031 at a 4.61% CAGR. A water meter is a precision device utilized to measure and record the volume of water consumed by residential, commercial, and industrial users, serving as the foundational tool for billing accuracy and resource management. The expansion of this market is fundamentally supported by the urgent global need to mitigate water scarcity through conservation efforts and the increasing enforcement of regulatory frameworks aimed at reducing unbilled water losses. Furthermore, rapid urbanization necessitates robust infrastructure to ensure equitable revenue collection and operational efficiency for utility providers worldwide.

Despite these drivers, the high capital expenditure associated with upgrading infrastructure presents a substantial obstacle to broad market expansion. According to the American Water Works Association, in 2025, financing capital improvements constituted the primary challenge for the industry, as only 41% of utilities reported being fully able to cover the costs of necessary upgrades through current rates. This financial limitation significantly delays the replacement of aging equipment and the adoption of modern metering solutions in regions with limited budgets.

Key Market Drivers

The urgent need to reduce Non-Revenue Water (NRW) and leakage is a primary force propelling the Global Water Meter Market, as utilities strive to minimize financial losses caused by aging distribution networks. By integrating precise measurement technologies, operators can pinpoint pipe bursts and low-volume leaks with unprecedented speed, thereby securing revenue and conserving critical resources. This operational imperative creates a strong financial incentive for utilities to upgrade to high-precision static meters that can detect even the smallest flow anomalies. This impact was highlighted when, according to Severn Trent, January 2025, in the 'Smart meters help customers save 4 million litres of water daily' update, the strategic installation of smart meters enabled the utility to save an average of four million litres of water per day during 2024 by identifying leaks on customer properties more effectively.

Simultaneously, the rapid adoption of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) is fundamentally reshaping the market by replacing legacy mechanical devices with digital systems capable of two-way communication. This technological evolution supports smart city ecosystems and provides utilities with granular data for accurate billing and demand-side management. The scale of this transition is evident in major utility projects; according to Anglian Water, March 2025, in the 'Anglian Water completes initial smart meter rollout to 1.1m homes' announcement, the company successfully installed 1.1 million smart meters across its service region to modernize its network. To support this extensive industry-wide shift, according to Ofwat, in 2025, the regulator approved a £1.7 billion cost allowance to facilitate the deployment of 10.4 million smart meters between 2025 and 2030, ensuring the continued expansion of intelligent water networks.

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Key Market Challenges

The high capital expenditure required for infrastructure modernization stands as a formidable barrier to the growth of the Global Water Meter Market. Utility providers frequently operate under strict budgetary constraints and must prioritize urgent remedial works, such as repairing aging pipelines and treatment facilities, over the installation of advanced metering systems. The substantial upfront costs associated with smart metering projects, which encompass not only the precision devices but also the requisite communication networks and data management software, often force utilities to defer these technological upgrades. Consequently, the modernization of revenue collection systems is frequently deprioritized in favor of maintaining the essential structural integrity of water distribution networks.

This financial strain is quantified by the immense investment gap facing the sector. According to the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, in its 2025 policy agenda, the industry highlighted a critical need for $625 billion in drinking water infrastructure investments over the next twenty years to ensure system reliability. This staggering financial requirement illustrates the intense competition for limited utility funds. When providers are compelled to direct such vast resources toward foundational compliance and asset rehabilitation, the available capital for adopting next-generation water metering technologies is significantly restricted, thereby directly limiting the market's expansion potential.

Key Market Trends

The Widespread Adoption of Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) Protocols is rapidly displacing proprietary radio frequency systems as the preferred connectivity standard for smart metering deployments. Utilities are increasingly favoring technologies such as LoRaWAN and NB-IoT due to their superior deep-indoor penetration, extended battery longevity, and ability to support massive device density without the heavy infrastructure costs of traditional cellular networks. This shift allows operators to implement interoperable, scalable communication grids that eliminate vendor lock-in and ensure reliable data transmission from hard-to-reach endpoints. The scale of this technological transition was evident when, according to Itron, November 2025, in the 'Itron Expands Presence in United Kingdom Water Sector with New Cyble 5 Contract' announcement, Northumbrian Water Limited committed to deploying 330,000 smart water meters equipped with LoRaWAN connectivity modules by 2029 to modernize its distribution network.

Simultaneously, the Integration of AI-Driven Predictive Analytics Software is transforming the vast streams of data generated by these meters into actionable operational intelligence. As utilities face an overwhelming deluge of consumption data, legacy meter data management systems are being augmented with machine learning algorithms capable of distinguishing between genuine infrastructure failures and harmless data anomalies. These advanced software solutions automate the validation process, allowing personnel to focus resources on verified issues rather than investigating erroneous alerts. This efficiency gain was quantified when, according to Oracle, June 2025, in the 'Oracle AI Transforms Meter Data Management' update, the implementation of AI-powered anomaly detection enabled utilities to achieve a 63% reduction in false-positive high-usage exceptions, significantly minimizing the need for unnecessary manual field investigations.

Segmental Insights

The Smart Water Meter segment is currently witnessing the most rapid expansion within the Global Water Meter Market due to an increasing focus on reducing non-revenue water and improving operational efficiency. Utility providers worldwide are adopting these metering solutions to enable real-time monitoring and accurate leak detection, which significantly lowers operational costs. Furthermore, supportive initiatives from organizations such as the European Commission regarding resource conservation are accelerating the replacement of traditional mechanical meters. This shift towards digital network management ensures precise billing and sustainable water usage, thereby driving the substantial demand for smart metering technologies.

Regional Insights

North America holds the leading position in the Global Water Meter Market, driven by the aggressive modernization of aging utility infrastructure and the widespread integration of smart technologies. This dominance is reinforced by stringent mandates for resource conservation and operational efficiency. For instance, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) facilitates critical funding for water system upgrades, encouraging the adoption of precise measurement solutions. Additionally, compliance with performance standards from the American Water Works Association (AWWA) compels utilities to deploy Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), effectively securing the region's status at the forefront of the industry.

Recent Developments

• In December 2024, Itron announced a collaboration with the Water Corporation of Western Australia to modernize the region's water distribution system. The utility selected the company's cloud-based meter data management platform to collect and analyze information from 16,000 smart water meters deployed in a pilot project in Perth. This initiative was undertaken to address persistent drought conditions by improving water conservation capabilities through advanced analytics. The implemented solution enabled the seamless integration of data from various meter manufacturers and communication networks, facilitating a smooth transition from automated meter reading to a comprehensive advanced metering infrastructure.
• In October 2024, Xylem secured a continued role in a major smart metering rollout through a renewed agreement involving Anglian Water and its partner Arqiva. The United Kingdom-based utility announced the contract for the 2025-2030 asset management period, selecting Xylem to supply its Sensus brand of smart water meters. This collaboration was intended to support the installation of advanced metering infrastructure capable of delivering hourly usage data and enhancing leakage detection. The project aimed to help the utility manage water resources more effectively, reduce per-capita consumption, and build resilience against drought conditions through precise network monitoring.
• In May 2024, Badger Meter announced the launch of BlueEdge, a comprehensive suite of solutions designed to optimize water management for utility, commercial, and industrial customers. This new platform unifies the company’s smart metering hardware, software, and services into a scalable architecture that provides end-to-end visibility into water distribution networks. The offering was developed to deliver actionable insights regarding water quality, pressure monitoring, and flow measurement. By integrating advanced data analytics, the solution aimed to assist users in improving operational efficiency, reducing non-revenue water, and addressing sustainability challenges through a connected digital ecosystem.
• In April 2024, Kamstrup Water Metering entered into a strategic partnership with Team EJP, a prominent distributor of water infrastructure products in the United States. This collaboration marked a significant expansion of the company's distribution network, as the partner ended a long-standing relationship with a competitor to exclusively represent Kamstrup’s advanced metering solutions. The agreement was designed to increase the availability of ultrasonic water meters and acoustic leak detection technologies for utilities across the New England region. This move aligned with the manufacturer’s broader strategy to grow its North American market share through established channel partners.

Key Market Players

• Aclara Technologies LLC.
• Arad Group
• Badger Meter, Inc.
• Diohl Stiftung & Co. KG
• Electronet Equipments Private Limited
• Itron Inc.
• Kamstrup A/S
• Serisus USA Inc.

By Product Type	By Distribution Channel	By End-User	By Region
Standard Water Meter and Smart Water Meter	Online and Offline	Residential Commercial and Industrial	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Water Meter Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Water Meter Market, By Product Type:

• Standard Water Meter
• and Smart Water Meter

• Water Meter Market, By Distribution Channel:

• Online and Offline

• Water Meter Market, By End-User:

• Residential
• Commercial
• and Industrial

• Water Meter Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE