card meter for water help needed

[muppet]

We have a meter for water that has to be loaded at the car park pay station in Girne.

Over the last 75 days we have paid for 135 tons of water this way.

Every evening the mains water is switched off and put on again in the morning, this is not an issue for me.

But when it is turned back on the pipes are full of air, this then gets forced through my meter and the little wheel goes around at an alarming speed, and registers on the meter. It can be up to 45 mins before we actually get water coming through.

I have been to the Belediyesi office re this and all they do is shrug their shoulders, but today they said they would send someone out to look, no one has arrived as yet!

But what difference will that make looking. It does not happen during the day.

Has anyone else had similar issues, if so have you been able to resolve them?

[kaiserphil]

erol had some posts on air in pipes a while ago.

[ozankoys]

Sorry cannot help you re air. But it would be cheaper for you to have water delivered!

[kedikat2903]

We have the same problem. Also had no help from the Belediye. What we do now is when we hear the air start to come through we turn it off. Wait 10 mins try it again and turn it off if air is still coming. We keep doing this and eventually the water starts to come. Its a huge inconvenience but we dont know what else to do. Friends had filters fitted which made no difference. Our water also comes over night sometimes at 11pm or later. If I am up I go thru the procedure if not it is usually on about 7 am and I catch the last hour or so. It is better in winter when not so many people are here and less water is used.I think thats the reason any way.

[guru]

But when it is turned back on the pipes are full of air, this then gets forced through my meter and the little wheel goes around at an alarming speed, and registers on the meter. It can be up to 45 mins before we actually get water coming through.

I have been to the Belediyesi office re this and all they do is shrug their shoulders, but today they said they would send someone out to look, no one has arrived as yet!

But what difference will that make looking. It does not happen during the day.

Video the air coming through and the meter spinning. I recall someone had the same problem a while ago and they did this. Don't know what the outcome was but worth a try as how on earth can anyone justify billing someone for AIR!!!

[journey1]

oh I do know about this - we did video the whole experience and all the beli did was 'so what' - I still had to pay for the air - so switched off the mains and tinkered in most till they eventually came and sorted out the meter - 1 year later and loads and loads of lire!
My advice - switch off now!

[kbasat]

http://www.visionmatters.co.uk/cyprus/watersaga.htm

[cyprusishome]

That is excellent and well written piece. I am sure it will reflect the experiences of many people to a greater or lesser degree. I know last month I paid for 4 tons of air because I had read meter and checked the tank was full. Next morning I heard air flowing through the pipes and ball valve. The meter had advanced by 4 ton, obviously I turned off the mains.

I think we all know the reason for air in the system, the turning on and off of the water mains. Girne is lucky, our mains is turned on once or twice a week for a couple of hours.

Those in charge are fully aware of the situation and find they have a nice little earner so why do something about it.

[TRNCVaughan]

Fit an automatic air vent on the supply side of the meter. This will vent off any air coming down the line, before it gets to the meter. As soon as water starts to flow the vent will close allowing the passage of water.
Simples.

[Philoz]

Vaughan-I know you are right in what you are saying,and agree that that should work,but does that not involve tinkering with the supply on the 'Beli' side of your meter?
Will this not leave you liable to being cut off, or prosecution?

[TRNCVaughan]

I know that this work has been done before although I haven't done it myself. It might be good to ask the Beli first for permission.

[Geoff1131]

Fitting an air relief valve before the meter will only slightly reduce the amount of air going through the meter. If as one post suggests, 4 ton of water went through the meter overnight then fitting an air relief valve would probably reduce that to 3.5 ton or thereabouts. The actual main water supply pipes should be fitted with automatic air release units along any stretch of pipe that is likely to have air trapped in the line. As these are very expensive pieces of kit it is highly unlikely that they will ever be used in the TRNC.

Geoff.