How to Configure a Best-Practice Pressure Management System in Municipal Water Applications.

Waterworks

BERMAD Experts

| Global Team of Water Control Specialists

Published: 22 April 2020 Updated on: 18 August 2025

Over the years, BERMAD Australia has developed and refined the 700 Series pressure regulating valve to provide industry-leading control in pressure management situations.

For water authorities, an effectively configured pressure management system can:

Minimise leakage in pipelines caused by overpressures that can occur at low flows (usually at night).
Maximise the amount of treated water being used by consumers.
Reduce pumping costs and the costs associated with supplying any water lost to leakage to consumers.
Minimise non-revenue water.
Reduce the costs associated with burst mains created by over-pressuring which can occur during low flow periods.

Pressure management of pressure management areas (PMAs) can be performed by the accurate measurement and data logging of flows into—and usage out of—the PMA, as well as the control of the pressures in the PMA using pressure reducing (or pressure management) control valves.

What is the ideal configuration of a pressure management valve?

The pressure management valve—even though it is technically a pressure reducing valve (or PRV)—is configured differently due to a set of flows and pressures which may extend past the normal operating parameters of a traditional PRV.

Additionally, the valve may be remote-controlled to change and lower its downstream pressure regulating pressure. This will minimise pipeline leakages during low flow periods. As flow picks up, the valve can also be controlled remotely to increase its downstream pressure setting.

As part of this pressure control and flow measurement and recording management system, BERMAD Australia are able to provide and advise on a unique range of products to ensure you achieve an optimum pressure management outcome.

Which products should be used in a pressure management system?

Flow measurement and recording products.

BERMAD Australia are the exclusive agents for Euromag Magnetic flow meters, which are available with an easy-to-use Inbuilt Data Logger. Find out more about our range of mains- or battery-powered meters.

Pressure management valves.

BERMAD Australia have supplied 700 Series Control Valves in Australia for over 30 years.

The pressure management valve we have developed is the Bermad WW-720PM-RK–BXW-V 700 Series Double Chambered Pressure reducing valve, c/- Low Histerisis 3-way control pilot, incorporating a Rotork motorised control actuator which can be controlled from a remote position. The valve is available from 40mm up to 600mm in diameter, with flanged- or roll-grooved end connections.

The 700 Series valve is also easily able to be fully maintained in the field, without the requirement of special tools.

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The 700 Series valve, pilot and motorised pilot combination provides an industry-leading solution to a very particular pressure control requirement.

The double chambered valve operation is critical in this application. A double chamber enables the valve to operate wide open at zero differential pressure across the valve, as well as facilitating fast acting when pressure reduction is required quickly.

Designing the solution

The development of a pressure management valve was informed by our team’s ability to provide a low hysterisis 3-way control pilot. This is essential: the pilot needs to provide extreme accuracy when acting with the double chambered valve, due to a likely requirement to control the downstream pressure with limited deviation from the set point.

The Rotork actuator used on our pilot is currently used by major water authorities in Australia for this application, and Rotork have local presence and support of this product.

Find out more about the pressure reducing valve, or watch a video describing the benefits of double chambered pressure reducing valves.