Get the DAE MJ-75n: ±1.5%, reads from 0.25 gpm, NSF/ANSI 61 and 372 for drinking water, pulse output built in. Assured Automation’s WM-NLC is the lead-free brass alternative; DAE’s AS200U-75 suits irrigation lines.
Top pick: DAE MJ-75n$103.78 at AmazonPrice as of Oct 24, 2026, 5:30 AM EDT · low stock then
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DAE MJ-75n: best overall
Best overall
DAE MJ-75n
NTEP NSF 61 lead-free potable water meter, 3/4 in. NPT couplings, pulse output, gallons
You’re metering a drinking-water line, a rental unit or a well, and you want remote reading later.
Skip it if
The meter has to stand vertically. DAE points to its PD-75 or U-75 for that.
The DAE MJ-75n is the meter I’d put on a drinking-water line. It scores 10.0, the only meter here that passes all eight checks, because DAE’s datasheet answers every question that matters for a submeter.
Accuracy is ±1.5% within normal flow, per the AWWA standard, and the meter conforms to AWWA C708. DAE also lists national NTEP approval for accuracy and repeatability, tested by the Utah Water Research Lab, and says that covers every state, including California, which accepts NTEP or CTEP.
It’s certified for drinking water. DAE lists NSF/ANSI 61 for material safety and NSF/ANSI 372 for lead free, with an NSF 61 certified lead-free brass body. DAE notes that California, Vermont, Maryland and Louisiana require drinking-water meters to be NSF 61 certified.
The flow numbers are clear: a minimum test flow of 0.25 gpm, normal test limits of 1 to 20 gpm, a recommended continuous maximum of 10 gpm and a safe maximum of 20. That low end is what lets a meter register a dripping fixture.
Pulse output is built in: a dry-contact reed switch on a 1.5 m two-wire lead, one pulse per gallon. DAE warns the switch can be damaged above 0.01 A at 24 V, so wire it only to a counter or reader made for it.
It’s rated to 232 psi and 122°F, has 3/4 in. NPT couplings at both ends, is 11.5 in. long with them, and weighs 3 lb 7 oz. Pressure drop is 0.58 psi at 5 gpm and 1.96 at 10. DAE gives it a two-year warranty.
Install it level with the dial up. DAE says it isn’t for pits and points to its MJ-75c, PD-75 or U-75 for outdoor use.
Assured WM-NLC: best for drinking-water submeters
Best for drinking-water submeters
Assured Automation WM-NLC
Lead-free brass multi-jet water meter, horizontal install, 3/4 in., gallons
You want a lead-free brass submeter from a US flow-measurement company, with a choice of pulse rates later.
Skip it if
You need the pulse wire in the box today. The MJ-75n includes it.
The Assured Automation WM-NLC is a multi-jet, dry-type totalizing meter, and it scores 8.0. Assured Automation’s datasheet is one of the clearest I found, down to how the meter works: water passes an inlet strainer, drives the impeller, and a magnet carries that motion to a sealed register.
Accuracy is ±1.5% at normal flow and ±3% at low flow, which is more candid than most. For the 3/4 in. size, the datasheet gives a normal range of 1 to 20 gpm, low flow of 0.25 and high flow of 20.
The body and couplings are C87850 low-lead brass. Assured Automation says the meter complies with NSF/ANSI 61 Annex G, conforms to the lead-free rules in California, Vermont, Maryland and Louisiana and the Safe Drinking Water Act change of January 2014, and is built to AWWA C708 in an ISO 9001 plant. It names 61 but not 372, so it gets three of the four points on that check.
The strainer is a practical detail: Assured Automation says the extra inlet filter can be cleaned without opening the meter. The register counts to 9,999,999.99 gallons on this size.
This listing is the pulse-ready version. Assured Automation sells the switch as an option in four rates for the 3/4 in. size, 1, 2, 10 or 20 pulses per gallon, with a 10 mA and 24 V limit and up to a 2,000 ft cable run. It scores half that check, since the switch isn’t in the box.
Ratings are 150 psi and 122°F. The 3/4 in. meter is 11.57 in. long with couplings and weighs 4.25 lb. Assured Automation’s product page says it must be installed horizontally with the register facing up, and its datasheet gives no warranty term, so it misses that check.
DAE AS200U-75: best for irrigation and hose lines
Best for irrigation and hose lines
DAE AS200U-75
Water meter, 5/8 x 3/4 in. size, 3/4 in. NPT couplings, measuring in gallons
You’re measuring irrigation, a garden hose, a fill line or anything that isn’t drinking water.
Skip it if
The meter goes on a drinking-water line, especially in California, Vermont, Maryland or Louisiana. Get the MJ-75n.
The DAE AS200U-75 is the compact meter for water you don’t drink. It scores 7.5, held back on one check that matters: DAE’s own datasheet says plainly that its AS series is not NSF 61 certified, and that the MJ series is the one to use where states require it.
On measurement it matches the others. DAE lists ±1.5% within normal flow per the AWWA standard, certification to AWWA C712 and ISO 4064, a minimum flow of 0.25 gpm, a normal flow of 10 and a maximum of 20 gpm.
It’s small. The body is 5.12 in. long, 9.31 in. with couplings, and weighs 1 lb 14.4 oz, so it fits a hose bib, an irrigation manifold or a cramped pump line better than the 11.5 in. MJ-75n.
DAE clears up the size name, which confuses buyers. A 5/8 × 3/4 meter isn’t 5/8 in. in and 3/4 in. out; it has 3/4 in. NPT couplings on both ends. For a garden hose at both ends, DAE says you need two of its CG-75 fittings.
Pressure rating is 232 psi and the water limit is 104°F, lower than the MJ-75n’s 122°F. Pressure drop is 0.638 psi at 5 gpm and 2.15 at 10, and DAE gives it a two-year warranty.
DAE says factory calibration certificates are available, which helps if you’re billing a tenant or proving usage to an irrigation district.
This model has no pulse output. DAE sells the AS200U-75P with one, which is why it gets half that check. Like the MJ-75n it mounts horizontally with the dial up and isn’t for pits; DAE points to its V-75 for vertical lines with water flowing up. For a meter that lives outside, DAE recommends its IP68-rated models instead, such as the MJ-75c, PD-75 or U-75.
±5.0% accuracy, 3 gpm minimum, no drinking-water approval
Digital batch and total, 3–30 gpm, light nylon body
Clamp-on ultrasonic kits (TUF-2000 type)
Not picked
Sold under many small brands with no maker datasheet to check
Reads without cutting the pipe
Digital garden-hose meters
Not picked
Small brands; accuracy only from the listing
Easy hose-bib install
Smart meters with shutoff (YoLink FlowSmart, Moen Flo)
Not picked
A complete leak-shutoff system, a different product
Phone alerts and automatic shutoff
Which water meter fits your line?
Answer four questions. The checker compares your job with each meter’s datasheet limits.
Peak flow is the number to check before you buy. If you don’t know it, time how long the line takes to fill a 5-gallon bucket and divide 5 by the minutes. DAE separates a recommended continuous maximum of 10 gpm from a safe maximum of 20 on the MJ-75n, so size for what the line does most of the time.
Multi-jet, turbine, ultrasonic and more: how they differ
How a multi-jet meter counts water, from Assured Automation’s description: water passes a strainer, spins an impeller, and a magnet carries the motion to a sealed register. Not to scale.
Type
How it senses flow
Example on Amazon
Good for
Watch out for
Multi-jet
Jets spin an impeller; a magnet drives a sealed dial
DAE MJ-75n, Assured Automation WM-NLC
Submeters, wells, drinking water
Horizontal mounting only on these models
Compact dial meter
Same dial register in a smaller body
DAE AS200U-75
Irrigation, hose and fill lines
This one isn’t NSF 61
Turbine with digital display
A rotor in the flow; electronics count turns
GPI 01N31GM
Batch filling, 3–30 gpm
±5% and nothing under 3 gpm
Clamp-on ultrasonic
Sound pulses through the pipe wall
TUF-2000 kits
Reading flow without cutting pipe
Setup by pipe size and material; little maker data
Variable-area (rotameter)
A float rises with flow in a clear tube
Blue-White F-300 for PVC
Pool and process lines
Reads rate on a scale
For a homeowner, the choice is mostly between the first two. Multi-jet dial meters like the MJ-75n and WM-NLC are built for submetering (DAE describes landlords billing tenants with it), and they count down to a quarter gallon a minute. The GPI turbine meter reads faster flows and shows a batch total, but GPI rates it ±5% from 3 to 30 gpm, so it won’t see a small leak.
What ±1.5% means on your bill
Gallons through the meter
±1.5% (normal flow)
±3% (Assured low flow)
±5% (GPI 01N)
1,000
±15 gal
±30 gal
±50 gal
5,000
±75 gal
±150 gal
±250 gal
10,000
±150 gal
±300 gal
±500 gal
The AWWA figure applies inside the normal flow range. Assured Automation is the one maker here that also prints the low-flow figure, ±3%, which is where a slow leak or a trickle-fill lives. For billing a tenant or tracking a well, the ±1.5% meters are the ones to trust; ±5% is fine for filling a tank to a rough number.
Drinking-water certification and lead-free brass
A meter on a line you drink from should be certified to NSF/ANSI 61, the standard for drinking-water system components. DAE lists both NSF/ANSI 61 and 372 for the MJ-75n, and Assured Automation lists NSF/ANSI 61 Annex G for the WM-NLC with C87850 low-lead brass.
DAE says California, Vermont, Maryland and Louisiana require drinking-water meters to be NSF 61 certified, and it says outright that its AS series, including the AS200U-75, is not. That’s why the AS200U-75 is on this page for irrigation and hose lines only.
Drinking-water lines
DAE MJ-75n or Assured Automation WM-NLC: both certified to NSF/ANSI 61.
Irrigation, hose and fill lines only
DAE AS200U-75 and GPI 01N: neither is listed for drinking water.
Meter sizes and the flow each one handles
Line size
Assured Automation WM-NLC normal flow
Low flow
High flow
Weight
1/2 in. (050)
1–20 gpm
0.25 gpm
20 gpm
3.75 lb
3/4 in. (075)
1–20 gpm
0.25 gpm
20 gpm
4.25 lb
1 in. (100)
3–50 gpm
0.75 gpm
50 gpm
6.50 lb
1-1/2 in. (150)
5–100 gpm
1.50 gpm
100 gpm
8.25 lb
2 in. (200)
8–160 gpm
2.00 gpm
160 gpm
13.75 lb
Bigger meters handle more flow but stop seeing small flows. Assured Automation’s 2 in. WM-NLC doesn’t register below 2 gpm, eight times the 3/4 in. size’s 0.25, so don’t oversize a meter you want for leak hunting. DAE sells the same idea across sizes on Amazon, from the 1/2 in. AS130U-50 to the 1 in. AS250U-100 and the 2 in. MJ-200, which DAE lists as NTEP and NSF 61.
Flow
DAE MJ-75n pressure drop
DAE AS200U-75 pressure drop
5 gpm
0.580 psi
0.638 psi
10 gpm
1.960 psi
2.150 psi
Every meter costs a little pressure. DAE publishes the loss for both of its picks: under 1 psi at 5 gpm and about 2 psi at 10. On a house that already runs low, check your pressure first with a water pressure gauge.
How to install an inline water meter
1
Pick the spot
A horizontal run where the dial can face up and you can read it. DAE and Assured Automation both require horizontal mounting for these models; neither DAE model is for meter pits.
2
Shut off and drain the line
Close the valve upstream and open a fixture downstream to drop the pressure.
3
Cut in the couplings
All three use 3/4 in. NPT couplings. Thread them onto the pipe, then connect the meter between them.
4
Check the direction
Water must enter the inlet end, where the WM-NLC’s strainer sits. Check the meter’s markings before you tighten.
5
Open slowly and check
Open the valve slowly, look for leaks at the unions, and run a fixture to watch the dial turn.
Keep these meters out of hot water and freezing spots. The MJ-75n and WM-NLC are rated to 122°F and the AS200U-75 to 104°F, and DAE points outdoor installs to its IP68 models such as the MJ-75c or PD-75. On a whole-house line, a shutoff valve on each side makes the meter and its strainer easy to service; see how to shut off your water main.
How to read the meter and find a leak
1
Read the digits
DAE’s MJ-75n note: the right-hand digit on its counter is in hundreds of gallons, so 01234 means 123,400 gallons.
2
Read the small dials
On the MJ-75n, the first dial under the digits counts 10 gallons per mark and the second counts single gallons.
3
Run a leak test
Turn off every fixture and appliance. Note the reading, wait 30 minutes without using water, and read again.
4
Do the math
Any movement is water leaving somewhere. Divide the gallons by the minutes for gallons per minute, and multiply by 1,440 for a day.
Low-flow sensitivity is what makes this test work. The MJ-75n and WM-NLC both register from 0.25 gpm, while the GPI turbine doesn’t count anything below 3 gpm. To put a dollar figure on what you find, use the water leak cost calculator.
Pulse output and remote reading
Meter
Pulse output
Switch limits
Rates
DAE MJ-75n
Built in, reed switch, 1.5 m two-wire lead
0.01 A, 24 V
1 gallon per pulse
Assured Automation WM-NLC
Optional, reed switch, 5 ft cable (2,000 ft max run)
10 mA, 24 VAC/DC
1, 2, 10 or 20 per gallon (3/4 in.)
DAE AS200U-75
None; the AS200U-75P has it
—
—
A pulse output is a dry contact that closes once per set volume. DAE sells a pulse counter, the CO-10, and reading modules for one or 16 meters that can send usage to the cloud; any counter or controller that reads a dry contact within the switch limits will work. Stay inside those limits: DAE says its switch can be damaged above 0.01 A at 24 V.
Questions people ask
How does a water flow meter work?
A multi-jet meter sends water past a strainer to spin an impeller, and a magnet carries the turns to a sealed register that counts gallons. Turbine, ultrasonic and float meters sense flow in other ways.
What is the difference between a water meter and a flow meter?
A water meter totals volume, like gallons on a dial. A flow meter often shows the rate, like gallons per minute. Many meters do one or both; the dial meters here total gallons.
How accurate are water flow meters?
The multi-jet meters here are ±1.5% in their normal flow range, per AWWA; Assured Automation lists ±3% at low flow. GPI rates its 01N turbine meter ±5%.
Can I install my own water meter?
On your side of the utility meter, yes, for submetering, wells or irrigation. Don’t touch the utility’s meter. Install it horizontally with the dial up and water entering the inlet end.
Do I need an NSF 61 water meter?
For any line you drink from, yes. DAE says California, Vermont, Maryland and Louisiana require NSF 61 certified drinking-water meters.
Can a water meter detect a leak?
Yes, if it reads low flow. Shut off every fixture and watch the dial; the MJ-75n and WM-NLC register from 0.25 gpm.
What size water meter do I need?
Match the pipe and the flow. The 3/4 in. meters here handle up to 20 gpm; Assured Automation’s 1 in. WM-NLC runs 3 to 50 gpm normal flow.
What are common problems with water flow meters?
A clogged inlet strainer, mounting at the wrong angle, and flow outside the meter’s range. The WM-NLC’s strainer can be cleaned without opening the meter.
How the spec score works
The spec score uses the same eight checks for every meter, scored only from the maker’s datasheet or product page. It’s my score from those documents, not a customer rating or a lab test.
Check (points)
How it’s scored
Accuracy (2)
Full points at ±1.5% or better; scaled down for wider tolerances (±5% earns 0.3 of the points)
Reads low flow (0.25 gpm) (1.5)
The meter registers at 0.25 gpm or less
Drinking-water certification (2)
Three quarters for NSF/ANSI 61, one quarter for NSF/ANSI 372 lead free
Meter standard (AWWA or NTEP) (1)
Conforms to AWWA C708 or C712, or NTEP approved
Pressure rating 150 psi+ (1)
Rated 150 psi or more
Max temperature stated (0.5)
The maker states a maximum water temperature
Remote reading output (1)
Full points with pulse output in the box; half when the maker sells it as an option or sister model
Warranty 2 years+ (1)
Full points at two years; scaled for less; none if no term is stated
Total (10)
Sum of the checks
Meter
Accuracy
Reads low flow (0.25 gpm)
Drinking-water certification
Meter standard (AWWA or NTEP)
Pressure rating 150 psi+
Max temperature stated
Remote reading output
Warranty 2 years+
Score
DAE MJ-75n
2
1.5
2
1
1
0.5
1
1
10.0
Assured Automation WM-NLC
2
1.5
1.5
1
1
0.5
0.5
0
8.0
DAE AS200U-75
2
1.5
0
1
1
0.5
0.5
1
7.5
GPI 01N31GM (left out)
0.6
0
0
0
1
0.5
0
0.5
2.6
Why trust me
I’m Isaac Daniels, a licensed journeyman plumber in Georgia (license #JP507711). I’ve used every meter picked here. The specs come from DAE’s MJ-75n and AS200U-75 datasheets, Assured Automation’s WM-NLC datasheet and product page, and GPI’s 01N catalog page, read Oct 23, 2026.
How I pick
Inline totalizing water meters for 3/4 in. lines, so one score is fair to all three.
Other sensing types are compared in the table above, not scored against these.
Genuine brand listings, new and in stock on the day of the update; every pick scores 7.0 or higher.
Prices come from Amazon’s API with the time they were read.
