What Ningbo Water Meter does

Ningbo Water Meter (Group) Co., Ltd. (legal name: 宁波水表（集团）股份有限公司; SHA: 603700), founded in 1958 as the Ningbo Water Meter Factory and headquartered at Hongxing Road 355, Jiangbei District, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China, is one of China's oldest and largest manufacturers of water meters and smart water metering hardware. The group builds a full product stack centered on NB-IoT smart remote-reading water meters and data monitoring instruments, complemented by self-developed high-frequency pressure sensors, noise correlators, and hydrophones used in water supply pipe network leak detection, plus an integrated Smart Water Affairs solution layer covering data interoperation, device interconnection, leakage control, and urban water network management. Through its subsidiary Zhejiang Ningshui Water Technology the company also holds CMMI5 software maturity credentials. As of June 2026 multiple NB-IoT devices have received the OpenHarmony 6.0 Release 'Powered by OpenHarmony' compatibility mark and the group signed a cooperation memorandum with Huawei Terminal under the 'Hongtu Plan'.

The company monetizes almost entirely via direct enterprise sales of hardware (smart meters, leak detection instruments) and integrated solutions to municipal water utilities and water management authorities in China, supplemented by a CNAS-accredited Enterprise Shared Laboratory that provides water meter calibration and verification services to third parties including SMEs. Go-to-market is sales-led: dedicated inbound sales (400-8857-818) and service (400-9264-818) hotlines, an English-language overseas sales contact, and a national service network. The company publicly lists over 40 named partner water utilities including Jinan Water Group, Shenzhen Water Group, Shanghai Chengtou Water, Changsha Water Supply, Nanjing Water Group, Tianjin Water Group, and Guangdong Yuehai Water. Geographic markets served are documented as China (national coverage with East China emphasis); overseas channels are nascent.

The group operates as a publicly listed joint-stock company on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (IPO January 2019, gross proceeds RMB 650.07 million / net RMB 596.68 million, 39.09 million A-shares at RMB 16.63). Founding family and key management retain concentrated control: Chairman Zhang Shihao holds 19.80% and is the controlling shareholder, his daughter Zhang Lin serves as Director and CFO (3.08%), General Manager Wang Zonghui holds 7.53%, and Vice Chairman Xu Yun holds 5.65%. The board, supervisory board, and management team have remained substantially internal since the IPO, with no significant outside private equity or strategic investor disclosed. Standards leadership (leading T/CMA SB 125-2025 for non-potable water meters; contributing to GB/T 44918-2024 urban water conservation; co-drafting the leak detection correlator industry standard) is a deliberate industry-positioning activity that doubles as a procurement-decision lever with municipal buyers.

Name

Ningbo Water Meter

Legal name

宁波水表（集团）股份有限公司

Website

https://chinawatermeter.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ningbo Water Meter (Group) Co., Ltd. is a Chinese manufacturer of NB-IoT smart water meters, leak detection sensors, and integrated smart-water-affairs solutions, selling to over 40 municipal water utilities across China. Publicly listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (603700) since January 2019, the company also offers CNAS-accredited testing services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Smart Water Meters and Water Network Monitoring Equipment

NAICS

Totalizing Fluid Meter and Counting Device Manufacturing (334514)

SIC

Totalizing Fluid Meters & Counting Devices (3824), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Metering Hardware & Field Services (AMI/AMR meters, endpoints, installation, maintenance) (EUANAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) & Smart Meter Analytics (Meter Data for NRW) (EUANAKAC), Network Monitoring & Smart Water Sensors (Pressure/Flow/Noise Loggers, IoT) (EUANAKAB), Meter Data Management & Analytics (MDM, validation/estimation/editing, usage insights) (EUANAIAB)

Keywords

• Smart water meters
• NB-IoT metering
• Water network monitoring
• Leak detection systems
• Smart water utilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Ningbo Shi

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Smart Water Meters and Hardware Sales: Sale of smart water meters including NB-IoT intelligent remote-reading water meters, data monitoring instruments, and traditional mechanical water meters to water utilities and municipal water management authorities.
2. Smart Water Affairs Solutions: Integrated solutions for water supply network monitoring, leak detection, and intelligent water management. Includes proprietary sensors, correlators, and monitoring platforms for water utilities.
3. Water Meter Testing and Verification Services: Calibration and verification services for water meters using company-owned CNAS-accredited laboratory capabilities, including shared laboratory services for SMEs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ningbo Water Meter manufactures and sells smart water meters (including NB-IoT intelligent remote-reading water meters and traditional mechanical water meters) along with integrated smart water affairs solutions for water supply network monitoring and leak detection. Its offering combines proprietary hardware (high-frequency pressure sensors, noise correlators, hydrophones, data monitoring instruments) with water meter calibration and verification services backed by a CNAS-accredited laboratory, targeted at water utilities and municipal water management authorities.

Product overview

宁水集团是一家专注于水计量与智慧水务解决方案的企业,产品体系以NB-IoT智能远传水表和数据监测仪为核心智能感知终端,辅以自主研发的高频压力传感器、噪声相关仪及水听器等管网监测设备。公司的产品矩阵涵盖智能水表全系列、供水管网智能化解决方案以及漏水检测相关仪等产品,形成了从终端感知、数据采集到智能分析的一体化智慧水务产品体系。

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NB-IoT Smart Remote-Reading Water Meter (NB-IoT智能远传水表) Smart water meter with high-precision metering performance that uses NB-IoT (Narrowband Internet of Things) technology to enable remote data transmission and real-time monitoring. Certified under the OpenHarmony ecosystem for domestic open-source compatibility. Sold to water utilities and municipal water management authorities for smart metering applications.
• Data Monitoring Instrument (数据监测仪) Core intelligent sensing terminal device used for water supply network data collection and monitoring, with high-precision system compatibility and stability, and OpenHarmony ecosystem support. Sold to water utilities for water network monitoring applications.
• High-Frequency Pressure Sensor (高频压力传感器) Self-developed high-frequency pressure sensor used as part of water supply network leak detection solutions. Deployed across multiple cities in China to help water utilities significantly reduce water loss rates and improve operational efficiency.
• Noise Correlator (噪声相关仪) Self-developed noise correlator technology for water supply network leak detection. Deployed across multiple cities nationwide in conjunction with high-frequency pressure sensors and hydrophones to form an integrated leak detection solution.
• Hydrophone / Water Listen Sensor (水听器) Self-developed hydrophone for acoustic-based leak detection in water supply networks. Combined with high-frequency pressure sensors and noise correlators as part of Ningbo Water Meter's pipe network leak control product line, deployed in water utilities across multiple Chinese cities.
• Smart Water Network Intelligent Solution (供水管网智能化解决方案) Integrated IoT- and big-data-based water affairs solution covering data interoperability, device interconnection, leak control, and urban water network management. Delivers accurate sensing, rapid leak localization, and intelligent decision support, and is targeted at municipal water utilities.
• Water Meter Testing and Verification Services Calibration and verification services for water meters using the company's CNAS-accredited laboratory, including shared laboratory services for SMEs. The laboratory was recognized with the 'Enterprise Shared Laboratory' designation by the Ningbo Market Supervision Administration in June 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• Helped water utilities significantly reduce water loss rates and improve operational efficiency through self-developed high-frequency pressure sensors, noise correlators, and hydrophones deployed in multiple cities across China.

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core/flagship and minor.

• Huawei Terminal Co., Ltd. (华为终端有限公司)core/flagshipTechnology or Integration · 12 June 2026Ningbo Water Group signed an OpenHarmony ecosystem cooperation memorandum with Huawei Terminal as one of the first water meter industry participants in Huawei's 'Hongtu Plan'. The partnership aims to jointly build a smart water affairs ecosystem based on the OpenHarmony technology system, focusing on data interoperability, device interconnection, leak control, and urban water network management.
• China Metrology Association Water Meter Working Committee (中国计量协会水表工作委员会)core/flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2025Ningbo Water Group serves as the组长单位 (leading unit) of the South China East Region Group of the Water Meter Working Committee, actively participating in industry standards development, technical research, and industry collaboration activities.
• Jinan Water Group Co., Ltd. (济南水务集团有限公司)minorOthersListed as a partner customer on the corporate website. Nature of partnership includes water meter supply and smart water solutions.
• Shenzhen Water Group Co., Ltd. (深圳市水务集团有限公司)minorOthersListed as a partner customer. Nature of partnership includes water meter supply and smart water solutions.
• Shanghai Chengtou Water (Group) Co., Ltd. (上海城投水务（集团）有限公司)minorOthersListed as a partner customer on the corporate website. Nature of partnership includes water meter supply and smart water solutions.
• Guangdong Yuehai Water Affairs Co., Ltd. (广东粤海水务股份有限公司)minorOthersListed as a partner customer. Nature of partnership includes water meter supply and smart water solutions.
• Ningbo Market Supervision Administration / Jiangbei District Market Supervision AdministrationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNingbo Water Group served as host and co-organizer of the 2026 'World Certification Day' Jiangbei themed event and Enterprise Shared Laboratory Launch Ceremony, receiving the 'Enterprise Shared Laboratory' designation.
• OpenAtom OpenHarmony Foundation (开放原子开源基金会)core/flagshipTechnology or IntegrationNingbo Water Group's NB-IoT wireless terminal devices passed the OpenHarmony 6.0 Release compatibility evaluation managed by the OpenAtom OpenHarmony Foundation, receiving the official 'Powered by OpenHarmony' certification mark.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Kamstrup: Kamstrup is a Danish smart metering specialist with strong ultrasonic smart water meter and radio/network solutions. Comparable technology stack (smart metering + analytics) and an emerging international competitor in the AMI space.
• Mueller Water Products: Mueller Water Products offers water infrastructure products including smart water meters and pressure monitoring for North American utilities. Overlaps with Ningbo's leak detection and pressure monitoring product line.
• Arad Group: Arad Group is an Israeli smart water metering and AMI solutions provider serving utilities globally. Comparable in smart water meter hardware and MDM/AMI systems, particularly in international markets where Ningbo currently has no presence.
• Diehl Metering: Diehl Metering (Diehl Group) is a German manufacturer of smart metering solutions for water, heat, gas and electricity. Comparable in the smart water meter and AMI communication layer serving European utilities.

Broad incumbents

• Itron: Itron is a global leader in smart water, electricity, and gas metering with extensive AMI/AMR offerings. While not the dominant share-taker in China, it represents the benchmark international competitor for smart water metering technology and solutions.
• Badger Meter: Badger Meter is a US-based leader in flow measurement and smart water metering for utilities. Comparable in the smart water meter and AMR/AMI hardware layer, though primarily serving North American markets.
• Xylem (Sensus): Xylem (through its Sensus acquisition) is a global smart water metering and network monitoring player. Comparable to Ningbo's NB-IoT metering business and adjacent leak detection / pressure monitoring portfolio.

Direct peers

• Holley Technology: Holley is a major Chinese smart meter manufacturer (electricity and water) with significant presence in domestic utility markets. It competes with Ningbo on smart water meters and AMI solutions for municipal water utilities.
• Suntront Technology: Suntront is a major Chinese smart water meter manufacturer competing head-to-head with Ningbo Water Meter in NB-IoT ultrasonic and electromagnetic smart meters for municipal water utilities. Both target the same Chinese water utility customers with comparable AMI product lines.
• Wasion Group: Wasion is a Chinese listed provider of smart meters (electricity, water, gas) and advanced metering infrastructure, directly competing with Ningbo in the smart water meter segment serving Chinese utilities. Both leverage government smart-city infrastructure programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ningbo Water Meter