identification of valve/ fitting prior to smart meter

[silhillron]

photo attached of valve / fitting I,m trying to identify
i live in a second floor apartment cold supply if from a basement water tank pressurised by pumps
the cold water supply enters our property (22mm copper) and immediately after the main stop tap is the fitting I am trying to identify and understand what it does
the cold supply passes through this fitting into the smart meter, then out through the meter back into this fitting and into the apartment supply
prior to this fitting I,m trying to identify the cold supply also continues into the apartment supply

its as if this valve / fitting is a bypass arrangement so if the meter is removed the mains supply can continue?
this valve /fitting has a banjo type centre piece connection so it can be adjusted for different angles for ease of connection
this banjo centre which has a rubber gasket at each end is leaking slightly and I could tighten it and hopefully cure the problem but concerned that being ten years old the gaskets may be perished and the leak get worse leaving me an urgent problem finding a replacement
i don,t know if it's relevant but our hot water cylinder is pressurised by the mains cold water with an expansion vessel
the fitting/valve in question in the photo is the one with the bottom earth cable attached next to the white smart meter
could somebody identify this valve / fitting and explain what it does,do I have to have it? can I remove it and piece it through? is it easy to get a replacement?
appreciate any help

 

[snowhead]

Is the water billed by the building management company or the local water company from this meter or is this your own meter?


If it's not yours then I don't believe it's your problem to sort out.

The water supply comes in from above?

 

[silhillron]

thanks for reply it's our own meter our responsibility we pay the bills on the reading

 

[snowhead]

Warix Meter Loop

Ring them for spare washers.

 

[chris watkins]

It is all part of the smart water meter,
It will either divert all the water through the meter (turn off stop valve & see if it stops) or just a small amount so the meter measures by proportionate amount.
Either way meters are normally the supplies responsibility as said, plead ignorance & call them in.

 

[silhillron]

thanks snowhead for info will google it to find out where I can get a replacement

 

[silhillron]

thanks Chris for info I will contact my water company to see if they will resolve the problem, nice to understand what the fitting is and does I am a plumber (apprentice back in the 1960/70s) but been off the tools for many years and out of date with modern plumbing- cheers

 

[chris watkins]

thanks Chris for info I will contact my water company to see if they will resolve the problem, nice to understand what the fitting is and does I am a plumber (apprentice back in the 1960/70s) but been off the tools for many years and out of date with modern plumbing- cheers

Never to old (or young) to learn, once a Plumber always Plumber, I say.
I din't know about these fitting either so thanks for you for asking & to snowhead for telling.

Take care silhillron