What is the typical unit of measurement for flow rate in water distribution?

The typical unit of measurement for flow rate in water distribution systems is often expressed in gallons per minute (GPM). This unit is prevalent in various applications, including residential plumbing, irrigation systems, and municipal water supply systems. Gallons per minute is particularly useful because it provides a familiar metric for system design and operational monitoring, allowing operators to easily assess how much water is being distributed or consumed over time.

While liters per second and cubic meters per hour are commonly used in other contexts, primarily outside of the United States, gallons per minute remains the standard in many North American water distribution systems. Milliliters per minute, on the other hand, is too small a unit for practical use in evaluating flow rates in larger water systems. Thus, gallons per minute stands out as the most appropriate and conventional choice for measuring flow rate in water distribution.