Although the replaceable battery design offers the advantage of extending equipment life, it also introduces a series of non-negligible negative impacts and technical risks in practical applications and the subsequent management of government procurement.

First, it reduces the overall ingress protection (IP rating) of the equipment. Ultrasonic water meters are usually installed in humid underground pits or harsh outdoor environments, requiring extremely high waterproof performance (such as an IP68 rating). An integrated, sealed design provides the best waterproof protection. Conversely, a replaceable battery design must reserve a battery compartment cover and connectors. After multiple replacements, the sealing ring can easily degrade, or human error can lead to sealing failure. Once the meter pit floods and water seeps into the compartment, it easily triggers short circuits or data loss, resulting in total equipment failure.

Secondly, it increases post-procurement regulatory and security risks. A replaceable battery means an open interface. In actual operations, this leaves room for malicious tampering, battery theft, or unauthorized modifications. Furthermore, if inferior third-party batteries are procured during subsequent maintenance, it may cause inaccurate metering, data transmission interruptions, or even safety hazards like battery explosions. Instead of saving money, this increases the government's auditing, regulatory, and legal risks during long-term operations.

Finally, it drives up administrative and labor maintenance costs in the mid-to-late stages. Although the cost of replacing the entire meter is avoided, large-scale periodic battery inspections, on-site replacements, and the registration of waste battery recycling require significant manpower and material resources. Government procurement must consider not only the initial purchase cost but also the management overhead. For public utility departments with limited staffing that favor centralized management, this decentralized maintenance model undoubtedly becomes a long-term administrative burden.