Positive-displacement meters will _____ when they are excessively worn.

Positive-displacement meters measure the volume of water flowing through them by trapping a certain amount of water and then releasing it. When these meters become excessively worn, components such as gears or chambers may degrade, leading to inaccurate readings. Specifically, as the internal parts wear down, the meter may lose its ability to effectively capture water flow, resulting in an underestimation of the actual volume of water passing through. This situation occurs because worn parts can allow more water to flow through without being recorded, leading to the meter underregistering the amount of water used. Therefore, excessive wear directly impacts the functionality of the meter in a way that causes it to report lower volumes than are truly being consumed.