How to Read Your Water Meter
Here are some simple steps for checking
your water meter for billing accuracy or water leaks:
Where is my water meter?
It is probably in your front yard, in the grass,
near the street. It could also be in the back yard or side yard.
Look for a cast iron lid on the ground with the words "water
meter." Remove the lid to expose the meter, which is about 12
inches down into the ground.
What does my water meter look
like?
Your water meter gauge looks similar to the one shown
here. Lift the hinged meter lid if the face of the gauge is not
showing.
What do the dials mean?
The long hand measures water consumption and shows larger
water flows. The triangular hand shows smaller water flows. If the
long hand is moving at all (and you have made sure no water is
being used in or out of the house for things like toilets, ice
makers, dishwashers, washing machines and sprinklers), you probably
have a large leak. If the triangular hand is moving at all, there
may be a small flow water leak.
What am I billed for?
Find the 7 digits on the meter which together look like a
car odometer. The first digits on the white background measure
water consumption by thousand gallons and are read for billing each
month. The meter reading is rounded down to the closest 1,000
gallons each month. The black background digits on the right side
show the one gallon, ten gallon, and hundred gallon amounts and
carry over to the following month's reading for billing.
How can I tell if my bill is
wrong?
Small differences occur because the meter reading is
rounded down to the closest 1,000 gallons each month. For example,
a customer whose meter reads 1,900 gallons would be billed for one
thousand gallons (1,000). If the customer uses 1,100 gallons during
the following month, the meter will register 3,000 gallons and the
customer will be billed for 2,000 gallons on the second month's
bill. If there is a large difference between the bill amount and
the amount you see on your meter, there may be an error in the
bill.
Who do I call if there's a leak
or error in my bill?
If you suspect a water leak, call a plumber. If you
suspect an error in your bill, call Customer Service at (918)
596-9511.
