STEP 1 Locate your meter box, generally found towards the front of a property, near the street. It is housed in a metal or plastic "can" underground and the lid (at ground level) is usually marked "water". Remove the lid by using a tool such as a large screwdriver. Insert the tool into one of the holes and pry the lid off.
STEP 2 Once you open the meter box lid, lift the BLUE protective cap on the meter. On the face of the meter, there is a large dial and a display of numbers. For the residential meter, each rotation of the dial measures 10 gallons. Read the number display from left to right. Be sure to include the stationary zero. This is your meter reading. Meters measure water in gallons. Charges for the amount of water consumed is billed in "whole" thousand gallons (the moving numbers in White) during a billing period. Compare that reading to what your bill states as your current or present reading.
STEP 3 Keep in mind that you might be checking your meter on a date different from the one used for billing. This could result in a difference in the amount you find, compared with the amount on which your bill is based. However, if your reading is considerably higher than what is on your bill, check for a leak or try to determine the source of large water use. If your reading is significantly lower than the reading on your bill, please contact us and let us assist you in determining the problem.
STEP 4 When reading your meter, please note if ANYTHING is moving on the face of the meter. You will see a red hand which records single gallons and also a red triange which is a low flow "leak indicator". If either (or both) of these devices are moving it indicates a constant stream of water is moving through your meter. Once the red hand makes a full revolution and ten gallons have moved through the meter you will see the black numbers on the meter turn. PLEASE NOTE.....If you are not using water anywhere on your side of the water meter, all indicators on the face should be sitting still! Movement indicates you have water use or a potential leak.
