STEP 1 Locate your meter box, generally found towards the front of a property, near the street. The box is typically in a direct line with the main outside faucet. It is housed in a concrete box 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 protective cap on the meter. You will need to activate your meter with direct sunlight or with a flashlight, by shining at the light sensor, recessed under the small hole near the center of the faceplate. For the residential meter, a nine-digit LCD displays the meter reading in billing units of measure. The first four to five digits are your typical billing digits. Meters measure water in gallons or cubic feet. Charges for the amount of water consumed are rounded to the nearest thousand gallons or hundred cubic feet used during a billing period. Compare that reading to what your bill states as your current or present reading.
If your meter flashes a faucet dripping, you may have an intermittent leak. Water used during at least 1/2 of the 15-minute intervals in the last 24 hours.
If your meter has a continous faucet dripping, you may have a continuous leak. Water used during all 15-minute intervals in the last 24 hours.
Finally, if a rate flashes, this is an indication of how much your leak may be consuming. Typically seen, 0.08 Rate indicates you may have a leak that is flowing about an 8th of a gallon per minute. If your rate flashes higher, you should turn off your water. Please contact us if you need help shutting off your water at the meter.
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.
