How to Read a Water Meter

Step 1: Locate your water meter

The water meter is usually located between the build and the street, near the curb or sidewalk. It is found inside a concrete box or utility vault with a plastic or metal lid. In cold climates, the water meter may be found inside of the building, in a water closet, riser room, or basement. 

Step 2: Making sense of the meter reading

• Unit of measure - the unit of measurement will vary by water meter. A water meter may measure usage in gallons, cubic feet, or cubic meters. Make sure you know what unit of measure the water meter uses to accurately interpret the reading. 
• Read the digits left to right - when reading the register, make sure to read the digits from left to right. This is important because the first digit on the left represents the largest unit of measurement. 
• Decimals - some water meters use decimals to indicate fractions of a unit of measurement. 
• Sweep dial - some meter registers may have static numbers representing in black. The reading on the sweep hand will indicate the measurement values for static numbers on the register. 

Analog Meter Register

Digital Meter Register

Please Note: To activate the digital display of the meter register, you'll need to direct light, like a flashlight, onto the optical eye. This action prompts the display to illuminate, as it remains inactive to conserve battery life. Once activated by light, the register will "wakes up" and presents the meter reading.

Meter Reading Best Practices

Wipe dirt and debris from the meter register. Photo should include the reading and the sweep hand.  Glare free photos - verify all numbers on the register face, including the dial of the sweep hand are visible in the photo.

ABB

Meter Reading: 2815505	Meter Reading: 030038850

Actaris

Meter Reading: 10210675	Meter Reading: 10214100

AMCO

Meter Reading: 29754985	Meter Reading: 3871547
Meter Reading: 573390	Meter Reading: 18535920

Badger 

Meter Reading: 5152833	Meter Reading: 4590842
Meter Reading: 383462	Meter Reading: 7118560
Meter Reading: 4004527	Meter Reading: 3072950
Meter Reading: 6744428.98	Meter Reading: 651185.7

DLJ

Meter Reading: 23026845

Elster

Meter Reading: 6371655	Meter Reading:2835482
Meter Reading: 46500	Meter Reading: 6803.7

FRS Series

Meter Reading: 337837 or 337840	Meter Reading: 29955
Meter Reading: 406733	Meter Reading: 1194718 or 1194720

Hersey

Meter Reading: 17730	Meter Reading: 23481196 or 23481200
Meter Reading: 133527660	Meter Reading: 4315050

Innov8

Meter Reading: 70169.9

Invensys

Meter Reading: 19023227	Meter Reading: 19023282
Meter Reading: 141537040	Meter Reading: 233415050

Kent

Meter Reading: 4852983 or 4852980	Meter Reading: 12034380 or 12034400

Master Meter

Meter Reading: 1586.0	Meter Reading: 1332485
Meter Reading: 1097233	Meter Reading: 85733
Meter Reading: 711968.9	Meter Reading: 228181.7

Metron Farnier

Meter Reading: 1715890

Neptune 

Meter Reading: 1656983	Meter Reading: 231641
Meter Reading: 299019	Meter Reading: 46133540
Meter Reading: 666274.6	Meter Reading: 46150.97
Meter Reading: 602968.1	Meter Reading: 256599.88

Niagra

Meter Reading: 95056	Meter Reading: 3258191
Meter Reading: 8485512	Meter Reading: 1819697 or 1819700

Octave

Meter Reading: 29728331	Meter Reading: 51141516

Precision

Meter Reading: 1015953	Meter Reading: 6727848

Rockwell

Meter Reading: 2424543	Meter Reading: 22316000 or 22315990

Schlumberger

Meter Reading: 3295805	Meter Reading: 47815073

Sensus

Meter Reading: 36938770	Meter Reading: 49585
Meter Reading: 8953620	Meter Reading: 1808000
Meter Reading: 14740182	Meter Reading: 5690500

 Various Meter Brands w/ the Same Register

Meter Reading: 2077	Meter Reading: 36660
Meter Reading: 38400	Meter Reading: 59966
Meter Reading: 469589	Meter Reading: 799563

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