How to Read a Water Meter Box

Is your home the type that needs its ain dam to keep upwards with h2o demands, or is h2o used sparingly in your household? Whether you're taking a shower or washing the dishes, we all use water in our day-to-twenty-four hour period lives, and someone must human foot the nib. While h2o bills aren't a surprise to many Aussies, the way we're charged can be.

In this article, we cover everything you need to know almost water meters in Commonwealth of australia. So, if you lot're wondering where those precious drops are coming from, and how it'due south all calculated, then look no farther every bit we dive into the nitty gritty of residential water meters.

Skip ahead to:

• What is a water meter?
• Where is my h2o meter located?
• How to read your water meter
• Who reads your water meter?
• Agreement your water bill
• Why is my water bill so high?

What is a water meter?

A water meter is an instrument that monitors water consumption at homes and businesses. Like to a gas meter, water meters record a belongings'southward water usage for billing purposes. Nigh residential properties will have a water meter installed that measures water usage in kilolitres (KL) or cubic metres (1000³) with 1KL and 1Mⁱⁱⁱ equal to 1,000 litres.

How does a water meter work?

Water meters are built to record water that flows through your belongings from a particular supply organization. There are cogs and spindles inside your water meter that rotate when a specific volume of water has passed through the meter, which is then measured past a handful of dials with numbers on them to reflect the amount of water used.

Types of water meters

Like electricity meters, there are two types of water meters more often than not found on backdrop. The most common types are conventional meters, known every bit analog meters, which vary depending on the brand, model and size. On the other hand, there are more technologically advanced meters which are chosen digital water meters.

• Analog water meter: Plant in nearly households, these water meters usually have black, white or red numbers displayed on the console. Some common brands include Elster, GVT, Itron and RMC.
• Digital water meter: Has an attached communication device that allows readings to be recorded remotely, which is then sent straight to the water supplier for billing purposes.

Some properties in certain areas may as well exist continued to a recycled water meter, which is measured and billed separately from a normal meter.

Where is my water meter located?

Your water meter will usually be located at the front of your house near the nature strip or sidewalk, and will exist establish at ground level inside a meter box. However, some h2o meters may exist located above ground. For those who live in apartments or townhouses, your water meter will likely be establish at the front of your complex, but not all unit blocks will accept individual meters for each lot.

How many water meters are at my business firm?

The corporeality of water meters at your property volition depend on where you live and what type of meters are available in your surface area. For instance, if y'all alive on a recycled water network, you may have an additional h2o meter that charges y'all separately to your regular meter. Over again, it's best to bank check your accost with your water supplier or refer to the breakdown of charges listed on your last water neb.

How to read your h2o meter

Depending on the type of water meter at your premises, you'll need to open the meter box and lift the lid which shows a sequence of numbers in one colour next to numbers in another colour. If you have an RMC water meter, the numbers in the top brandish show kilolitres, while the round dials are litres which are read clockwise. In the example below, this Elster water meter reading is 397KL in white and 269L in red.

The Itron water meter beneath reads 477KL and 34L. Every bit you lot tin meet, the reading looks much different to the Elster water meter, however both meters have kilolitres displayed in one colour, while the litres are shown in some other colour.

Can you lot submit a water reading?

Aye, you can submit a water meter reading to your water supplier, provided you lot've given them some details, such equally the date of your reading, your unique series meter number, besides equally the reading itself. Virtually h2o companies will prompt you to submit a water reading by leaving a card in your letterbox stating they could not access your meter. H2o readings can ordinarily be submitted online, over the phone or by posting the self-reading card back to your water supplier.

Who reads your water meter?

Ordinarily, a contractor from your water supplier or retailer will read your meter on an approximate date that'south institute on your bill. This usually takes place every 3 months or quarter, but will vary between water suppliers. Wild weather, locked gates, operational factors and dogs on properties can impact h2o meter readings, so billing periods may vary from time to time. For instance, i billing period may state 90 days, while some other may be charged for 85 days.

Why is my water meter reading estimated?

Estimated h2o meter readings take place when a meter is inaccessible, due to a locked gate or a dog on the premises. Other reasons may exist because the water meter is damaged or faulty and is unreadable, or the contractor cannot locate the water meter. Approximate readings are normally based on the property'due south previous water usage, too every bit the next bill's h2o usage which has had an actual reading take place.

Why is my h2o meter covered?

Water meters are covered to prevent them being exposed to atmospheric condition and other elements. Meters are usually found in an enclosed box that's clandestine which is continued to the water mains, allowing water to be supplied directly to your property. E'er wear protective gloves when you open a h2o meter box as they are known to business firm spiders, snakes and other creepy crawlies.

Understanding your water bill

Whether you're billed monthly or quarterly, your water pecker statement will have quite an extensive breakup of fees and charges for water usage and supply. Some of the key account information to expect out for is:

• Account number: An identification number for your h2o billing business relationship.
• Pecker number or reference: The specific reference ID of your nib.
• Holding address: Your h2o meter's billing address.
• Bill due date: The payment appointment your issued h2o bill is due.
• Billing period: A monthly, quarterly or bi-annually period of your water charges.
• Approximate appointment of next meter reading: The adjacent estimated date your h2o supplier will read your meter.
• Total corporeality due: The total amount payable to your water supplier.
• Previous bill amount: The total corporeality yous paid on your last nib.
• Usage habits: Historical water usage data that compares with current usage.
• Business relationship details: Details of your water meter/south on your holding, including readings.
• Fees and charges: A thorough listing of costs for water usage and stock-still supply charges.
• Payment options: All of the available ways to pay your bill.

If y'all'd like to get a sense of what the average water nib looks like, then read our guide here.

Why is my water bill and then loftier?

There are various factors to consider if you've received a larger than expected h2o bill. H2o leaks can be a mutual cause of high h2o bills, however information technology may be due to h2o rates increasing in your local expanse, or lifestyle factors that increase demand for water usage. If a leak is suspected, turn off all water at your premises and avoid using any h2o for an hour. Bank check the meter and take note of the dials past jotting down a reading. Come back once an hour has passed to see if the dials have moved.

Additional reading:

• Water Rates in Sydney
• H2o Rates in Brisbane

How to lower your water beak

So, with a chip of general knowledge on how water meters work, you could exist in a ameliorate position to cutting back those dreaded h2o costs. Beingness familiar with your water meter shouldn't be a hard task, and past recognising when and where y'all employ h2o the most, yous may come across a pleasant modify in your next bill, provided your household has made the right adjustments.

With the cost of living getting more expensive, it may exist time to get proactive nearly your utilities and seek out ways to not but lower your water bills, but also your electricity bills. If you lot haven't compared energy deals in a while, yous could be missing out on some serious bargains.

Paradigm credits: Yevhen Prozhyrko/Shutterstock.com, Wikipedia Eatables, gmstockstudio/Shutterstock.com

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Source: https://www.canstarblue.com.au/home-garden/water-meters/

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