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How To Read Your Meter

Northshore Utility District encourages its customers to learn how to read their water meters. Knowing how to read your meter can help you detect leaks in your home, measure the amount of water used in your household, and understand your water charges.

First of all, you must locate your meter. Water meters are usually installed near the street in the right of way just at the boundary of your property. The meter is protected by a concrete box with a lid. Lift the lid and you will see your meter. The face of the meter may be covered by a hinged circular lid. Lift the lid to expose the register. If there is more than one meter in the box and you are unsure which one belongs to you, please write down the meter numbers on the register lid and call the District at (425) 398-4402.

The register will show either a five or six digit number. Ignore the last two digits on the right (the white numbers on a black background). Write down the black numbers on the white background. This is your starting number. The next time you read your meter, subtract the starting number from the new number shown on your register, remembering to ignore the last two digits. The difference between the two numbers is your household water consumption in 100's of cubic feet (ccf) units.

The meter measures in units of 100 cubic feet. One hundred cubic feet of water, or one unit, equals 748 gallons. So, if you multiply your household water consumption in 100 ccf units by 748 you will see the number of gallons used during the period between the meter readings.

Example: You read your meter on the first day of the month and the number shown is 300. Twenty days later you read the meter again and the number is 315. Your household consumption was 15 units. Fifteen units equal 11,220 gallons of water (15 units x 748 gallons). To determine your average daily consumption, divide the number of gallons by the number of days between the meter reads (11,220 gallons / 20 days = 561 gallons per day).

Once you understand how to read your meter, it is very easy to check for leaks in your home. First, make sure no water is running anywhere in your home, inside or outside. Then go look at your meter. There is a red hand or triangle on the register face that moves when water is passing through the meter. Look at the position of these dials and then check them again in a half hour. If they have moved, there is a leak somewhere on your side of the meter, and it should immediately be repaired.

Click here for more tips on conserving water.

Do you have any questions or comments about reading your meter? Give us your feedback to 425-398-4417 and let us know.