Quick answer
A water meter is the device, usually in a box near the curb or in a basement, that measures the volume of water flowing from the utility’s pipe into a property, so the utility can bill for it and you can track use and spot leaks.
Most U.S. meters read in cubic feet or gallons. A small dial or triangle spins whenever water moves, which makes the meter the simplest leak detector in the house.
Quick facts
The key facts about Water Meter, with sources:
Key takeaways
- The water meter measures all water entering your property and is the basis of your bill.
- A spinning leak indicator with every tap off means water is going somewhere.
- EPA suggests reading the meter before and after two hours of no water use; any change points to a leak.
- Closing the house shutoff during the test tells you whether the leak is inside or in the service line.
- Who owns the meter, the box and the pipes beside it depends on your utility.
What a water meter does
Your water utility runs a main under the street. A smaller service line branches off toward your property, and the meter sits on that line. Austin Water describes the meter box near the sidewalk, just before the property line, housing a meter that measures all water entering the property 2.
The meter keeps a running total from the day it was installed. American Water explains that your bill is the current reading minus the previous one 4. That makes the meter both a cash register and a free diagnostic tool.
Most meters show a row of numbers like a car odometer, plus a small sweep hand and a leak indicator. Arcata, California notes that water charges are typically based on units of 100 cubic feet, which equals 748 gallons 5.
Meter vs main shutoff
The meter measures water; it does not control it. Next to the meter, the utility or owner may have a curb stop valve, and inside the house there is a main water shutoff valve. In an emergency, the house shutoff is the one you should use.
How to read your water meter
- Find it. Look for a box near the curb marked “water” or a pit with a metal lid 5.
- Open carefully. Lift the lid with a tool and check for insects or animals first 5.
- Note the unit. The face says cubic feet or gallons 4.
- Read the billing digits. Read left to right like an odometer 4; on Arcata’s meters the white dials count hundreds of cubic feet 5.
- Watch the sweep hand. On American Water’s cubic-foot meters, one full turn of the red arrow is one cubic foot 4.
- Compare readings. Subtract an earlier reading from a later one to get use 4.
Gallons used = (Later reading − Earlier reading) × 7.48 (for meters that read in cubic feet)
Later reading − Earlier reading- Cubic feet used between the two readings
7.48- Gallons in one cubic foot
For meters that read in hundreds of cubic feet, multiply by 748 instead. Gallon meters need no conversion.
Which meter setups homes have, and where each sits
| Setup | Where it is | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Curbside meter box | Ground-level box near the sidewalk | Common setup; Austin Water owns the box and meter in its area 2 |
| Meter pit | Front yard or sidewalk, round metal lid about 12 inches across | Denver makes the owner responsible for the pit and its frost protection 3 |
| Inside meter | Basement or utility room | Must be kept accessible to the utility 3 |
| Remote-read meter | Any of the above, with a radio device | Denver fits many pits with an automatic meter reading device; American Water reads some meters by radio 34 |
| Cubic-foot vs gallon register | On the meter face | American Water notes newer meters in its area read in gallons 4 |
Example: a two-hour meter leak test
EPA WaterSense suggests checking the meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is used; if it changes at all, you probably have a leak 1. Here is how that looks on a cubic-foot meter. The readings are an example.
| Step | Reading or action | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Start (all water off) | 1,204.6 cubic feet | Baseline |
| After two hours | 1,206.6 cubic feet | 2 cubic feet moved with nothing on |
| Convert | 2 × 7.48 = about 15 gallons 4 | Water lost in two hours |
| Close the house shutoff and watch | Indicator stops | Leak is inside the house 4 |
| Or: indicator keeps moving | — | Leak is between the meter and the house valve 4 |
For scale, EPA says the average household’s leaks can waste more than 9,300 gallons a year, that nine percent of homes have leaks wasting 50 gallons or more a day, and that a family of four using more than 12,000 gallons in a winter month probably has a serious leak 1.
Toilets are a common hidden cause; EPA suggests a few drops of food coloring in the tank to check 1.
Where the meter shows up on your bill
Your bill lists the previous and current reading, the units used and the rate. Arcata bills in units of 100 cubic feet 5; other utilities bill in gallons or thousands of gallons. Knowing the unit lets you check the math.
EPA suggests comparing winter use: if a family of four uses more than 12,000 gallons a month in a cold month such as January or February, there could be serious leaks 1.
Austin Water suggests comparing current use with the same months in past years and signing up for usage alerts where offered 2.
To estimate what your household should use, try our water usage calculator.
What the meter is good for
Uses
What a meter reading cannot tell you
- It needs everything off. An ice maker, softener regeneration or sprinkler cycle will move the dial.
- It cannot pinpoint. A plumber’s leak detection service finds the exact spot.
- Slow meters read low. American Water says aging meters may under-record and are typically replaced every 15–20 years 4.
- Units differ. A reading means nothing until you know if it is cubic feet or gallons 4.
What drives meter-related costs
We do not list prices. The meter itself is usually owned and replaced by the utility, though rules vary.
Owner costs tend to come from what is around it: a leak on the private service line, a cracked meter box or pit, a frozen pipe, or a curb stop that no longer turns.
Denver Water notes that worn curb stop valves become hard to operate and that the owner must replace one Denver cannot operate 3.
Leaks drive the biggest bills. EPA says fixing easily corrected household leaks can save about 10 percent on water bills 1. Our leak cost calculator estimates what a leak is costing you, and the cost guide explains how plumbers price service line repairs.
Using the meter to track down a leak
- Shut off all water use. Turn off taps, irrigation, washers and ice makers.
- Watch the indicator. If the triangle spins with nothing on, water is moving 45.
- Run the two-hour test. Write down the reading, wait two hours, read again 1.
- Close the house valve. If the meter stops, the leak is inside; if not, it is in the service line 4.
- Check toilets first. Use dye in the tank and wait 10 minutes 1.
- Call a plumber for hidden leaks, slab leaks or service line leaks.
Meter box safety
Arcata advises checking for harmful insects or animals before reaching into a meter box 5. Use a tool to lift heavy lids, and do not stand on them.
Leave the meter, its seals and the utility’s valve alone; the utility maintains the meter in many cities 3. If water is pouring out near the meter, call your utility’s emergency line.
How to keep the meter box safe and readable
- Keep the lid clear; Denver says never place objects on it 3.
- Do not plant bushes within 2 feet of the lid or build fences or walls within 5 feet (Denver Water rules) 3.
- Protect the pit from mowers, traffic and freezing 3.
- Keep an inside meter accessible to the utility 3.
- Read the meter monthly to catch changes early.
Warning signs at the meter
- The leak indicator turns with all water off 4.
- A bill jumps with no change in habits 2.
- The meter box is full of water or the ground around it stays wet.
- The meter keeps moving after you close the house shutoff, pointing to a service line leak 4.
- The pit lid is cracked, missing or sunk below grade 3.
For a burst or major leak, shut the house valve and see our plumbing emergencies guide.
Who owns and regulates the meter
Utility rules set ownership. There is no single national rule. Austin Water owns and maintains the main, the public-side service line, the meter box and the meter; owners are responsible for the cut-off valve and service line past the meter 2.
Denver Water maintains mains, while owners are responsible for service lines and meter pits, which must meet Denver’s Engineering Standards, including frost protection and a lid set 3/4 inch above grade 3.
Accuracy. American Water says each of its meters is tested before leaving the factory for compliance with American Water Works Association metering standards 4.
Conservation. EPA’s WaterSense program promotes the meter-based leak test as part of its annual Fix a Leak Week 1.
Check your own utility’s service rules before digging near a meter or replacing any pipe beside it.
Water meter vs related devices
| Device | What it does | Main difference |
|---|---|---|
| Water meter | Measures volume entering the property 2 | Measures; does not control or protect |
| Curb stop or cut-off valve | Shuts water at the property line 23 | Controls flow; usually needs a key |
| House shutoff valve | Shuts water inside the home | The one owners use in emergencies |
| Pressure reducing valve | Lowers street pressure | Controls pressure, not volume |
| Backflow preventer | Stops water flowing back to the main | Protects the public supply |
Water meter myths that delay leak repairs
- Myth A high bill means the meter is broken.
- Reality Aging meters tend to slow and under-record, per American Water; a leak is the likelier cause 4.
- Myth The city owns everything up to the house.
- Reality Austin owns up to the meter; Denver puts the service line and pit on the owner 23.
- Myth You need a plumber to check for leaks.
- Reality EPA’s two-hour meter test needs only a pen and paper 1.
- Myth Every meter reads in gallons.
- Reality Many read in cubic feet; 1 cubic foot is 7.48 gallons 5.
- Myth A still meter means no leaks.
- Reality A very slow leak may only show on the low-flow indicator, so watch it, not just the numbers 4.
Climate and utility rules where you live
In freezing climates the meter itself can freeze. Denver Water requires meter pits to meet frost and freeze protection standards and makes owners responsible for protecting them from freezing 3.
In warmer cities, curbside boxes are common and the utility may own the meter and box, as in Austin 2. Billing units differ too, from hundreds of cubic feet in Arcata to gallons on newer American Water meters 54. Your utility’s website lists its rules.
When to check your water meter for a leak
Check it whenever a bill jumps, when you hear water running with everything off, after a hard freeze, and before buying a house. A quick look at the leak indicator takes a minute and can save weeks of wasted water.
The guide below walks the indicator test through to an answer. If the meter keeps moving with the house valve closed, the leak is on the outside service line, and depending on your utility’s rules, the stretch from the meter to the house may be yours to repair.
- If Indicator still, with every tap and appliance off
- Then No active leak right now
- If Indicator moving with everything off
- Then Close the main shutoff at the house and watch again 4
- If It stops once the house valve is closed
- Then The leak is inside: dye-test toilets, then check faucets and appliances 1
- If It keeps moving with the house valve closed
- Then The leak is on the service line: call your utility and a plumber 4
Questions about Water Meter
How do I read my water meter?
Open the meter box carefully, note whether the meter reads in cubic feet or gallons, and read the numbers left to right like a car odometer. Subtract an earlier reading from a later one to get your use. On cubic-foot meters, multiply by 7.48 to convert to gallons.
How do I use my water meter to check for a leak?
Turn off all water inside and outside, then watch the small leak indicator on the meter face. If it moves, water is flowing. EPA also suggests reading the meter before and after a two-hour period with no water use. If the reading changes at all, you probably have a leak.
What is the small triangle on my water meter?
It is the low-flow or leak indicator. It turns whenever any water passes through the meter, even a slow drip, so it is the most sensitive part of the display. If it spins while every tap and appliance is off, water is going somewhere, often a toilet or a service line leak.
How do I know if a leak is inside or outside?
With all water off and the meter showing flow, close the main shutoff valve at the house. If the meter stops, the leak is inside the house. If it keeps moving, the leak is most likely on the service line between the meter and the house, which American Water describes in its meter guide.
Where is my water meter?
Usually in a box or pit near the curb in front of the home, often under a lid marked “water.” In colder places it may be in a basement or utility room. If you cannot find it, your water utility can tell you where it is.
Who is responsible for the water meter?
It depends on the utility. Austin Water owns the meter and box and makes owners responsible for the pipe past the meter. Denver Water makes owners responsible for service lines and meter pits, while it maintains the meters. Check your utility’s rules.
How many gallons is one unit on my water bill?
Many utilities bill in units of 100 cubic feet, often written as CCF or HCF. One cubic foot is 7.48 gallons, so one 100-cubic-foot unit is 748 gallons. Other utilities bill in gallons or thousands of gallons, so check the unit printed on your bill.
Can a water meter be wrong?
It can, but a high reading is less likely than a low one. American Water notes that meters may slow down as they age and under-record water delivered, and that most are replaced every 15 to 20 years. A sudden jump in use is more often a leak than a meter fault.
How much water does a typical leak waste?
EPA estimates the average household’s leaks waste more than 9,300 gallons a year.
A faucet dripping about once a second wastes more than 3,000 gallons a year, and a showerhead dripping 10 times a minute more than 500.
Nine percent of homes have leaks that waste 50 gallons or more per day.
EPA also says a family of four using more than 12,000 gallons in a winter month, when no one is watering outdoors, probably has a serious leak worth tracking down with the meter.
Sources
- U.S. EPA WaterSense, Fix a Leak Week, retrieved .
- City of Austin, Austin Water: Water Leaks, retrieved .
- Denver Water, Homeowner Responsibility, retrieved .
- California American Water, Water Meter Fact Sheet: How to Read Your Meter (2017; single utility), retrieved .
- City of Arcata, CA, How to Read Your Water Meter, retrieved .
Expert review
Written by the HyrePlumber Research team. Not yet reviewed by an outside expert. We say so rather than imply a review that has not happened; see our editorial policy.
How the numbers were checked: Leak statistics and the two-hour test are from EPA WaterSense. Meter reading, units, the leak indicator and the inside-vs-outside test are from two utility guides (California American Water and the City of Arcata).
Ownership and meter pit rules are from Austin Water and Denver Water, which differ, and are presented side by side. The 15–20 year replacement figure is one utility’s statement, labeled as such. The two-hour test readings are an illustrative example. No prices are given.
Suggest a correction. We fix errors and say what changed.