How to find and read your water meter

Follow this simple guide to finding and reading your water meter, including the new Automated Meter Reading (AMR) meters.

When do we take meter readings?

We read most of our meters wirelessly. This happens about twice a year. If we haven’t been able to get a reading for some reason, we’ll send you a bill based on an estimate. We’re unlikely to send an estimated bill more than twice a year.

Or, you can submit your own reading online. It’s really easy to do. You’ll find information about where your water meter is located and how to take a reading below.

Submit a meter reading

How to find and read your meter

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Where to find your water meter

Most meters are in the public footpath outside your house or in the front garden. Sometimes, your water meter will be located inside the house next to the stop tap. In a flat, your water meter may be in a cabinet in the building, marked with your flat number.

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Lift the cover

You meter is usually in a small chamber under a metal or plastic cover. Sometimes it will be covered with a large cast iron cover, in this case we advise you not to lift it. Underneath the cover you may see a polystyrene plug. You'll need to remove this to access the meter.

A person taking several water meter readings

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Note the black numbers

On the meter face, there are two sets of numbers, black on the left and red on the right. The black numbers show the number of cubic metres used, while the red ones and the dials show litres. When you're taking the reading, you should only read the black numbers and ignore the red ones.

An older person holds a mobile phone up to their ear

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If the meter number seems high

If your meter reading is unusually high you may have a leak on your supply pipe. Follow our step-by-step guidance on checking for a leak.

How to find and fix leaks in your house

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When you've finished

Remember to replace the polystyrene plug before putting the cover back on the water meter chamber. It helps to protect your meter against frost and debris.

AMR meters

The new Automated Meter Reading (AMR) meters allow us to take readings remotely using drive-by technology. This means we can read up to 20,000 meters a day, compared to only 200 a day when we have to read them in person.

We'll read your meter every six months to calculate your bills, so there is no need to read your own meter. If you would like to read your own meter, you can follow the steps above.

The new AMR meters also have a built-in silent alarm system which will activate if water runs continuously through the meter over a 24-hour period. This means that when we drive by to read your meter, the alarm will alert us and we'll investigate to see if there is a leak. This helps us all save even more water, energy and money.

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How to find and read your water meter

When do we take meter readings?

How to find and read your meter

Where to find your water meter

Lift the cover

Note the black numbers

If the meter number seems high

When you've finished

AMR meters

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