Meter Reading

Knowing where your meter is and how to read it can be important, especially if you are concerned that you may have a leak. Your meter can be found inside a meter box, which is generally towards the front of your property, near the street. The box is typically in a direct line with the main outside faucet and is housed in a concrete or plastic box usually marked "water meter." Remove the lid using a tool, such as a large screwdriver, by inserting the tool into one of the holes to pry the lid off. Be careful not to unplug the node (antenna) wiring attached to the lid from the meter when removing the lid. 

Once you have the meter box open, lift the cover on the meter. The circular area on the bottom half of the meter's face is the optical switch that transitions through displays. To operate, cover the optical switch with your fingertip and then remove your finger from the switch. The display should change each time you place a finger over the switch. To see how many gallons you've used, cycle through the optical switch until the arrow points at "gal." This shows the total gallons used, and it is the number used to calculate usage for billing. To see the current flow through your meter, cycle through the optical switch until the arrow points to "gpm." This shows you the rate of water flowing through the meter in gallons per minute. Please see the diagram below. 

How to Check for a Leak

Step 1:   Ensure that no water is being used inside or outside your house. 

Step 2:   Open the water meter box. Remove the lid carefully to prevent damage to the meter equipment or node wiring.

Step 3:   Cycle to the flow rate screen on the meter using the optical switch. The arrow should point to "gpm". 

Step 4:   Look for constant usage. Any flow rate reading above 0.00 indicates a leak.

View the Mueller Meter Information (PDF) for instructions on reading and operating the meter.

JCSUD also offers the WaterSmart® Customer Portal that will help you track your home's water use and spending with an easy-to-use digital platform. This free service is now available and provides you with the tools to manage your water use and your bill:

• View your home's water use.
• Get personalized, step-by-step actions on ways to save water.
• See how your water use compares to similar homes.
• Sign up for alerts and notifications to take control of your water use.
• Get access to tips and tricks to help you conserve water.

Visit the JCSUD WaterSmart website to register your account today!