How to Read Your Water Meter
Reading a water meter is similar to reading the odometer in your car. Learning how to read your meter correctly can help you identify leaks and discover ways to conserve water. Of the many types of meters used on the market, the following examples include three of the more common meters used throughout the region.
Example #1
On the face of the meter there is a large dial and a display of numbers. Read and record the number display from left to right exactly as it appears, including any fixed zeros to the right of the number shown. The face of the meter indicates this meter reads in gallons.
Meter #1 (above) reads 1,857,030 total gallons. Notice that the zero at the end is included in the reading, and no decimal points have been added.
To convert this number to acre-feet, divide the total gallons by 325,851 (325,851 equals one acre-foot).
For example: 1,857,030 / 325,851 = 5.699 total acre-feet.
Example #2
On the face of the meter there is a large dial and a display of numbers. Read and record the number display from left to right exactly as it appears, including any fixed zeros to the right of the number shown. The face of the meter indicates this meter reads in gallons.
Meter #2 reads 43,059,700 total gallons. Notice that the set zeros at the end of the dial are included in the reading, and no decimal points have been added.
To convert this number to acre-feet, divide the total gallons by 325,851 (325,851 equals one acre-foot). For example: 43,059,700 / 325,851 132.145 total acre-feet.
Example #3
The dial reads 183750 and the face of the meter indicates this meter reads in acre-feet X .001
Therefore, Meter #3 reads 183.750 acre-feet.