How to read your water meter

Every Gold Coast house has an individual water meter, so learn how to read your water meter

How to read your water meter is a simple task to learn. It is a DIY priority coupled with knowing how to turn your water off at the meter box. If you live in an individual residential house, you will have your individual water meter. This applies to most duplexes, but some duplexes and group or strata-titled properties will have only one water meter that reads all water used on the property, no matter how many homes are located within the property.

Whywait Plumbing recommends you do yourself a favour because the #2 DIY plumbing skill you should learn is how to read your water meter. The #1 DIY plumbing skill will always be knowing

how to turn off your water supply connected to your home. Your property stop tap or isolation valve is always in the underground meter box at the boundary in front of your water meter.

Remember to exercise caution when removing the water meter cover. They can be homes for spiders and snakes. Ensure you wear protective gloves.

Locating where your water meter is at the front of your house

If you live in the City of Gold Coast, then your water meter  is in the underground meter box for your home that is usually located as below:

• in the council grass verge at the front boundary and usually around 500mm from either the left or right side boundary

• in a concrete or plastic pit with a metal or removable lid marked ‘Water Meter.’

It is your responsibility to ensure that your water meter is accessible for the council meter readers to read the meter at all times. The property owner does not own the water meter as it is part of the water infrastructure owned by the City of Gold Coast. It is an offence under the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability Act) 2008 to interfere with water infrastructure.

Once you locate the meter box and open the lid, which usually will require being pried open with a screwdriver or something similar, you need to:

• Remember to exercise caution when removing the water meter cover. They can be homes for spiders and snakes. Ensure you wear protective gloves.

• The water meter may be semi-covered in sand or dirt but is usually apparent at the back of the water meter box.

How to read your water meter and check for concealed water leaks

Remember a regular but simple preventative procedure of reading your water meter can potentially save you thousands of dollars in City of Gold Coast water charges. Frequently concealed leaks are not visible as your water pipes are always underground or inside walls or the floor.

If in doubt on how to read your water meter or suspect you have a concealed leak act now and call us for expert advice and assistance.

Water leaks after the water meter in your property are YOUR responsibility

If you are the registered property owner, you are responsible for the pipes and fittings connected to the City of Gold Coast water meter inside your property.

The diagram below clearly illustrates from the City of Gold Coast perspective where their responsibilities finish and where yours start. Remember, the registered property owner must pay for all water recorded as having gone through the water meter.  This includes any water lost due to internal leaks in taps or toilets or concealed underground water main pipe leakage.

If you can’t find your water meter or can’t operate the stop-valve to turn off your water in the water meter box, it is the responsibility of the City of Gold Coast to repair it by calling them on 1300 456 326