Meter
Reading / Access to Meter / Leak Detection
The District
meter reader reads your meter approximately every 60 days.
You will
be able to recognize the District meter reader by his or her
uniform and the District vehicle parked nearby.
If your
meter is inaccessible for some reason, an estimated bill based
on past consumption will be generated.
As a customer
of San Lorenzo Valley Water District, it is your responsibility
to maintain full access to your water meter for reading and
any necessary maintenance and repair by District personnel.
You can
read your meter and check for potential leaks by following the
instructions listed below.
How
to Read My Meter Where
Is My Water Meter ?
Do
I Have A Leak ?
What's is a Unit of Water?
How is Our Water Measured?
How to read
your water meter
Water meters are precision instruments built to accurately measure
both
large and small amounts of water for many years. Although yours
may look a little different, the dial pictured here is typical
of most residential water meters.
Meter
Location
In order to read your water meter first you must locate the correct
water meter to your home. You may
already know it's location. If you don't, call the District's
Administrative Office, 831-338-2153, during regular business hours
to request a meter location and serial number. In addition have
a pencil and paper ready, as you will be given the meter serial
number so you can be sure you are at your water meter and not
your neighbors.
Locating your meter may be difficult, as the meter box can be
hidden fairly well with brush and weeds. Your meter should be
located in a concrete meter box with a concrete lid. Always use
caution in locating and working in the meter box. Watch for traffic
and other safety concerns. To open the lid you will need a large
screwdriver or a tire iron works well to gain access. In opening
the lid use caution as the meter box provides a cozy hideaway
for spiders and snakes and are found routinely inside. The meter
may not be in plain sight as gophers continually fill the boxes
with dirt. A small garden trowel works great for removing the
dirt from a meter box. Once you locate the meter there should
be a lid covering the dial. On top of this lid there is a long
serial number that should match the number that the District's
Customer Service Staff has supplied for you. The serial number
is located in two locations on the meter just in case the lid
is not present. The second location is on the base of the meter,
however, it is almost impossible to read unless you remove the
meter box. Removal of the meter box is not recommended as damage
to plumbing or the box is likely to occur. If the lid to the meter
is not present, call the District and staff will make an appointment
to assist you.
Leak
Detector: #1 in Picture
A triangle that rotates even with very small amounts of water
moving through the meter. If the leak is large it will be easy
to see the triangle move, however if it is a small leak it can
be difficult. We recommend that you place a pencil line marking
a point of the triangle and waiting about five minutes to see
if it moves off your pencil mark. If the triangle turns when all
water is off in the house, you have a leak that should be investigated
further. You may wish to hire a professional to help you find
"mystery leaks". Or you can contact the District for
some general information and help on how to find a leak. You will
find that District Staff can offer some of the best free service
offered.
The Sweep Hand: # 2 in Picture
Each full rotation of the sweep hand indicates one cubic foot,
or 7.48 gallons of water, has passed through the meter. The marking
around the outside of the dial indicate tenths and hundredths
of one cubic foot.
The Register: # 3 in Picture
Just like the mileage odometer on your car, these numbers keep
a running total of all water that has passed through the meter
since it was new(this one shows 36,810 cubic feet total). Subtract
the last read from your water bill, from these numbers will tell
you how many cubic feet of water have register. Multiply by 7.48
to get gallons.
What's in a unit of water?
Water charges are based on increments of 100 cubic feet of water
delivered, or what we call a billing unit. One unit equals 748 gallons
of water. When the meter reader records the numbers on your meter,
they disregard the numbers in black, recording only the numbers
in white (multiples of 100). In the example above, the meter reading
shown on this customer's water bill would be 368. Remember the district
reads your water meter bi-monthly.
Water Equivalents Table
|
1 Cubic Foot = |
7.48 Gallons = |
62.4 Pounds of water |
|
100 Cubic Feet = |
748 Gallons = |
One billing unit |
|
1 Million Gallons = |
3.07 Acre Feet = |
1,337 Units |
|
1 Acre Foot* = |
325,872 Gallons = |
Cover's one acre of land, one foot deep |
|
* the average family of four will use about half an acre
foot in a typical year |
|