CHECKING YOUR METER READING/DETERMINING IF YOU HAVE A WATER LEAK
STEP 1 Locate your meter box, generally found towards the front of a property, near the street. The box is typically in a direct line with the main outside faucet. It is housed in either a plastic meter box with a blue lid or a concrete box usually marked "water". Remove the lid by using a tool such as a large screwdriver. Insert the tool into one of the holes and pry the lid off.
STEP 2 Once you open the meter box lid, lift the protective cap on the meter. On the face of the meter, there is a large dial and a display of numbers. For the residential meter, each rotation of the dial measures 10 gallons. Read the number display from left to right. Be sure to include the stationary zero. This is your meter reading. Meters measure water in gallons or cubic feet. Compare that reading to what your bill states as your current or present reading.
STEP 3 Keep in mind that you might be checking your meter on a date different from the one used for billing. This could result in a difference in the amount you find, compared with the amount on which your bill is based. However, if your reading is considerably higher than what is on your bill, check for a leak or try to determine the source of large water use. If the dial is spinning on the meter face, then water is passing through the meter to your property. You can turn off any appliances, hoses, etc., and if the dial is still spinning, this means you have a leak somewhere on your property. Keep in mind that West Allen Parish Water District employees cannot fix water leaks past the water meter. If the leak is on or before our meter, please call and let us know. If your reading is significantly lower than the reading on your bill, please contact us and let us assist you in determining the problem.
