How to read your water meter

There are two kinds of water meters. They both keep track of the amount of water flowing through the meter by measuring cubic feet. One cubic foot equals 7.48 gallons of water.

One looks similar to a car odometer. The last digit to the right records single cubic feet.

• Read the numbers from left to right.

The second type has several dials that look something like watch faces.  These dials have pointers that turn very slowly when water is being used. They don't turn in the same direction; every other one turns counter-clockwise.  The dials are similar to the odometer on your car where the number on the right records the smallest increments of travel. The dial on the right records one cubic foot at a time.

• Read the dials from right to left and write the numbers down in the same order.
• If the pointer is between the numbers, record the smaller number.
• If the pointer is directly on a number, read the next smallest number, unless the pointer on the dial to the right has passed zero.

To find out how much water you have used subtract the first reading from the second reading and the number will be how many cubic feet of water you have used.