The simplest way to find out how much water you and your family use is to read your meter.

A water meter is used to measure the amount of water that each property uses. It is generally located close to the front of your property, often just inside the fence. It is also useful to know where your water meter is because a stop tap, which controls the flow of water to your house, is normally located next to it. In an emergency, such as a burst pipe, you can use this stop tap to turn off the water supply to your house.

Reading your water meter is quite a simple task to complete. However, there are several different types of water meters used throughout South East Water's area and different meters need to be read in different ways.

Following are examples of how to read the two most common water meters.

Concrete Clearance

South East Water carries out programs to replace water meters that have passed their "useful life" and also those which have stopped working altogether.

If you install a concrete "mower strip" around your water meter, the concrete should only surround the vertical risers of the meter assembly where they enter the ground (see diagram below).

The horizontal pipes and the body of the meter must be left clear of concrete at all times.

Placing plastic or UPVC sleeves around the vertical rises before the concrete is poured will enable the meter to be exchanged without the need to remove the concrete.

If you require further information call 9552 3321.