How do I read my water meter?

Most UK domestic water meters display a row of black (or white) digits showing whole cubic metres used, sometimes followed by red digits or a smaller dial showing fractions of a cubic metre. Read left to right — the black digits are the number you'll usually need to report a reading.

Where is my water meter usually located?

Most water meters are in an underground box just outside the property boundary, often near the pavement or driveway, marked with a small cover. Some properties — particularly flats or newer builds — have an internal meter, often under the kitchen sink or in a utility cupboard.

How can I use my water meter to check for a leak?

Turn off every tap and appliance that uses water, take a meter reading, wait 1–2 hours without using any water, then take a second reading. If the reading has changed, water is passing through the system somewhere — likely a leak.

What does a fast-spinning dial on my water meter mean?

A small triangular or star-shaped dial that spins even when no taps are running is a strong sign of a leak somewhere in your system — even a small, hard-to-notice one like a running toilet or a slow pipe leak underground.

A person reading a domestic water meter dial in an outdoor meter box

Guides

How to Read Your Water Meter (UK Guide)

The Norwich Plumbing Services Team6 July 20265 min read

A simple, step-by-step guide to reading a domestic water meter in the UK — how to find it, understand the dials, and spot a hidden leak.

Reading a water meter looks more confusing than it actually is — most people just haven’t had reason to look closely at one. Here’s how to find yours, read it correctly, and use it to catch a leak before it costs you money.

Where to find your water meter

Most UK homes have a water meter in one of two places:

Outside, in an underground box — usually near the pavement, driveway, or property boundary, under a small metal or plastic cover marked “water.”
Inside the property — more common in flats and newer builds, typically under the kitchen sink or in a utility cupboard.

If you’re not sure which you have, check your water bill — it usually tells you, or contact your water supplier.

How to read the dials

Most meters display digits in two colours or two rows:

Black (or white) digits — show whole cubic metres of water used. This is the number you’ll usually give when reporting a reading.
Red digits (or a smaller dial) — show fractions of a cubic metre, useful mainly for leak detection rather than billing.

Read the black digits left to right, exactly as you would a car odometer.

How to use your meter to check for a hidden leak

This is the most useful thing a water meter can tell you, and it takes ten minutes:

Turn off every tap, appliance, and outside tap in the property — nothing should be using water.
Take a meter reading and note it down (or note the position of the small leak-indicator dial, if your meter has one).
Wait 1–2 hours without using any water at all.
Take a second reading. If it’s changed at all, water is passing through your system somewhere — even with everything switched off.

A small triangular or star-shaped dial that keeps spinning during this test, even briefly, is a strong sign of a leak — often something simple like a running toilet, but sometimes a slower leak in underground pipework.

What to do if you find a leak

If your test suggests a leak, the next step depends on where it is:

Inside the property — check toilets first (the most common culprit), then look for damp patches, warm spots on flooring (a sign of a hot water pipe leak), or an unexplained rise in your bill.
Between the meter and the house — this is usually the homeowner’s responsibility to fix, and can waste a significant amount of water (and money) if left.
Not sure, or can’t locate it — it’s worth getting a plumber to check rather than guessing, especially if the leak is underground or hidden behind fixed pipework.

If you’re dealing with a leak that’s already causing damage or you can’t isolate it yourself, our emergency plumbing team covers Norwich and the surrounding area and can trace and fix it properly.

Getting help

Whether it’s confirming a leak, general repairs, or you just want a second opinion on what your meter is telling you, get in touch and we’ll help you figure it out — no obligation.

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