You and Your Water Meter

 

Hauraki District Council water meters are read approximately every six months by our meter readers and from these readings we produce your account.  

Select the information you would like to view:

How to Read Your Water Meter
Overnight Leakage Test
What to Do With Leaks
Please Help our Meter Readers
Who is Responsible for Paying Water Rates Accounts
Request for a Final Water Meter Reading

 

How to Read Your Water Meter

Most of the water meters used in the Hauraki District are of the digital metric type.  The display panel has both black and red figures. 


The display panel on your water meter should look similar to one of these.

3 7 4 6 2 8 5
3 7 4 6 2 8 5 9

The black on white figures represent cubic metres (m3) or thousands of litres.  For our readings of your consumption we only read these figures. e.g. in this case 3746 m3

The figures in red are parts of cubic meters.  They are useful to assess the amount of water used over a short period of time, for example if you are checking for leakage overnight.  

Some metres have three red digits and some have four.  If your meter has four red digits the best thing to do is ignore the last one (in this case the 9).  This makes the maths easier.  

By doing this the red digits show litres or thousandths of cubic metres.

e.g in this case 3746.285m3
or 3,746,285 litres

Note: All metric water meters show cubic metres (m3) in black on white and parts of cubic metres in red. 

If your water meter is of a type that you cannot understand please contact us for assistance.

   

Overnight Leakage Test 

If you read your water meter last thing at night and then first thing in the morning you can calculate how much water is being lost through leakage.  Remember not to use any water during the night.  

Example

Early Morning Reading  7.00 am

3 7 4 6 3 1 0 5

Previous Night Reading  10.00 pm 

3 7 4 6 2 8 5 9

 

Remember – if your meter has the 4th red digit it is best to ignore it as this can lead to confusion.

Subtract the previous night’s reading from the morning reading.  

                    3746.310
          
         -3746.285
                   
       0.025m3 or 25 litres  

This gives the volume of water “lost” overnight.  In this case in nine hours.  

If you lose more than one (1) litre per hour, you should check for dripping taps, faulty toilet cisterns or other forms of leakage.  Any more than ten (10) litres lost per hour is very significant and should definitely be investigated.

Businesses can do the same thing over the weekend if nobody is using the premises.

Note: When doing this test you will need to check with other occupants as to whether they used any water overnight, for example having a drink of water or flushing the toilet.  If they did, try again the next night.  

 

What to Do With Leaks?

If you find you have a leak using the overnight leakage test, the leak is within your own plumbing system.  This could be from the meter to the house or within the house.  It is your responsibility to have this leak repaired.  If you need assistance you should contact your plumber.  

If you discover a leak on the roadside of your meter, or in the meter box, whether it is an emergency or not please call us.  Our 24 hour, 7 day service number is: (07) 862 8609  or 0800 734 834 (from within the district).  

For further information contact:  

Hauraki District Council
(07) 862 8609  or

0800 734 834
(from within the district)
   

 

Please Help our Meter Readers 

Most of our customers are very considerate and we would like to thank them for their co-operation.  

When problems do occur it is usually because people are not aware of what is required under the Council’s bylaws.  These bylaws form part of the agreement between us, Hauraki District Council as the supplier of water, and you the consumer.  It is each property owners’ responsibility to ensure the meter and box is kept visible and accessible at all times.  Please keep the following points in mind.    

Keep the Meter Clear  

Cut back shrubs and grass around the meter box.
Don’t bury the meter box.
 

We Like Dogs  

But occasionally they decide they want to have a taste of our meter readers.  Please ensure that aggressive dogs are kept under control.

Fences and Gates  

Meters are usually installed outside the boundary but in some may be installed inside the property.  In these cases reasonable access is required, usually in the form of an unlocked gate or stile.

Remember

If our meter reader is prevented from reading the meter, the account will have to be estimated, which is not always a fair solution.

 

Who is responsible for paying water rates accounts?

The property owner is responsible as per the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002, therefore in the case of a rental property it is the landlord's responsibility to ensure payment of the account is received by the Council.

See Property & Water Rates for information on how water rates payments may be made.

 

Request a Final Water Meter Reading

Moving house?  Then we suggest you request a final water meter reading.  Contact the Hauraki District Council

This is what we will need to know:

Please Note: As from 1 July 2006 any accounts for final and special water readings will include a $40.00 reading charge.   The fee will not be charged if it is only a change of  tenancy to a property and the meter reading is supplied.