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Where Is My Water Meter Located?

Where is your water meter installed on your property? There is no single answer – the best guide is that your water meter is usually situated close to where the main water supply enters the property.

The water mains often follow the road network so water meters are commonly found under the pavement just outside the property or just within the perimeter boundary.

The meter is typically housed in a purpose-built meter box which is often underground in a ‘pit’ under a plastic lid or metal cover. The cover may be marked with a ‘W’. Occasionally, outside meters might be in a shared box with other sites’ meters, housed under a heavier metal cover.

Larger properties with more than one meter or larger meters may be installed in a plant room inside the building.

Water meters can sometimes be hard to locate because the building footprint or surrounding road network has changed over time with the result that the meter isn’t found in the usual spots.

If you are unable to locate your business water meter, you can contact your water supplier for assistance. They will be able to provide you with information on the meter’s exact location and any other relevant details you might need.

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How Does Water Billing Work?

The idea of a water meter is the same as electricity and gas meters – they generate a measurement reading and you get billed. Your water meter measures the volume of water flowing into the property from the water network. Water use is measured in cubic metres (1 cubic metre equals 1,000 litres).

The meter measures how much water the premises consumes and your bill is based on this amount together with a charge for your wastewater that flows out into the sewers. Most water suppliers estimate that all clean water supplied to your business premise eventually ends up in the wastewater system.

Your six-monthly bills will be based on either an estimated reading or an actual meter reading of consumption. Your business water supplier should read your meter twice a year and bill according to that reading. If they don’t read the reader in the cycle, the bill will be based on a usage estimate.

If you can access and read the meter, it’s a good idea to submit regular meter readings. A regular meter reading ensures billings are more accurate and based on actual water consumption. This is especially relevant if your water usage fluctuates widely during the year (like on a farm for example).

If there are leaks in your system, you are paying for that wasted water as well. Regular meter readings will help you detect leakages and take action to fix them.

How To Read Your Business Water Meter

Reading a business water meter is fairly straightforward, but the exact steps can vary depending on the type of water meter installed. Traditional meters include a measuring dial and a display of numbers reflecting the measurement.

Reading from left to right, you will see a series of black numbers alongside a series of red digits. For your water meter reading, you use only the black numbers (which measure the cubic metres used).

You can submit meter readings to your supplier via their website – together with the date recorded.

Be sure to keep a record of your water meter readings. This will help you to monitor water consumption and compare your usage over time to better manage costs and identify errors and discrepancies.

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AMR Meters

Automated Meter Reading meters, sometimes known as smart water meters are advanced devices used to measure water usage in a more efficient and accurate manner. These smart water meters enable automated data collection, remote monitoring, and various other features that benefit both water suppliers and consumers.

Key advantages and features include:

  • Remote reading – the smart meter reads and uploads information automatically, which eliminates the need for manual readings.
  • Accurate billing – billing is based on actual water consumption so it is accurate.
  • Real-time monitoring – by attaching a data logger to your water meter, it’s possible to record consumption every 15 minutes to provide a very precise picture of usage.
  • Leak detection – with close monitoring and data insights AMR meters can detect leakages in real-time or provide data that helps consumers and utility companies identify leakages and wastage.
  • Alerts of unusual activities – some advanced smart meters can send automated alerts to the consumer and business water supplier when unusual consumption patterns, or activity outside of agreed parameters, are detected.

  • Usage data – consumers can have access to their water data, enabling them to view consumption, historical usage, and usage patterns. These insights can help identify opportunities to save water and money.

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Where To Look For Your AMR Meter

An Automated Meter Reading meter is typically located at the same place where the traditional water meter is installed. The ARM may be installed as a data logger attached to your water meter and set to record your consumption on a regular cycle. Usage can be recorded every 15 minutes 24/7.

The main difference between an AMR and a traditional meter lies in how they collect and transmit data:

  • a traditional water meter requires manual reading
  • an automatic meter reading makes use of mobile networks and radio frequency to transmit water usage and readings data to the water company

To get a smart water meter installed, contact your supplier to confirm that you are eligible. Your site may not be suitable if the mobile signal in your area is weak.

Once you have the green light and are happy with the cost, arrange a date for installation.

The engineer will need clear access to the meter. Remember that accessing business water meters may require permission or assistance from your landlord or property manager if you are not the property owner. The installation should be completed in under an hour. If you have more than one meter (say to measure inside and outside flow) AMR meters can be installed accordingly.

How Can Companies Reduce Their Water Bills?

Simply put, there are two ways to reduce your water bills:

  1. Reduce the amount of water your company uses – Past research has shown the average UK business is consuming more than 30% of the water they actually need. Smart meters and a water audit can help in this regard.
  2. Find the most competitive water rates so your charge per cubic metre is as low as possible.

Many organisations are not in a business water contract and may be paying a higher rate than they need to for their water and sewerage services. To get a better rate, businesses are advised to consider moving into a contract.

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Compare Business Water Suppliers With Business Energy Comparison

The friendly professional team at Business Energy Comparison offers a comprehensive service to help you get a better grasp on your water consumption and your, often complicated, bill. Whether you are a small business or a large corporation, Business Energy Comparison will gladly perform an expert utilities comparison for you.

We do all the work and, when it comes to comparing water suppliers, you could benefit in the form of:

  • A more favourable fixed-rate contract.
  • More efficient billing.
  • Extra services such as advanced monitoring systems.

  • The innovation that new suppliers bring to market.

Start your journey and compare business gas and electricity rates with Business Energy Comparison today. Use our price comparison tool and in less time than it takes to make a brew, we’ll compile your best prices from the UK’ s best suppliers.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What smart steps can I take to reduce my water bills?

You can install a smart water meter to help ensure you only pay for what you use. Water efficient taps, sensor/automatic taps, and rainwater harvesting solutions can all help to reduce waste and promote saving and efficient water use.

Can a water supplier cut off your business supply?

When switching water suppliers, your water isn’t cut off and you continue to receive supply during the switching process. However, a water supply company could cut off your supply if you fail to pay your bills.