Black digits
The only numbers you need to submit
3 months
Recommended reading frequency
£515
Average Thames Water bill, 4-person home
Auto
Smart meters - no manual reading
Why Should You Provide a Water Meter Reading?
Regular water meter readings ensure your bill reflects actual consumption rather than an estimate, which is the single biggest cause of billing disputes with UK water companies. A reading taken every three months keeps charges accurate, protects your budget and gives you an early warning when something goes wrong with the plumbing.
Beyond billing accuracy, tracking meter readings is the best way to detect hidden leaks - a sudden jump between two readings almost always points to a dripping cistern, a leaking pipe or a garden tap left running. Regular readings also reveal seasonal consumption patterns and make it much easier to plan savings before the bill arrives.
- Ensures you are charged only for the water you actually use
- Helps you stay within your monthly budget
- Enables early detection of leaks and faulty appliances
- Reveals consumption patterns so you can cut usage
- Prevents billing disputes with your water supplier
Where Do I Find My Water Meter?
Most UK water meters are fitted outside the property, next to the stop valve near the public footpath, but in older homes and flats the meter may be indoors. The exact location depends on when the property was built and whether metering was compulsory or retrofitted at the owner's request.
If you cannot find the meter, check your latest water bill: it shows the nine-digit meter serial number, which must match the one engraved on the meter body. When in doubt, call your supplier - they will confirm the tariff and meter location from your postcode.
Outdoor Water Meter
Outdoor meters sit near the stop valve, typically just inside the property boundary close to the footpath. Look for a small metal or plastic cover set into the ground; lift it to reveal a protective inner cover, then remove that to access the meter itself. A torch and a cloth are often needed to wipe away dirt before you can read the dial clearly.
Indoor Water Meter
Indoor meters are usually installed where the water supply enters the property - most commonly under the kitchen sink, in a garage or in a downstairs utility cupboard. In flats and apartment buildings, meters are grouped in a communal utility room, so check that the serial number on the meter matches the one on your bill before submitting a reading.
What Does a Water Meter Look Like?
UK households are fitted with one of two meter types: a traditional mechanical meter with a mechanical dial, or a newer smart meter with a digital display. Both measure water in cubic metres (m³), but they are read and reported very differently.
Traditional Water Meter
Traditional meters are round, with four or five black digits and two red digits on the face, plus a small rotating dial. The black numbers record whole cubic metres of water used, while the red numbers record tenths and hundredths of a cubic metre - these are not used for billing. The nine-digit serial number is stamped on the outer rim of the meter.
Smart Water Meter
Smart meters are slightly larger, also round, and display readings on a digital screen with up to three decimal points. The serial number is printed just above the barcode beneath the digital display. Because smart meters transmit readings automatically to the supplier, you almost never need to read them manually.
How to Read a Water Meter
To read a traditional meter, write down only the black digits from left to right and ignore everything in red - water companies do not need the red figures for billing. For a smart meter, the supplier receives readings automatically, but if you want to check manually, read the digital numbers up to the comma and ignore anything after it.
Reading Traditional Meters
On a traditional meter, read only the black digits from left to right. These represent whole cubic metres of water consumed since the meter was installed. The red digits - and any small rotating dial - measure fractions of a cubic metre and are used by the supplier only for leak detection, never for billing. If your bill shows a reading of 00123, you report 00123 and nothing else.
Reading Smart Meters
Smart meters transmit readings automatically to your supplier, so no manual submission is required. If you do want to check the meter - for example to cross-check an unusually high bill - read the digital numbers from left to right until the decimal comma, and disregard everything after it. The figure after the comma is the fractional consumption, used only for diagnostics.
How to Submit a Water Meter Reading
Most UK water companies accept meter readings through three channels: an online account, an automated telephone line, or by post. The fastest route is nearly always the online account, which updates your bill within 24 hours and stores the reading history for future reference.
Before submitting, have the following information to hand so that the reading is applied to the correct account and meter:
- Customer reference number - usually 8 to 10 digits, printed on your water bill
- Payment reference number - 13 digits, shown on your bill
- Account holder name - exactly as it appears on the bill
- Current meter reading - the black digits only
If you are a Thames Water customer, follow our dedicated Thames Water meter guide for step-by-step submission instructions. Customers of other companies can check the UK water suppliers hub for direct contact numbers and online portals.
How Much Will I Save With a Water Meter?
Whether a meter saves money depends on how many people live in the home and how much water they use. As a rule of thumb, households with fewer occupants than bedrooms almost always pay less on a meter, while larger families in modest homes may be better off on an unmetered rateable-value bill. The table below shows typical annual metered bills across four major English and Welsh suppliers.
These figures include water supply, sewerage and surface water charges. They are based on standardised four-person and two-person usage scenarios and should be treated as indicative - your actual bill will depend on local tariffs, regional surcharges and your own consumption habits.
| Supplier | Four-person home | Two-person home |
|---|---|---|
| Thames Water | £515.69 | £240.35 |
| United Utilities Water | £650.12 | £295.71 |
| Yorkshire Water | £639.67 | £277.32 |
| Dwr Cymru Welsh Water | £672.92 | £348.47 |
Four-person scenario: 2 baths/week, 24 showers/week, 10 flushes/day, 3 washing loads/week, 7 dishwasher uses/week, 50 hours garden hose/year, includes surface water charges. Two-person scenario: 1 bath/week, 12 showers/week, 4 flushes/day, 2 washing loads/week, 4 dishwasher uses/week, 0 hours garden hose/year, includes surface water charges.
Water Meter Calculator
The Consumer Council for Water (CCW) runs a free online calculator that estimates what your annual bill would be on a metered tariff, based on your household's actual habits. It is the most reliable way to find out whether switching to a meter would save you money before you commit.
To use the calculator you will need to enter your water and sewerage supplier, the number of people in the household, and a handful of weekly usage figures. The tool produces a non-scientific estimate - treat it as a guide, not a guarantee.
- Your water supplier
- Your sewerage supplier
- Number of people in the household
- Weekly bath usage
- Weekly shower usage
- Daily toilet flushes
- Weekly washing machine loads
- Weekly dishwasher loads
- Annual garden hose usage in hours
You can access the calculator on the Consumer Council for Water website. If your estimate comes out well below your current unmetered bill, contact your supplier to request a free meter installation - most UK water companies must fit one within three months of the request.
Water Meter Reading FAQ
Useful Water Guides
For more on UK water bills, suppliers and meter installation, our other guides cover the full journey from finding your supplier to understanding how charges are set across England and Wales.
- All UK water suppliers - find the right water company for your postcode
- Thames Water meter guide - compulsory metering and smart meter rollout
- Thames Water overview - tariffs, bills and contact details
The services and products mentioned on this website may only represent a small selection of the options available to you. Selectra encourages you to carry out your own research and seek advice if necessary before making any decisions.