Reading Your Water Meter

The Water Department reads analog meters at each customer’s residence every month. This is a critical step in tracking and accurately billing for water that is used. Meters are read every 30-32 days, so your reading will not be calculated based on the calendar month. Readings usually occur between the 15th-18th of the month.

The City of Roanoke is excited to share  important updates about your water meter. The City recently installed new smart meters at all Roanoke residential addresses. The new smart meters will allow users to view their water usage using the Eye On Water website and app.

NEW! Eye On Water Meter

The newly installed water meters allow customers the ability to review their water usage in real time and allow users to sign up for leak alerts. The updated meters also provide a significant cost and time savings for City of Roanoke staff as they are easier to read and provide more accurate reads. 

  1. Why are we getting new meters?
  2. When will I get my new meter?
  3. Who is installing the meters?
View All FAQs

Recordall Meter

Your Recordall water meter has a set of numbers similar to the odometer in your car, and the numbers spin as you use water. Simply read the numbers to know how many gallons of water you have used. In the Recordall meter example photo, the meter indicates that 665,530 gallons of water have been used since the meter was installed. 

This number represents a starting point. At the end of the month, read the meter again. Subtract 665,530 from the end-of-the-month reading to find out how many gallons were used during the month.

Because our charge is based on units of 100, the meter reader discards the last two numbers (the ones with the black background). So, this reading would be reflected as 6655 on your monthly bill. So, when you read your bill the next time, if you have used 12,000 gallons of water, the new reading would be 677,530 (665,530 plus 12,000). Again, we'd drop the last two numbers, and your official reading would be 6775. Your bill would be figured by subtracting the old number (6655) from the new number (6775). You would then be billed for 120 units, or 12,000 gallons.

The meter has a sweep hand and the numbers 0-9 arranged clockwise around the face, as shown in the illustration. One revolution of the sweep hand represents 10 gallons of water used. 

Screen Shot 2018-07-20 at 9.10.41 AM
Screen Shot 2018-07-20 at 9.16.53 AM

HR/E Badger Meter

Our newest meters do not have a sweep hand and show a decimal mark before the last number. This is reading the gallons to the tenth degree. Just like the Recordall meter, the HR/E meters have a set of numbers similar to the odometer in your car, and the numbers spin as you use water. However, when reading the HR/E meters, the meter reader discards the last three numbers (removing the tenth). So, using the HR/E example photo the reading would be shown as 157 on your bill which represent 15,700 gallons (rounded to the nearest 100). 

So, when you read your bill the next time, if you have used 12,000 gallons of water, the new reading would be 27,694.2 (15,694.2 plus 12,000). Again, we'd drop the last three numbers, and your official reading would be 277. Your bill would be figured by subtracting the old number (157) from the new number (277). You would then be billed for 120 units or 12,000 gallons.


Water Leaks

Both meters have a leak indicator. This indicator may be a red triangle, red gear, or a two-color wheel in the center of the meter face. To determine a leak, turn off all water. If the indicator is moving, water is going through the meter, which means that a leak is possible. If this is the case we recommend you call a plumber to assist in finding the leak.  The City provides one leak adjustment a year for the highest consumption month during the time the leak occurred.  

For questions or concerns regarding meter readings, call the Public Works Department, 817-491-6099.

For questions or concerns regarding billing, call the Utility Billing Department, 817-491-2411.