Water meters
How to access and read a water meter safely
Safety guidelines
You can open your meter box to read the meter or turn the stop valve. Turning the stop valve will stop the water supply to your property or business premises.When accessing your water meter, be aware of your safety as well as the safety of others nearby. Always;
Never leave the water meter lid open or unattended. There is a risk that someone will fall in or trip over the lid.
Access the meter
Plastic meter lids
- Find the small slots located around the edge of the meter lid.
- Insert a safe tool, such as the flat handle of a spoon, into the slots to prise the lid off.
If the lid is difficult to remove, please contact Uisce Éireann. Do not force the lid open.
Metal meter lids
Metal lids are heavier and sometimes need specialist keys. Because of this, they may be more difficult to access. Contact Uisce Éireann for further information on accessing these meters.
Remove the frost plug
1. Open the meter box.
2. Find the frost plug. It is usually white, made of foam and round or oval in shape.
3. Remove the frost plug carefully. You should now be able to see the water meter in the bottom of the box.
If there is water or any other debris contact Uisce Éireann. Do not try to clear it with your hand.
Read the meter
Meter serial number
The meter serial number is a combination of letters and numbers. These are either 10 or 11 characters in length depending on the type of meter that you have.
There are two types of water meters, Diehl and Itron. The images below show the location of the serial number on each of these meters.
Business owners
The serial number on your bill will be referred to as the 'Meter no.' in the 'Bill detail' section. To help you read the correct water meter match the serial number on your meter to the serial number on your bill.
