Water Meters

Water Meters

The City of Boulder’s Public Works Department/Utilities Division installed new water meters throughout the city from 2000 to 2003. Meter readers are able to read the meters by a radio signal from a disk installed in the meter pit lid or white box located near the meter pit. A vehicle equipped with a mobile computer-based data collection system designed for radio frequency data collection receives the water meter readings from transponders in the meter pit. Each transmission takes 1/30 of a second and will transmit over a typical range of 500 feet. This operating range is dependent on signal dissemination and location. Obstacles that could affect the signal are building materials, foliage and metal objects in the line of sight from the vehicle to the meter pit. For these reasons, it is very important that customers maintain clear access to their water meters from the public right-of-way.

Get to Know Your Water Meter

Do you know where your water meter is?

Water meter pits are usually located in the right-of-way between the sidewalk and street, or 1 ½ feet from the sidewalk. They’re covered by round lids with the words “Water Meter” imprinted on them.

Do you know that maintaining access to your water meter is critical as well as required by city code?

Please help your water meter reader and service people by keeping bushes and trees trimmed and by clearing snow and ice from the lid of the meter pit. Landscaping or fencing should be kept the specific distance from the meter pit. It will help with:

• Emergency turnoffs (such as a frozen pipe) when you’re not home or unable to turn off the water yourself;
• Emergency maintenance to the water meter.
  

If the required access is not maintained:

• It could mean the difference between a timely response to an emergency and the extra time it would take to find and correct the access to your water meter pit.

Do you know how to shut off your water meter in an emergency?

Every family member should know the location of the water shut-off valve inside your house (different from the water meter valve) and how to shut off water in case of an emergency such as a broken water pipe. This little bit of knowledge can prevent extensive and expensive damage to your home.

Last Updated on Friday, 13 July 2007 03:28