Water Meters
SPU’s Water Meters
Water meters accurately measure all water flow - including leaky faucets and toilets. Seattle Public Utilities’ (SPU) water meters have a silver serrated dial that spins proportionally to the water flow on your property. All water meters are calibrated and certified in accordance with industry standards to ensure accuracy.
Water meters are typically located:
- in iron boxes sunk in the ground;
- in the parking strip or sidewalk in front of or at the side of your house;
- or they are covered by a 1x2 ft. metal plate that says CWM (City Water Meter).
If you cannot locate your water meter please call (206) 684-5800.
Water meters for Seattle Public Utilities measure in cubic feet. Note that 1 cubic foot is equal to 7.48 gallons of water
Things to consider about your water meter:
- Look out for leaks - Leaks are a common cause of higher-than-expected water bills. Your water meter may be your most useful tool in identifying water leaks on your property.
- Downsizing your water meter - Water usage at a property can vary over the years due to changes in the number of people in your home or in the type of business. Also, you may conserve more water as you make changes in home and business water usage patterns.
- Keep your water meter accessible - Our staff reads your meter every month or every 2 months. Please keep your meter accessible so our staff can quickly read your meter and result in an accurate charge on your bill.
- Reading your water meter - You may want to read your water meter for a couple of reasons. First, you may be interested in how much water you are using on a daily basis. Second, you may want to check for leaks. If you turn off all the water in your house, and the meter is still turning, you may have a leak.
- Testing your water meter for accuracy - As time passes, your meter may become old and begin to deteriorate or become damaged, resulting in inaccurate readings. This can make it hard to detect leaks or cause other problems. You can test your water meter for accuracy.