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Most British commercial properties and homes in areas of high water scarcity are fitted with a water meter to measure water consumption.
These households and businesses are charged per cubic metre of water used to encourage more sustainable water usage.
Taking and submitting meter readings is crucial to avoid estimated water rates and ensure accurate billing.
We explain how to take a manual water meter reading and submit it to your business water supplier.
How to take a water meter reading
When submitting a water meter reading, you’ll need to provide your supplier with two pieces of information:
- The date you took the meter reading
- The figures on the front of the water meter
In this section, we’ll cover how to record these figures based on the type of meter.
💡 The most common location for a water meter is in a box on the pavement outside your property. For more information, visit our photographic guide on where to find a water meter.
Analogue water meter reading
Most commercial water meters in the UK are analogue, featuring a series of rotating dials. Below is an image of a typical business water meter:
- Black numbers represent the number of cubic meters measured.
- Red numbers, which appear after the decimal point, measure in tenths or hundredths of a cubic meter.
Important note: Your business water supplier only requires the figures in black.
In this example, a meter reading would be recorded as:
“00216”
Digital water meter reading
Modern water meters feature a digital display. Below is a typical example:
Credit – Waterscan
In a digital meter, the cubic meter reading is displayed separately.
In this example, a meter reading would be recorded as:
“012071”
Submitting a water meter reading
Most business water suppliers offer a water meter reading submission page on their website.
We recommend searching for “Submit water meter reading [your supplier]” to find the specific page.
After submitting your water meter reading, your supplier will calculate your business water consumption by comparing it with previously submitted readings.
💡 Commercial properties with a water meter are subject to volumetric business water rates, where a set fee is charged for each cubic meter of water consumed and sewage generated.
Do I need to submit a water meter reading?
There is no requirement to manually submit water meter readings, as business water suppliers generally take their own readings.
A business water supplier typically arranges their water meter readings once every six months.
Between these actual readings, your supplier will estimate your business water bills.
If you have a smart water meter, then your water supplier will automatically receive daily water meter readings.
Common water meter reading issues
Here are the three most common issues with water meter readings and our advice on overcoming them.
Condensation on the meter display
The meter dial may be obscured by condensation, making it difficult to read.
We recommend using a torch or phone light to improve visibility or leaving the meter cover open on a sunny day to allow the condensation to clear.
Water in the meter chamber
Outdoor meters located in pits can accumulate rainwater, making readings difficult.
We recommend using a sponge or a mug to manually remove the excess water.
If the water appears to be leaking directly from the meter itself, we recommend contacting your supplier’s customer service team to report the problem.
Inaccurate reading
Submitting inaccurate meter readings to your supplier can result in incorrect and potentially costly bills, so it is crucial to ensure your submission is accurate.
We recommend taking a photo of the meter dial when recording a reading. This allows you to double-check before submitting.
How to calculate a water meter reading
A water meter displays the total amount of water consumed since it was installed.
The amount of water you’ve used is calculated by finding the difference between two readings. For example:
- Reading 1: 1 June 2024 – 012001
- Reading 2: 30 June 2024 – 012071
Water consumed in June 2024: 70 cubic metres.
Why is my water meter reading so high?
If your consumption appears abnormally high, this could indicate:
- A business water leak – If there is a water leak at your business property, your water meter will measure both the wasted water and the water your business actually uses.
- A broken water meter – Over time, a water meter may fail to read correctly for various reasons. A business water audit can be conducted to verify its accuracy.
💡 Review our top tips to reduce business water consumption and discover ways to use water more efficiently at your company.
Do I need to take a water meter reading when switching suppliers?
We recommend taking a water meter reading on the date you switch business water suppliers.
Your old and new suppliers will use this reading to calculate their final and first bills, respectively.
💡 At AquaSwitch, we’ve helped thousands of companies compare business water prices and switch to the most cost-effective water tariffs.
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