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Meadville Area Water Authority/American Water
HOW YOUR WATER METER WORKS
 Water meters are mechanical devices and measures the flow of water entering your
home. Your meter is read monthly and each month you receive a water/sewer bill
based on the amount of water you use. The meter only records the water used. The
meter can not distinguish how the water is used. Example: If you have a leak, the
meter records the water in the same way that it would if you were washing dishes,
washing clothes or watering your plants.
HOW ACCURATE IS YOUR WATER METER
Water meters are very accurate and each meter is factory tested and comes with certification of the accurately
measured at low, medium, and high flow. New meters are 99% to 101% accurate from the factory and meet
industry standards.
HOW YOUR METER WORKS
Water enters a precision-machined chamber containing a disc which nutates (wobbles). The position of the disc
divides the chamber into compartments containing an exact volume. Liquid pressure drives the disc to wobble
and a roller cam causes the nutating disc to make a complete cycle. The movements of the disc are transmitted
by gear train to an indicator/totalizer or pulse transmitter. Close clearances between the disc and chamber
ensure minimum leakage for accurate and repeatable measurement of each volume cycle.
The nutating disc shown above rotates counter clockwise as water passes through the meter. The disc is carried
on a ball and socket that allows it to freely rotate. The cycles are converted to rotary motion by the measuring
spindle. In turn the meter and register gears perform the turn and the result is shown on the meter in cubic feet.
WHAT IS 100 CUBIC FEET?
Your water consumption is read and billed in 100 cubic feet similar to how your natural gas is read and billed.
One hundred cubic feet = 750 gallons of water.
HOW OFTEN DO WE CHANGE OUT YOUR METER?
We schedule replacement of your meter every 15 years. Every meter that is removed is tested for accurately on
a calibrated test bench. Our testing results show that meters after 15 years of use are approximately 97-98%
accurate.
WHAT IF YOUR WATER USAGE IS HIGHER THAN NORMAL?
Turn off all water your using appliances, and then look at your meter and see if any of the dials are turning on
your meter. If any indicator is turning, you have a leak. Most leaks are due to leaky toilets which we call “the
silent leak”. Other places to look for leaks are faucets, water softeners, and other appliances that are close to a
drain where the leaking water could go unnoticed.
WHAT IF YOU CAN NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF HIGH CONSUMPTION?
Give us a call and schedule an appointment. Our staff is trained in finding leaks.
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