How to Read a Water MeterBy Lynn Smith, P.G.

December 17, 2017

Water Meter BasicsMost flow meters can measure:

Flow rate (Gallons per Minute) ANDFlow volume (Gallons, Gallons X 1,000, Acre Feet)

Some flow meters measure the volume for a year that annually gets set back to zero and also a total volume since the meter was built.

Flow volume is also called total flow or flow totalizer.

Water Meter BasicsMeters can be self-contained standalone devices or they can have separate display and sensor units.

Most saddle meters, and practically all mechanical meters, are self contained; however, Growsmart pivot controls and EcoDrip drip station controls frequently have separate display and sensor units.

Totalizer Units of MeasurementReporting the correct units of measurement and placing the decimal in the right location is critical.

Common units of measurement are:Gallons X 1,000Gallons X 100Acre Feet (may be abbreviated as AcFt, ACFT, or A.F.)Gallons X 10Acre InchesGallons

Unit ConversionTo obtain Acre Feet from another unit, multiply the given value by the following:

(Acre Feet) X 1 Equals Acre Feet(Gallons X 1,000) X 0.00306 Equals Acre FeetGallons X 100 X 0.000306 Equals Acre FeetGallons X 10 X 0.0000306 Equals Acre FeetAcre Inches X 0.083 Equals Acre FeetGallons X 0.00000306 Equals Acre Feet

Meter ExamplesPropeller flow meter with mechanical totalizer

Serial Number is stamped onto lid

Most frequent units are Gallons X 100

Some have a different color wheel in thelast position that can indicate that thedecimal point falls just to the right of it, flow test to confirm.

Meter ExamplesPropeller flow meter with electronic totalizer

Serial Number is printed on display face, very small print

Most frequent units are Gallons X 100 but vary

The units label frequently falls off, the housing must be removed to find it.

Meter ExamplesMagnetic flow meter with electronic totalizer

Serial Number is printed on label attached to side of display

Most frequent units are Gallons X 1000

Meter must be grounded to function properly

Meter ExamplesMagnetic flow meter with electronic totalizer

Serial Number is printed on label attached to top of display and saddle

Most frequent units are Gallons X 1000

Meter must be grounded to function properly

Meter ExamplesUltrasonic flow meter with electronic totalizer

Serial Number is printed on label attached to top of display, small print

Common units are Gallons and Acre Feet but vary considerably

Top number is the totalizer, its units are on right side of display near the top

Meter ExamplesRemote mounted flow meter sensor, common on electronic pivot control panels and drip stations

Serial Number is printed on stainless steel flange, extremely small print

Units determined by pivot control panel or remote display at the drip station

Meter ExamplesElectronic pivot control panels with remote mounted flow meter sensor

Method of reading varies but frequently involves pressing the down arrow once or twice from the home screen

Common units are Acre Feet and 1,000 Gallons. There may be both a permanent totalizer and an annual, we need permanent totalizer data.