How to read a Water Meter

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simon14

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#109482 20-Sep-2012 15:09

Hi team,

Most water meters have 8 digits of numbers. The first four are white and these are read by the meter reader. The last four digits are red.

I'd like to know how much water the red digits represent?

Example:

My reading at 6:30am was: 0496 3982
My reading at 8:30am was: 0496 4613

the "6" at the end of the first four digits represents 1kl which equals to 1000 L

What are the last 4 digits measured in? I called watercare and they said it shows we sued 631 L - i dont think this is correct though as the "6" which represents 1000 L didnt tick over so would the last 4 digits be more like 398.2 ? Meaning we actually used 63 L over this period?

mjb

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#688888 20-Sep-2012 15:15

What's a water meter? ;)

I'd assume that it's in tenths of litres as you suggest - I can't imagine you using 631 L during your morning routine.... 63.1 on the other hand seems a lot more reasonable.

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John2010

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#688895 20-Sep-2012 15:21

Yes, the first 3 red digits are thousandths of a cubic metre i.e. litres.

ubergeeknz

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Vocus

#688896 20-Sep-2012 15:22

It follows that if the 4th digit is 1000l, that the 5th would be 100l, 6th 10l, 7th 1l, and 8th .1l

John2010

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#688923 20-Sep-2012 16:13

It doesn't just "follow", they definitely are, as I said, litres; the first 3 digits being the whole litres - no question about it at all.

xpd

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#688930 20-Sep-2012 16:37

Found this from an AU site... http://www.watercorporation.com.au/R/readmeter.cfm

"Where billing is concerned you only need to read the white numbers (on a black background) which measure the kilolitres. We only bill for kilolitres used. (1000 litres=1kl)

The red numbers represent litres. The red numbers are useful as they allow you to see how much water your average shower, laundry cycle or dishwasher uses for example. Just make sure to turn off all other water using appliances to give you an accurate reading."

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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simon14

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#688957 20-Sep-2012 17:12

xpd: Found this from an AU site... http://www.watercorporation.com.au/R/readmeter.cfm

"Where billing is concerned you only need to read the white numbers (on a black background) which measure the kilolitres. We only bill for kilolitres used. (1000 litres=1kl)

The red numbers represent litres. The red numbers are useful as they allow you to see how much water your average shower, laundry cycle or dishwasher uses for example. Just make sure to turn off all other water using appliances to give you an accurate reading."

Yes but int hat example on the australian site, they only have 3 red numbers.

I just dont see why there isnt a point between the 7th and 8th digit to make it more clear.

UncleArk

110 posts

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#688975 20-Sep-2012 17:34

This link may provide some useful into... Christchurch related but the models of meters are used throughout NZ

http://www.ccc.govt.nz/homeliving/watersupply/ourwater/waterwise/checkingforleaks.aspx

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John2010

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#688984 20-Sep-2012 17:44

simon14:
Yes but int hat example on the australian site, they only have 3 red numbers.

I just dont see why there isnt a point between the 7th and 8th digit to make it more clear.

The meters, depending on who manufactured by and the product, have various numbers of digits in the right hand set and these exist in NZ i.e. they don't all have 4 digits here either and there are 2 digit ones used in some places here.

But they do have a decimal point, it is denoted by the different colour of the left and right sets of digits.

The left set of digits is whole cubic meters (1000 litres) and the right hand set is the decimal part of cubic meters.

So, in your case where the right set is 4 digits that is .xxxx cubic meters. You are trying to add another decimal point so that your meter would read xxxx.xx.x cubic meters which is not arithmetically correct.

simon14

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#688994 20-Sep-2012 17:59

John2010:
simon14:
Yes but int hat example on the australian site, they only have 3 red numbers.

I just dont see why there isnt a point between the 7th and 8th digit to make it more clear.

The meters, depending on who manufactured by and the product, have various numbers of digits in the right hand set and these exist in NZ i.e. they don't all have 4 digits here either and there are 2 digit ones used in some places here.

But they?do have a decimal point, it is denoted by the different colour of the left and right sets of digits.
?
The left set of digits is whole cubic meters (1000 litres) and the right hand set is the decimal part of cubic meters.

So, in your case where the right set is 4 digits that is .xxxx cubic meters. You are trying to add another decimal point so that your meter would read xxxx.xx.x cubic meters which is not arithmetically correct.

Thank you - that makes perfect sense.

I was trying to look at the red numbers in litres - not as a point after the first four.

John2010

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#689000 20-Sep-2012 18:19

Yes it can be confusing if one doesn't realise that the scale is in cubic meters.

EDIT: I see I made a typo in my previous post, meant to type "xxxx.xxx.x" for how you were trying to read your meter's case, I missed an "x" out but you sorted it just fine

simon14

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#689027 20-Sep-2012 18:47

John2010: Yes it can be confusing if one doesn't realise that the scale?is in cubic meters.

EDIT: I see I made a typo in my previous post, meant to type "xxxx.xxx.x" for how you were trying to read your meter's case, I missed an "x" out but you sorted it just fine .

Yea i thought that was a typo O:-)

richms

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#690484 24-Sep-2012 10:57

I need to find a used car dealer to deal to my meter with this insane change in water costs in auckland ;)

Richard rich.ms