Your water meter

Your property's water meter is essential for us to accurately measure and charge for your water use.

Types of water meters

We offer three different types of water meters to suit the needs of all of our residential customers.

DB water meter

GVB water meter

RMC or ZEB water meter

Reading your water meter

Reading your water meter is the important first step that we take to calculate and issue your bill. Learn more about our process.

How we read your water meter

  1. Hunter Water engages contractors to read your water meter every four months.
  2. Our meter readers carry identification cards and wear high-visibility uniforms that are labelled Meter Reading Contractor.
  3. A bill is sent about 7-10 working days after this reading.
  4. If our meter readers can not read your water meter, we will leave an Unable to Read Water Meter Card in your letterbox. To ensure that we can read your meter and bill you correctly, please make it easy for our meter readers to access your meter. Learn more about how to make your meter accessible.
  5. Your water usage is calculated by deducting your last reading from your current reading. This is shown on the second page of your bill. Learn more about understanding your bill.
  6. Your water usage and other charges are calculated and your bill is sent to you. Learn more about your fees and charges.

Watch now: How to read your meter and check for water leaks

Meter testing

If you feel that your meter isn't recording accurately, learn more about what you can do to have your meter tested.

Frequently asked questions

  • Where is my water meter?

    Your water meter is usually just inside the front boundary of your property. You’ll recognise it as a low metal pipe structure with a tap handle or lever at one end and a meter dial in the middle. Remember to keep your meter and frame clear of leaves and garden debris as we need to have easy access to it. The area above and below as well as around you meter and frame should have a 15 cm (minimum) clearance of hazards such as concrete, dirt, shrubs or trees.

    If you live in a unit of large buildings the water meter may be found in the utilities cupboard on each floor, or at the front of the property in smaller buildings.

    If you need help locating your water meter, please contact us.

  • How often do you read my meter?

    We read your water meter every four months (i.e. three times a year). The number of days between these meter reads read may differ as we don't read your meter on exactly the same dates each billing cycle.

    This can be due to operational reasons or other factors, including bad weather, locked gates or a dog on your property. This means that the number of days you are charged for your water and sewerage services can vary slightly, affecting the amount on your bill.

  • I found a meter reading card in my letterbox?

    If we were unable to access your meter, we leave an Unable to Read Meter Card (see image) in your letterbox seeking you provide us with an urgent meter reading. You can provide us with a meter reading by using our online form.

    We may not be able to read your meter if it's behind a locked gate or unsafe to enter the property. Hazards that may prevent our meter readers accessing the meter include:

    • there is a dog
    • overgrown garden or grass
    • buried in concrete or dirt

    If we do not obtain a meter reading your water usage will be estimated based on previous actual water meter readings.

  • Why is my meter reading estimated?

    We try our best to to read every meter. However, sometimes circumstances prevent us from obtaining a meter read and we will need to estimate the read. An estimate is based on the property's previous usage pattern. For future readings, an actual meter reading will try to be obtained again, and if successful the actual usage is taken and billed to ensure the customer has only been billed for what they have used.

    Estimates are done when:

    • we can not access the water meter (i.e. meter is located behind locked gate, under bushes or a dog on premises),
    • the meter is damaged and dials are not readable;
    • the meter has stopped working and is not recording water passing through the meter, and
    • the meter cannot be located.
  • If I live in a unit can I organise a separate meter?

    We provide residents of strata and community title properties with the option to have separate metering. This means, each owner will pay for the water they actually use rather than a percentage apportionment of the total usage based on unit entitlement.

  • How can I check that the meter reading on my bill is correct?

    Once you receive your bill from Hunter Water, you can compare the meter reading shown on the back of your water bill (page 2), to the black numbers contained within the dial on your water meter.

    As the meter was read a number of days ago, the numbers on the meter dial are likely to be slightly higher than what is shown on the bill.

  • How do I read my water meter dial?

    There are different types of water meters across the region. The black numbers on your water meter represent kilolitres (kL). One kilolitre (kL) equals 1000 litres (L).

    We use the black numbers to calculate the water usage on your bill.

  • Can I submit my own meter reading?

    You need to tell us the reading within three days if we've left a self-reading card. Otherwise we'll need to estimate your water use based on your past patterns.

    If you've read the meter yourself, you can:

    • Submit your reading online
    • call us on 1300 657 657 Monday to Friday between 9 am and 5 pm
    • post the card back to us.