Consumer Services & Outreach
Reading Your Meter
How To Read Your Water Meter
DC Water can read most water meters in the District of Columbia electronically, so there's typically no need for you to read your water meter. However, in case you're interested, the information below will help you read your water meter and calculate your monthly fees. (Please note that we discourage you from reading outside water meters since removing and replacing the cap covers can be a safety hazard.)
Determining Your Monthly Water Usage
Follow these simple steps to figure out your water usage each month:
- Note and record the "read" number on your water meter on the first of the month.
- Record the "read" number at the end of the month.
- Determine your monthly water consumption by taking the end-of-the-month number and subtracting the first-of-the-month number from it.
For example, in the illustration below, the first reading was 00; by the end of the month, the number is 844, which means 844 cubic feet (cf) of water.
DC Water bills in hundred cubic feet (ccf) units of measure and only charges for whole units. So, when reading your meter, disregard the numbers on the black background, because they are fractions. In the example below, the current reading is 8 ccfs. After subtracting 0 (the first-of-the-month reading), the total is 8 ccfs.
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Previous Read:
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TOTAL CONSUMPTION: 8-0000 = 8ccf (ignore numbers with black background) |
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Determining Your Water and Sewer Charges
Multiply your consumption (figure this out by using the instructions above) by the current rate for water and the current rate for sewer services.
Don't forget to add in your meter fee and the District of Columbia's right-of-way fee and stormwater fee to calculate your entire bill.
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