Water Meter Information

Residential Customers

In most cases, the water meter is located at the front of the property near the street underground with a plastic or metal lid.

Commercial Customers

In most cases, the water meter is located at the front of the property, or could be located in the back or side of property under ground. In some cases depending on the size of the commercial property, the meter will be locked underground in a large vault. In these cases, do not attempt to obtain a reading. Please contact the City of Archdale to obtain a reading of the meter.

Reading a water meter is similar to reading an automobile odometer. Most meters have a seven-digit number on the face called the readout. This shows the total number of gallons used since the meter was installed. When water passes through a traditional meter, all of the numbers revolve except the last one on the right which is fixed to zero. The large sweep hand registers for this last increment - revolving one time for every ten gallons used.

Determining Your Water Usage

To calculate your water use, pick a starting point at which to read your meter; record the reading and date. Read the meter a week later; subtract the first reading from the second to find out how much water was used. For example you get a reading of 012250 and the second time you get a reading of 015250. Subtract (015250-12250) which equals 3,000. Therefore 3,000 gallons of water has gone through the water meter.

Inside the Home

  • Running the Tap: 2 to 5 gallons per minute
  • Taking a Shower: 2 to 7 gallons per minute
  • Taking a Bath: 20 to 60 gallons per bath
  • Washing a Full Load of Clothes: 24 to 40 gallons per load
  • Flushing the Toilet: 1.28 to 7 gallons per flush
  • Running an Automatic Dishwasher: 10 to 20 gallons per load

Outside the Home

  • Running the Hose: 5 to 10 gallons per minute
  • Watering 1,000 Square Feet of Grass in Summer: 850 gallons per week
  • Watering 1,000 Square Feet of Grass in Fall: 400 gallons per week
  • Watering 1,000 Square Feet of Shrubs in Summer: 450 gallons per week
  • Watering 1,000 Square Feet of Grass in Fall: 200 gallons per week
  • Watering a Mature Fruit Tree (15-Foot Canopy) in Summer: 131 gallons per week