I work for a rural water office. We have a customer that had a meter reading of exactly
1,077,200 gallons usage. The 77,200 usage is not abnormal for his account.

We have always been told that meters only register readings when water is forced through them. And they slow down as they get older, even to the point of eventually not registering anymore.

However, one of our servicemen stated that at one of the work shops he went to he remembers a lecture in regards to this same situation. Of the meter turning to 1,000,000 mark for no apparent reason.

Any documentation would be greatly appreciated. Since our company doesn't allow adjustments he will be out $1700.00.

Thanks,

Kim

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kkm1960

I work for a rural water office. We have a customer that had a meter reading of exactly
1,077,200 gallons usage. The 77,200 usage is not abnormal for his account.

We have always been told that meters only register readings when water is forced through them. And they slow down as they get older, even to the point of eventually not registering anymore.

However, one of our servicemen stated that at one of the work shops he went to he remembers a lecture in regards to this same situation. Of the meter turning to 1,000,000 mark for no apparent reason.

Any documentation would be greatly appreciated. Since our company doesn't allow adjustments he will be out $1700.00.

Thanks,

Kim

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Isn't your department responsible for the meter and it's maintenance -- Most utilities are.

If so, an argument could certainly be made that the burden of testing the meter in question for accuracy is also your responsibility.

Also, I'd check with your legal department, If there is a leak at the outlet union of your meter where it connects to your pigtail -- Not where your pigtail connects to his water line, then the responsibility is also yours.

I'd also talk to your legal department about not allowing adjustments if the fault is found to be yours -- A lawsuit from the homeowner is going to cost a great deal more than $1700.00

Actually he could have a good law suit against your company, so your water dept had better change out his meter and adjust his bill. There is no way a company can have a "no adjustmet" policy, since it would not hold up in court.

Since you are a utility there will be attorneys lined up to represent this man for the additional legal fees they can bill you when they win.

Meters can and do have errors and faults at times and trying to say they don't as they get older is just silly and not realistic.

** Family owns construction business and installs water mains for city contracts.

I had a water meter that gave readings more than twice the normal usage, no leaks were found with two different inspections, and the meter did not run when the water was shut off. The city water department denied that the meter could ever be at fault, but I requested a replacement meter, at my own cost, and the water readings immediately dropped to normal, less than half of what the old meter was showing. While all city officials denied that the meter could ever be faulty or give bad readings, I find it hard to believe that any man-made device would be eternally infallible. Meters may be subject to show readings only when water passes through, but I have experienced an expensive episode where the meter registered more than half of what was being used. My only recourse at this point is to complain to the city mayor's office.