Meters are the property of Charleston Water System. They measure how much water flows from CWS's public water system into a customer's private plumbing system.
Water meters measure customers' water use in cubic feet. As water passes through the meter, the hand on the meter dial rotates clockwise. Each time it makes a complete
rotation, the register will increase by one, indicating that one hundred cubic feet (equal to 748 gallons)
of water has been used.
Reading your meter
Charleston Water System reads your meter once every 28 - 31 days. It's important to make sure your meter is accessible by keeping it free of obstacles such as debris or unfriendly dogs. If for some reason we are unable to get a meter reading, we'll estimate your usage based on your usage history, then make any necessary adjustments after the next meter reading.
Water-filled meter boxes
Because of the high groundwater table in the Lowcountry, it's normal for water meter boxes to fill with water. For meters that are read manually, our meter readers carry pumps to pump out the water so they can clearly see the meter reading.
Automated meter reading (AMR)
The majority of Charleston Water System customers have meters equipped with automated meter reading (AMR) technology. AMR meters have a flat disk on top of the meter box that transmits the meter's reading via radio signal. Our meter readers have laptop computers that pick up the signal when they drive by. These meters can still be read manually by removing the lid of the meter box and reading the dial.
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