Orange Water and Sewer Authority
400 JONES FERRY ROAD
CARRBORO NC 27510
Telephone: (919) 968-4421 or E-mail: OWASA

Information About Your Water Meter


General Information:

Your water meter, owned and maintained by OWASA, is a highly accurate and dependable water measuring device. It registers all the water used in your home or building. It is located in a small box in the ground near the street or the edge of the property . The meter is read each month by an OWASA meter reader. To assist the reader, please keep the meter box free of garbage cans, boxes, piles of yard waste, or parked vehicles. Please do not install fences or plant trees or shrubs which restrict access t o your meter. Our field personnel appreciate your cooperation!


"Creeping" meter:

If a meter reader or maintenance person observes that your meter is "creeping"--a small dial on your water meter moving very slowly--you may be notified. A "creeping" meter may indicate a leak or drip somewhere in your system. If the leak seems serious, you may wish to turn off your master valve (see blue card at left) until the problem is located and repaired. It is to your advantage to repair all leaks and drips as soon as detected.


Meter Maintenance:

OWASA has a schedule to check your meter periodically to be sure it is working correctly and to repair it if necessary. The meter won't cheat you--meters in need of repair will under-register, rather than over-register, your water usage. However, if you feel strongly that your meter is not working properly, you may request that your meter be tested. If the meter has not been tested in the past five years and test results show that the meter is over-registering water usage, you will not be charged for the test.


Meter Change-Out Program:

OWASA regularly replaces meters which are ten or more years old. The schedule for meter change-out areas is published in each customer newsletter The Blue Thumb. When your meter is changed, meter shop crew will knock on the door and hang a tag notifying you that your water will be turned off briefly while your meter is changed. There is no direct charge for a new meter.

 

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