How to Connect a Water Meter

A. Johnson

The water meter is normally the property and responsibility of the water department. Typically the water meter is not installed until the property owner is ready to hook up for water service. (Until that time, a saddle, or connection, is installed underground, outside of the property line, waiting for a meter to be attached.) After the property owner signs up for service and pays a fee with the water company, a meter is installed and hooked up to the main water line, which may be located in the street. It is then the property owner's responsibility to connect the home to the water meter.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Copper piping
• Fittings
• Pipe wrench
• Crescent wrench

Instructions

1. 

   Locate the main line going into the building. When a house is built, there will be a main water line going into the house to supply water. This is often located at the side of the house by a garage entrance door.

2. Dig a trench from the water line going into the house to the water meter. Normally you should do this before pouring driveways or concrete.

3. Note where you are locating the line so you can access it in case there is a future leak or other problem.

4. Lay copper piping in the trench from the water meter to the main line going into the house.

5. Connect one end of the copper line to the water meter's outlet, and the other end of the copper line to the inlet for the house (located in Step 1). Use the appropriate fittings on each end of the copper line to properly fit on the water meter's outlet and the inlet to the house.