Meter reading
Your water meter registers all water used at your property and is read by council four times a year. This reading is used to charge your water consumption. Water consumption is charged in arrears on your quarterly Utilities Invoice.
For more information regarding your historical water consumption please contact the Customer Service Centre or send an email to Townsville Water.
Reading your meter
Townsville water meters usually display both black and red numbers.
Black numbers represent kilolitres (one kilolitre = one thousand litres).
Red numbers are the breakdown of a kilolitre (hundreds, tens and one litre).
The number of black/red dials can vary depending on the type of meter. For example, the meter reading below has five black dials and three red dials giving a reading of 15,342 kL.

The red dials can assist in identifying water leaks. If they move when there is no water usage on the property then there is an unidentified leak or usage downstream of the meter.
Locating your meter
Generally, water meters are located in the left or right front corner of your property. If you have trouble locating your water meter, contact the Customer Service Centre or send an email to Townsville Water and we can help you locate it.
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Helping our Meter Readers
Most of our customers are very considerate and we would like to thank them for their co-operation.
Please remember that it is the property owner's responsibility to ensure that the meter is kept visible and accessible at all times to allow easy access by Council staff to read and maintain them.
Please keep the following points in mind:
Keep the Meter Clear
- Cut back shrubs and grass around the meter.
- Ensure the water meter is not buried or covered with mulch.
- Don't plant prickly or spiky plants around your meter, e.g. Agave, Bougainvillea
- Fences and Gates
- Access to the meter must be provided at all times for reading and maintenance purposes.
Dogs
- We like dogs but for the safety of our meter readers, please ensure aggressive dogs are kept under control.
For more information, please contact the Customer Service Centre or send an email to Townsville Water.
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