Did you know that it is illegal to tamper with any portion of a public water system? It starts with the water meter and continues backwards to the mainline and covers all devices, lines, valves, control points, reservoirs, fences, communication systems and more. The Bioterrorism Act, which became law on June 12, 2002, increased the penalties for tampering or attempting to tamper with a public water system. Under the new law, any person tampering with a public water system can be imprisoned for up to twenty years. Anyone attempting to tamper with a system can be imprisoned for up to ten years. EPA can also bring a civil action against anyone who tampers with a system; the maximum penalty for tampering is now $1,000,000, while the penalty for attempts can be up to $100,000.

Positive Displacement (PD) Water Meters

All Positive Displacement (PD) water meters are read manually once a month. These meters are extremely accurate and reliable.  As water flows through the meter, it causes an internal disc to move, which advances the meter’s register and records water consumption. The faster the water flows, the faster the register advances. The slower the flow, the slower it advances. When water stops flowing, the disc stops moving, and the meter stops recording usage. 

Simply put, a PD Meter water meter only records the volume of water that actually passes through it.

Click HERE for a short video on the operation of a Badger Nutating Disc Water Meter.

Most all of our PD water meters currently in service on the UBWA system have a similar variation of the dial shown below. Notice that your water meter has only one dial. They not only look like an automobile odometer, they work like one too.

The dial has a sweep hand which measures water usage in gallons. One complete revolution equals ten gallons of water used. The odometer-type register in the middle of the dial registers the hundreds of gallons used.

To read the meter you record the numbers from the odometer-type register. Since the odometer registers in hundreds of gallons you do not record the last two numbers. (The last number is a permanent number and the next dial registers tenths.) The remaining dials register the actual (in hundreds) water used. Subtract the previous reading from the new reading and you will know how many hundreds of gallons of water you have used. 

New Ultra Sonic Smart Water Meters

Over the next 4 to 5 years we will be replacing all of our PD meters with new Highly accurate, lead-free brass ultrasonic smart water meters. They are connected to a Mueller Mi.Node which is a two-way radio transmitter that transmits to our meter reading equipment when we read the meter. This helps to elminate misreads, skipped reads, overreads and underreads. 

In the process of replacing/updating the water meters, we will also be replacing the water meter boxes. 

Click HERE for a breakdown on how to read and understand these new water meters. 

Your Water Meter Setup

Your water meter box should contain the water meter and a gate valve. On the member’s side of the meter, you will typically find a pressure regulator and an in-line check valve. Some services may not require a pressure regulator due to the elevation of the residence and the available water pressure.

Gate Valve: This valve allows you to shut off the water supply to your home or property in the event of a leak or when performing plumbing repairs.

In-Line Check Valve: This valve helps prevent water from draining backward out of your service line in the event of a break in UBWA’s water main.

Pressure Regulator: When installed, this device reduces and controls the water pressure supplied to your home.

If your gate valve or in-line check valve is missing, damaged, or not functioning properly, please contact a licensed plumber to have it repaired or replaced.

If a backflow prevention device is required, it will generally be installed in a separate box a few feet from the meter box. Its location may vary depending on the member’s specific requirements.

Important: Do Not Operate the Association’s Angle Stop

DO NOT USE the curb/angle stop located immediately before the water meter to shut off water to your residence.

This valve is the property of Umpqua Basin Water Association and is not designed for frequent operation by members. Improper use can damage the valve or cause leaks. If the valve is damaged or develops a leak as a result of unauthorized use, the member may be responsible for replacement costs, which can approach $1,000 in parts and labor.

Always use your gate valve to shut off the water to your home. Do not use the Association’s angle stop.