Your water meter is more than just a billing tool—it's your personal water detective, ready to help you catch leaks, track usage, and keep your bills in check. Hillsboro Water uses Neptune Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) meters to record how much water flows into your home. Once a month, our staff drives through your neighborhood with a special receiver that picks up your meter reading by radio signal. 

Use Your Meter to Check for Leaks

Because the meter is only read once per month, Hillsboro Water can only see leaks during the regular read. You can use your water meter's built-in display to check for leaks in your home at any time. 

1. Turn Off All the Water in Your Home

Include all fixtures and appliances like sinks, toilets, washing machines, ice makers, etc. 

2. Locate Your Meter Box

It will usually be near the roadway in front of your home. Lift the lid off the box to access the meter. 

3. Open the Cover to Reveal the Display

If the screen is nothing on the screen, shine a flashlight over the display to activate the screen. 

4. Reading Your Meter

The first number that shows on the display is your water read. This is the number Hillsboro Water reads every month. The meter will automatically cycle to the next number. Your water rate is the second number shown on the screen. Depending on your meter, it may be in cubic feet or gallons per minute. 

5. Checking for Leaks

If all water in your house is off, the rate will be 0.00. If the water in your house is off but the rate is more than 0, you have a leak. Some meters also have a leak indicator icon, a dripping faucet. Find and fix home leaks to save water and money. 

Need help reading your meter? Watch this step-by-step video on reading your water meter.

Take Your Water Tracking to the Next Level

While AMR meters make billing efficient and accurate, they don't provide real-time leak alerts or daily usage tracking. If you'd like that extra level of monitoring, a Smart Water Meter might be right for you.

These devices install right after your City meter and connect to an app on your phone, giving you live water-use data, instant leak notifications, and hourly water consumption tracking.  Hillsboro Water offers a $150 rebate toward the purchase of any qualifying Smart Water Meter Device. 

Whether you're doing a quick leak check or considering a smart upgrade, you're taking an important step toward protecting your home and your wallet. Check out more water-saving tips, available rebates, and helpful resources now.