Water Meter Access

The City of Nanaimo requires clear access to be maintained to water meter boxes in order to:

• allow for an emergency shut off when required
• read the meter for billing
• check for water leaks
• ensure the meter is functioning properly

If the Water Meter Readers cannot access the meter, the City will leave a card or mail a letter requesting that the meter be cleared to allow access.

Where is my water meter located?

Most water meters are located in the ground inside a meter box, which is on or near the property line or boulevard.

Look for a rectangular meter box with a removable lid (approximately 10x15 inch).

The approximate location of your water meter can be found here: Water Meter Location Map

Clearing access to the meter

If the City personnel cannot read your water meter, we will estimate how much water you've used. This estimate may be based on a 2 or 3 year average, or on a seasonal average for a similar property.

Common reasons the meter is inaccessible:

• Shrubs or vegetation growing over the meter box
• Car parked over the meter box
• Lawn or turf growing over the meter box edges
• Soil, bark mulch or leaves covering the meter box
• Decorative planters placed on top of the meter box

These pictures show a meter box before and after the vegetation has been cut back.

There should be a minimum of three feet (3') on each size of the meter box and four feet (4') above.

These pictures show two meter boxes overgrown with grass and one meter box after it has been cleared.

Please note: the lid must be able to be lifted freely and easily.

After the meter is cleared

If you have received a "Water Meter Access" card:

• Please clear the meter and contact the User Rates department within 48 hours of receiving the card as we may be able to go back to your property and get an actual reading, meaning we will not need to estimate your bill

If you have received a letter:

• Please clear your meter as soon as possible before the next reading period and notify the User Rates department once this has been done. Your bill will likely be estimated for the current billing period