Meter Testing

Water Meter testing

On the rare occasion when a water meter's accuracy is in doubt - for example, when your bill is unexpectedly high, yet no water leaks have been found on the property - you can request to have the meter tested. WSSC Water offers third-party certified meter testing services to our customers. If you suspect your water meter is malfunctioning, call our Customer Service Advisors to review your billed water consumption. Our staff will review your usage to help determine the reason(s) for the increased consumption.

Meter Test Fees

The fees page lists the current meter test fees. If your account is current, WSSC Water will bill the charge to your account. Otherwise, the fee must be paid in advance. The meter test fee will be credited to your account if the test indicates that your meter over-registered.

How To Request a Meter Test

After receiving your request, customers who have inside meters will be contacted to schedule a weekday appointment for the meter's removal. Customers with outside meters do not need to schedule an appointment.

To request meter-testing, call us at 301-206-4001 (toll-free, 1-800-634-8400). TTY users please call 301-206-8345. Or you can email us at customerservice@wsscwater.com, or mail your request to:

WSSC Water
Correspondence Services Unit
14501 Sweitzer Lane
Laurel, Maryland 20707

Witnessing the test

Please notify us if you want to be present when your meter is tested, and include a daytime phone number so we can contact you to discuss scheduling. Once the old meter is removed and a new meter is installed, our meter shop will contact you. The test will be scheduled during normal business hours at a mutually convenient time.

How meters are tested

Residential meters are tested in our specially equipped, third party certified facility in Anacostia/Hyattsville. A calibrated 120 gallons of water is passed through the meter's registration chamber. Meters are tested at three different flow rates in accordance with American Water Works Association (AWWA) test standards. According to AWWA, a small residential meter is accurate if it measures plus or minus 1.5% of 100% (98.5% to 101.5%) of all the water passing through it during the test.

Less than 1% of our small meters over-register when tested. Our meters slow down over time like any other mechanical device.

If the meter over-registered, we will credit the meter test fee if it was paid in advance. Bills reflecting excess usage (up to three years) will be reviewed for an adjustment of charges.

When a meter is removed for testing, we will issue a “meter change” bill. The charge is not for the meter; rather, it bills the account for water that registered on the meter after the last billing period and prior to removal.

Upon request, WSSC Water will notify you in writing of your meter's test results.