If you're not sure how to read your meter, or don't know where it's located, this video will guide you through the process.
Hydrant meters are leased on a temporary basis. Using a fire hydrant allows water to be drawn from the public water system without returning it to the public sewer system. Therefore, there are no sewer charges. Some examples of using fire hydrants include to fill swimming pools, to wash streets or to fill tanker trucks.
WSSC Water fire hydrant meters can be used in most of Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. However, areas of Bowie, Rockville, and all of Poolesville have their own water system, so WSSC Water meters cannot be used on their fire hydrants. Also, on-site fire hydrants (usually solid red or yellow) are not WSSC Water’s property, so our hydrant meters cannot be used on these hydrants. All WSSC Water fire hydrants are painted with a green top and a white or light gray body, with the exception of similarly colored and marked fire hydrants in Bowie. Bowie owns and maintains these hydrants.
Fire hydrant meters can be leased from two weeks to a maximum of six months.
A sub-meter is a permanently installed meter that separately records outside water usage - outside water that is not returned to the public sewer system for treatment. A sub-meter is recommended for anyone who uses large amounts of water for a pool, landscaping or gardening.
A fire hydrant meter is a temporary-use meter that draws water from the WSSC Water system. Hydrant meters are recommended for customers who require water at sites where no permanent metered connection is available. Examples for use are washing streets or filling tanker trucks.
No. To install a sub-meter, the following process is recommended:
- Contact at least three WSSC Water-registered plumbers for estimates on modifying your existing pipe-work to accommodate the meter.
- Hire the WSSC Water-registered plumber.
- The plumber applies for the necessary WSSC Water permit.
- The plumber makes the necessary modifications to your existing pipe-work.
- The plumber schedules an inspection of the work through WSSC Water's Regulatory Services Division.
- WSSC Water inspects and leaves an "Approved" sticker on or near the new pipe-work.
- The plumber orders the meter through the Regulatory Services Division inspector so the submeter can be installed as soon as possible, if not same day.
- An adult (18 or older) must be home during the agreed date and time so the meter can be installed.
This process could take up to 7 to 14 days; the meter installation takes about 30 minutes.
Important: The plumber MUST contact WSSC Water to schedule a sub-meter installation. WSSC Water will not read or credit any water that registers on a NON-WSSC Water sub-meter.
Please tell your registered plumber to send the new meter ordering sheet to the following
Effective immediately, all appointments to obtain Meter Wire and Tag must be scheduled in advance. Our Materials Management Division (Warehouses) will transfer meter wire and/or associated tags to a Master Plumber who provides a valid driver’s license and a copy of the Certificate of Registration (WSSD Card). Alternatively, a Master Plumber can designate up to six representatives to act on his/her behalf by emailing a formal letter on company letterhead to meterwiretags@wsscwater.com. The designated representatives are permitted to pick up meter wire/tags with a valid driver’s license, copy of the Certificate of Registration, and a copy of the formal letter. The following allowances remain in effect:
Anacostia Warehouse (Hyattsville, MD):
- The allowances for Meter Wires and Tags per pick-up will be up to 1 spools per vehicle and 10 packs of tags
Gaithersburg, Lyttonsville, and Temple Hills Depots:
- The allowances for Meter Wires and Tags per pick-up will be up to 1 spool per vehicle and three packs of tags
Registered plumbers will need to provide the following information: name, address, phone number, their registration or license number, permit number, meter address, lot and block or parcel number, meter size and location. Please use this New Meter Ordering Sheet when ordering meters.
Note to plumbers or persons scheduling new meter installations via NewMeterOrders@wsscwater.com: always check “Delivery and Read” receipt. You should receive a confirmation email that your Request has been processed and forwarded to the appropriate depot. The confirmation email will contain a primary and secondary point of contact that should be utilized after five days.
After processing your meter order, the depot for your area has up to five days to install the meter. To set up an appointment you will need to contact customer service for scheduling.
Contact our Permit Services at 301-206-4003.
That is the date your plumber completed the work and WSSC Water inspected and accepted your plumber’s work.
For residential accounts, contact Permit Services at 301-206-4003.
For contract jobs and sub-division work, contact our Development Services Division at 301-206-8650.
A remote reading device is a small device, about the size of a deck of playing cards, that lets WSSC Water obtain your meter reading without entering the property. The remote is not a meter; it is attached to your inside meter by a wire. The wire transmits the inside main meter reading to the remote on the outside wall electronically. Visual remotes are read like your car odometer. We recommend a remote reader for all inside meters to avoid the need for estimated billing.
Yes. There are no fees to install the remote unless the property’s unique plumbing configuration is not compatible with the remote. If a finished area prevents WSSC Water from installing the remote, a homeowner can, at their expense, contact a registered plumber to install the remote wire and conduit to an outside wall. The remote is usually installed on the properties outside wall as close to the inside meter as possible.
WSSC Water will replace a meter due to mechanical issues or simple aging. However, an inside water meter must be consistently heated to no less than 55° Fahrenheit to prevent it from freezing. If the water inside the meter freezes and causes a frost bottom leak, we will charge a Damaged Meter Fee that will vary with the meter's size. If a meter is removed and reinstalled incorrectly by a plumber or customer and we have to replace the meter we will charge a Damaged Meter Fee that will vary with the meters size.
A standard meter replacement takes about 15 to 30 minutes. If an inside meter is being replaced with a remote reading device, the installation generally requires 45 to 60 minutes.
All customers are provided with their established four-hour time frame for their appointment. You must agree to the four-hour time frame and have an adult 18 or older at the property during the appointment. Once you are given this information, if for any reason an adult is not at the property when we arrive, a “missed appointment fee” will be billed to the account. Fees vary.
To schedule or cancel an appointment, or if you have questions, please call us at 301-206-4001 or 1-800-634-8400 (toll-free), or contact us online. An appointment must be canceled the day before an appointment, or sooner, to avoid a missed appointment fee.
Please refer to our Directions to Depots with our facility locations.
Last Modified: May 8, 2025, 2:21 pm EDT