Water meter readings: algorithm for taking readings and transmitting them to regulatory authorities

Using a water meter significantly reduces utility bills.However, sometimes consumers receive receipts with inflated bills. As a rule, the reason for the discrepancy between the amount and the actual consumption is incorrectly transmitted water meter readings for the month.

Agree, the situation is unpleasant, requiring correction of the error and adjustment of indicators. To avoid inaccuracies, you should find out in advance the rules for reading data from the meter, the timing and methods of transmitting them to the water utility. Our article is devoted to clarifying these issues.

The need to verify flow meters

Individual water meters are designed for continuous monitoring of water consumption. Based on the readings taken from them, the volume presented for calculations for payment is determined.

Therefore, the serviceability and measurement accuracy of water meters is an indispensable condition for accepting data from these devices for water charges. Confirmation of the compliance of flow meters with the requirements imposed on them, and a mandatory condition for their operation, is periodic, timely verification.

If, during the period allotted for verification, the device has not passed it and is not replaced with a new one or another, then its readings cease to matter and are not accepted for calculation

Calculations for water use in the absence of verification are made according to the following algorithm:

1. Within 3 months after the end of the verification period, average readings for the last year are taken.
2. Starting from the 4th month, until the verification is carried out, the calculation is carried out at the standard cost.

In order for the transmitted readings to be accepted as valid, water meters must be verified only by organizations accredited for this type of work.

Read more about the timing and nuances of checking water meters in the articles:

1. Calibration period for cold and hot water meters: calibration intervals and rules for conducting them
2. Verification of water meters at home without removal: timing and details of verification

The meaning of the numbers on the indicator

The indicator of the volume of water consumed is represented by rotating digital cells. Since there are 1000 liters of water in one cubic meter, it would also be correct to assume that the red numbers indicate liters of water consumed.

Having reached a reading of 999, the red numbers are reset to zero, and one is added to the fifth cell of the cubic meter reading.

The amount of whole cubic meters of water consumed is shown in black numbers, which are located to the left of the decimal point. It is these readings that are taken into account when calculating. Fractions of cubic meters, as is customary in mathematics, are located to the right after the decimal point and are colored red (+)

Taking readings from different types of water meters

The issue of collecting data on water consumption from meters must be treated very responsibly and carefully, since the amount of charges for water consumption depends on the information provided to the supplier.

To correctly obtain information, you need to have a good understanding of what readings are reflected on the front panel of the device.

When you first take water consumption data from a new device, there is no need to perform any calculations. In the future, you should take into account the difference between the readings taken at the moment and the previous values.

The following are mainly used for water metering: types of devices:

• roller;
• with an electronic scoreboard;
• smart meters.

On the front panel of a roller water meter, as a rule, eight (usually) or five windows with numbers are displayed. Electronic meters are less in demand due to their higher cost, with the same functionality as roller meters, and the lack of noticeable advantages.

The procedure for taking water meter readings is not very difficult. And all that is needed is to carefully write down the current value of the consumed volume of water displayed on the meter and, taking into account the previous readings, perform an arithmetic operation

Option No. 1 - eight-roller device

The fractional part of the device readings, with an indication of eight rollers, can be ignored or rounded according to the rules of mathematics. With a value of more than 499 liters - down, with numbers over 500 liters - up.

In any case, rounding the fractional part or ignoring it will not change the number of cubic meters submitted for payment. To avoid confusion, you need to adhere to the chosen method when collecting data monthly.

Taking the readings presented in the figure as an example, when you first take the data for the calculation, you can take 4 cubic meters if you do not take into account the fractional value, or 5 cubic meters of water if you round up. In the next billing period, you can record 11 cubic meters, since rounding will not change this value

Option No. 2 - five-roller flow meter

The front panel of some water meters is represented by combined indicators: digital (roller) and pointer. The digital scale also has five digits, which represent a whole fraction of cubic meters of water consumed.

The fractional part is made in the form of three arrow scales showing the numerical order of magnitude of the consumed liters of water.

To obtain the corresponding fractional part data, it is necessary to multiply the displayed values ​​by the coefficients:

• hundreds of liters - by 0.1;
• tens of liters - by 0.01;
• units of liters - by 0.001;

Then add up the resulting liter values.

The algorithm for collecting and rounding data from combined instruments does not differ from the example given with an eight-roller device.

The coefficients by which the readings of the dial indicators of five-roller counters are multiplied are displayed above the scales, which makes them easier to work with

Option No. 3 - model with a digital display

One of the disadvantages of flow meters with a digital panel is the need to connect them to a power supply.

Water meters with digital electronic display do not have any other significant differences from working with the above types of devices.

Using the example of meter readings with an electronic display shown in the figure, it can be explained that in this case two options will be considered correct: take rounded figures equal to 25 cubic meters of water, or, ignoring the fractional value, record water consumption equal to 24 cubic meters

Option No. 4 - use of smart meters

Developing technologies dictate the introduction of electronic innovations in the issue of recording and transmitting instrument metering data. A special feature of the functionality of a smart meter is that the cubic meters it removes are transmitted over the Internet.

The main functional significance in these smart devices lies in the type of controller used. So, the most common of them is working in the most popular communication standard - Wi-Fi. The issue of installing a controller for a smart flow meter does not require approval.

Water consumption metering can be monitored using a computer or smartphone. Smart meters allow you not only to see readings online, but also to manage them, transfer the necessary information to the supplier or management company

Entering information into the receipt

Having recorded information from flow meters, you need to enter it correctly and without errors into the appropriate columns of the single payment document (UPD).

The receipt is filled out if data on the volume of water consumed is provided directly to the supplier’s customer service, to the management company, or through special boxes designed for this purpose.

In the spine of the tear-off part of the EDP, data on the consumption of water volumes is entered in the corresponding lines: hot - in the bottom line, cold - in the top.

In the column “date of readings” the day of the month in which they are taken is entered.And if the readings are taken on one day, then the date can be written down in larger quantities on all lines

When using any method of collecting data from water meters, it must be taken into account that suppliers or organizations serving the housing stock are required to periodically, at least once every 6 months, monitor the correct transmission of data from flow meters and their condition.

It is the responsibility of residents to provide the personnel of control and supervisory authorities, including emergency services, with the opportunity to check water meter readings at a pre-agreed time, and to give access to their metering devices

In order not to create difficulties when removing and transmitting the next flow meter data, all accounting data for the past period, on the basis of which calculations were made, must be recorded and saved.

Methods of transmitting information

The volume of water used must be reported to the company providing water supply and sewerage services on a monthly basis. The specific date when the consumer needs to transfer information from water meters to the supplier is not established by regulation.

It can be determined by the following conditions:

• a unified requirement of the management company to collect all information for the services provided;
• agreement between the consumer and the service provider;
• date of registration of water meters.

Most suppliers recommend that consumers report their water consumption during the second half of the month. For example, Muscovites are given the period from the 15th of the current month to the 3rd of the month following the reporting month to enter water meter readings.

It must be remembered that in any case, this period has a strictly established time frame, and in order to be careful in relations with the management organization, it is necessary to know exactly and comply with the data transfer period.

It is important to consider that information on water meters transmitted after the recommended period may not be accepted for the calculation of the current month, and charges will be transferred to the next billing period

There are several options for transmitting information on flow meters, and each consumer is free to decide for himself how to submit it to the supplier.

Remote methods, the technologies of which are rapidly improving, provide people with time savings and greater comfort, eliminate walking through cash centers and standing in queues.

Method number 1 - by phone

One way to transmit consumption data is by telephone.

It can be transmitted in two ways:

• by calling the phone number specified in the payment document;
• sending an SMS message.

In case of a voice message, the information can be received directly by the operator-dispatcher or by an answering robot, which will manage the actions of entering readings. Digital values ​​of flow meters are entered using the telephone keypad.

In most large cities of Russia, a Mobile platform has been introduced for transmitting water meter readings to the water supply service provider via SMS messaging service

A special number is allocated for sending text messages, which can be obtained from your service provider.

For Muscovites this is the short number 7377.When using the SMS option for the first time, you must register in the system by sending the message “servicereg” in Russian or Latin.

Then you need to register your individual payer code by sending an SMS with the appropriate content, for example “water kp 1098765432”.

The payer code, which is generated by the payment center or service provider to identify the payer, is usually indicated at the top of the receipt, on the right. For residents, it also serves as confirmation of the authenticity of the payment document

Features of working in the SMS service, phone numbers and code phrases, may vary both in regions and in individual organizations. Relevant instructions can be obtained from the service provider.

The mobile SMS messaging platform allows you to:

• receive information for the past billing period;
• delete incorrectly entered data;
• Receive reminders when the deadline for submitting testimony is due.

To simplify operations when transmitting information via SMS, there is a list of special code messages, which can also be requested from the service organization.

When using a mobile text messaging service, you should be aware that you will be charged for sending SMS, according to the connected tariff plan.

In order for the SMS with flow meter readings to be delivered to its destination and accepted for calculation, it is necessary to correctly display the actual water consumption in the message

Method No. 2 - on the State Services portal

Currently, the platform of the Russian Government Services portal is developing at a rapid pace. To be able to use a wide range of portal operations, you must register on the website: gosuslugi.ru.

Upon completion of registration, the system will request the entry of personal passport data, and after checking their correctness, access to all portal options will be allowed.

By clicking on the services button, in the form that opens you will need to enter the following information:

• payer code;
• address data, on some portals the apartment number is enough;
• month for which information is transmitted;
• In the columns corresponding to hot and cold water supply, by clicking on the “add” button, you need to fill in the current water meter readings.

After entering the data, be sure to save it. The correctness of the information entered must be confirmed by the system.

To submit water meter readings, you need to go to the catalog on the main page of the platform and select a service for receiving water consumption readings. You can also find this service through the search bar of the site.

In addition to the federal portal, there are regional and city local electronic service centers. Obtaining access from these services to transfer meter data is necessary not only during the initial application, but also if the transfer of meters has not been carried out for more than three months or when they are replaced with new ones.

The State Services portal allows you to transmit flow meter readings both from a desktop computer and through an application on your phone, which can be downloaded through Google Play for smartphones on the Android platform, or through the App Store for iPhones.

Method No. 3 - on the supplier’s website

Most suppliers give their clients the opportunity to enter readings and keep records of them remotely on their websites. To do this, you need to get a login and password at the company’s office, and then register on the website.

After registering and logging into your personal account, you just need to carefully follow the recommendations of the system, which will help you enter and transmit instrument readings.

It is possible to transmit flow meter readings without registering on the site, but some useful information and options that are presented in your personal account will not be available in this case

One of the conveniences of online work through the websites of management companies and direct suppliers is that on these websites, as well as on the State Services portal, a registered user has access to an archive of previously entered readings.

This allows you to monitor and analyze the situation regarding water consumption, it is possible to change the numbers of devices, and track the time of their verification.

Method No. 4 - boxes for collecting readings

Data from flow meters can be transferred by dropping a form with the information entered into it into a box specially equipped for this purpose.

Special instructions on how to implement this method of submitting testimony are not required, but it must be taken into account that information transmitted through the box will be taken into account only if the house is serviced by the organization in whose box the form was placed.

The boxes are installed in organizations providing water supply services, as well as in many housing maintenance organizations, management companies and joint dispatch services

Correcting erroneously submitted data

No one is immune from mistakes, and situations where the information provided from water meters does not correspond to reality happen quite often.

Online and SMS services for submitting information on resource consumption provide the opportunity to cancel the entered data, but there is a certain time frame for this. In most cases, it is possible to correct information entered before the 20th.

Errors submitted after this date will have 24 hours to correct. In addition, online correction is allowed only for readings of the current period.

There are no hopeless situations, and it is possible to solve the problem if the established deadline for making changes is missed or the readings were submitted incorrectly in other periods.

To change the readings of water measuring instruments already taken into account by the supplier, you need to report the error to the service company. A representative of the organization must arrive at the house and, with the participation of the apartment owner, draw up a reconciliation report, on the basis of which the necessary changes will be made

Small discrepancies in the transmitted data, for example, inflated readings, can be corrected over the course of several months by submitting the same water meter data as in the previous period.

There are articles on our website that describe the procedure for calculating and transmitting meter readings for various utilities; we recommend that you read:

1. Household heating meters: procedure and options for heating calculations
2. How to transmit electricity meter readings: a review of the best ways to transmit data for light

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Retrieving information from water meters and recording them in the form of a single payment document:

Instructions for submitting information from flow meters on the websites of State Services Centers at the place of residence, using the example of Moscow, and what useful opportunities this platform provides to users:

Methods for transmitting water meter data.Through the websites of management companies, payment terminals and using the mobile application of the State Services portal:

Following the advice given, observing punctuality in taking readings from flow meters and correctly submitting them to calculations for water consumption will save you from unnecessary hassle, wasting time and additional financial costs for paying off the debt for penalties.

Do you have anything to add, or do you have questions about reading and transmitting readings from the water meter? You can leave comments on the publication and participate in discussions - the contact form is in the lower block.