Water Meters

Water Usage

The Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) bills the City for water usage. Any water passing through your meter is considered "used," regardless of how it's utilized. This includes irrigation for lawns, leaking toilets or sinks, accidentally left-on faucets, or dripping taps.

Estimated Water Bills

Estimated bills are sent when the City cannot get a reading from your water meter in these cases.

The City is updating all water meters to improve accuracy and efficiency. While the existing water meters are functioning correctly, many radio transmitters used for remote readings are broken. The new meters will provide accurate readings, reduce the need for estimated bills, and offer additional benefits. Learn more about the Water Meter Replacement Project.

When the City does not have an accurate reading from your water meter, we cannot bill you for your actual water usage and instead have to estimate how much water you used in the billing cycle. This means you could be undercharged or overcharged.

Do you have an estimated water bill?

You may have an estimated water bill. To find out if you have an estimated water reading, please reference the area on the bill beneath Read Code. You have an estimated bill if it reads “ESTIMATED READ.”

If you do have an estimated bill, please follow the steps below to submit your accurate water meter reading to the Department of Public Works Water and Sewer Division.

1. Take a clear photo of the reading on your water meter like the example to the right.
2. Send an email to waterquality@watertown-ma.gov, including the following information: • Name • Address the estimated bill is for • Photo of water meter reading • Preferred phone number
3. The Department of Public Works will receive this request and follow up with you accordingly. You are required to pay the estimated bill you received, and any credits or payments required will be applied to future bills.

Once you have submitted a photo of your water meter to the DPW Water and Sewer Division, the area on your bill below Read Code will then read “OTHER READ” for the next 3 billing cycles. This is how you will know that the City has updated your bill with the picture you submitted.

Why are you receiving an estimated bill, and why does this matter?

The city water meters are all still properly working, however many of the batteries in the radio transmitters used to send meter readings remotely have died. Estimated bills are sent when the City cannot get a reading from your water meter in these cases. When the City does not have an accurate reading from your water meter, we cannot bill you for your actual water usage and instead have to estimate how much water you used in the billing cycle. This means you could be undercharged or overcharged.

Questions? Call 311 or email waterquality@watertown-ma.gov