We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

Water meter (boundary box) covers

Staffordian11
Staffordian11 Posts: 152 Forumite
Third Anniversary 100 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
edited 24 February 2022 at 7:02PM in Water bills
Many meters are being installed by Severn Trent in our area and they now use a type of cover I've not seen before. They seem to have no way of opening them, and as a matter of curiosity, I just wondered if anyone knows how they are accessed, either to read the meter or turn off the water in an emergency.

They are round plastic covers, but have no slots, indentations or any other visible way of turning or lifting.

Anyone got any thoughts?


Comments

  • QrizB
    QrizB Posts: 15,903 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Third Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    My water meter cover is similar (I can't say identical) to that one.
    I open mine by prising it up with a flat bladed screwdriver (not one that I'm particularly precious about).
    N. Hampshire, he/him. Octopus Intelligent Go elec & Tracker gas / Vodafone BB / iD mobile. Ripple Kirk Hill member.
    2.72kWp PV facing SSW installed Jan 2012. 11 x 247w panels, 3.6kw inverter. 33MWh generated, long-term average 2.6 Os.
    Not exactly back from my break, but dipping in and out of the forum.
    Ofgem cap table, Ofgem cap explainer. Economy 7 cap explainer. Gas vs E7 vs peak elec heating costs, Best kettle!
  • QrizB said:
    My water meter cover is similar (I can't say identical) to that one.
    I open mine by prising it up with a flat bladed screwdriver (not one that I'm particularly precious about).
    Ah, the brute force and ignorance method ;)

    Should have guessed there was an obvious answer :)
  • tim_p
    tim_p Posts: 854 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper
    Just slip a screwdriver under the lip, couldn’t be easier. Do mine monthly. 
  • Interesting that these need a non technical bodge to open them. Mine is relatively new, a round plastic one, but has a central hole with slots at 180 degrees to each other, into which you can insert an L shaped rod to lift it out. I guess it too could be levered open with a thin bladed screwdriver or similar, but at least it was designed to have a 'proper' way of opening. 
  • matelodave
    matelodave Posts: 8,890 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Screwdriver as well for me
    Never under estimate the power of stupid people in large numbers
  • Rodders53
    Rodders53 Posts: 2,561 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    There IS one 'slot' visible in that picture near the TRH corner of the housing... for a screwdriver blade or similar to go in...
    There is probably another full of fine grit diametrically opposite
  • Rodders53 said:
    There IS one 'slot' visible in that picture near the TRH corner of the housing... for a screwdriver blade or similar to go in...
    There is probably another full of fine grit diametrically opposite
    Yes, I see what you mean. But I wonder if it's possibly caused by deformation of the plastic where someone has used a screwdriver to open it rather than being a designed slot?

    The one I pictured has been in place a while. I'll have a closer look at a recently installed one to see if I can see similar, but TBH, I'm pretty sure there's nothing like that on new ones.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 348.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 452.7K Spending & Discounts
  • 241.8K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 618.4K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176K Life & Family
  • 254.9K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.