Water meter (boundary box) covers 24 February at 8:00PM edited 24 February at 8:02PM in Water Bills 7 replies 192 views

Staffordian11

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?

QrizB

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).

Staffordian11

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

Just slip a screwdriver under the lip, couldn’t be easier. Do mine monthly. 

Staffordian11

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

Screwdriver as well for me

Rodders53

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

Staffordian11

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.