The meter dial is like the odometer on your car. It reads your water consumption and is a cumulative total of the water that has run through that meter since it was installed. You can get the consumption for a period of time by comparing the beginning reading to the ending reading. As water flows through the meter, the red hand rotates as it measures usage by the gallon. One revolution is equal to 10 gallons.
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Water usage determines the bill amount. The average household uses an estimated 2,000 gallons of water per person per month. Outdoor water usage and/or a leak could cause usage to greatly increase. Refer also to the Rates and High Consumption pages.
Find out how to track your water usage.
You may have a toilet leak If you:
To detect silent, less noticeable toilet leaks:
Meters are equipped with a leak indicator dial (see image). To check for a leak:
See also
High Consumption
Leaks
Meters are read monthly and are not estimated. Since usage is billed in 1,000-gallon increments, rounded down, and inside usage does not vary significantly, it is common to see similar usage each month. See our FAQ "How to Read Your Meter."
Low water pressure may be a symptom of clogged pipes or a leak. If you’ve recently had a repair, the valves may not have been fully re-opened. If only one fixture has low pressure, focus on fixing that fixture or the pipes serving it. If water pressure is low throughout the entire house, contact Water Maintenance by email or call 972-547-7360.
Yes! Options are available for an electronic statement in addition to or in lieu of a paper statement. You can sign up using our online portal (requires an active account) or by sending us an email request.
We offer two automatic payment methods:
Both draft automatically on the bill’s due date. To avoid payment failures due to expired / compromised credit cards, bank draft is recommended.
To add someone to your account, we will need a copy of their driver’s license. If renting, a copy of the lease is also required and must list the person as a tenant or occupant. Email us the information.
To change your name on the account, we will need a copy of your driver’s license showing the name change, the marriage license or the divorce decree. You can submit the information via email or in person.
Any change must be emailed by 10 a.m. the business day before the original start / stop date. Include the address and reference number from your original confirmation email. Please do not resubmit a request since the original request may already be scheduled.
If you received a reference number, the application was submitted and received. Welcome / Confirmation emails are sent up to 3 business days after your start / cancel date.
You are responsible for water service until you cancel your service or it is “forced off” due to the new customer’s connection. The final bill is for the service period up to that cancelation date.
Meters are read and accounts are billed based on geographical cycles; since the due date is based on the bill date, it cannot be changed. We make every effort to bill each cycle at around the same time each month so that the due date does not fluctuate more than a few days. See also Due Dates & Billing Cycles.
If paying on or before the bill’s due date is not an option, know that we offer extra time to pay before late fees apply or a disconnection is scheduled. See Payment Extensions & Financial Assistance for more information.
We make every effort to contact individuals regarding deposit refunds. If we are unable to reach you, the money is considered unclaimed property and held by the city for up to one year if the amount is more than $100. For more information, please visit McKinneyTexas.org/UnclaimedProperty.
For conservative customers who use 7,000 gallons or less per month, the city offers “affordable water” at $4 per 1,000 gallons.
Trash service is provided through Waste Connections and billed by the City of McKinney.