An increasing reading indicates water passing through that meter. To interpret it, you need to know what it supplies and whether anything was using water.
If the meter advances when you believe nobody is using water, first check that you are reading the one for your supply. A bank may contain several meters and a communal one. Do not change labels or tamper with seals to identify it: consult any available plan, your documents or the water supplier.
Prepare a period without water use
Choose a time when people at home can stop using water and appliances are not running a cycle. Also note less visible uses you know of, such as a cistern filling or scheduled irrigation. If you do not know what the meter supplies, the check is limited from the outset.
- Note the initial reading, its unit and the time.
- Avoid water use during the interval; if someone uses water, record it.
- Check the reading afterwards and keep the end time.
- Record appliances or installations whose status you could not confirm.
To observe whether water passes without any use, the supply must be available. Closing the inlet valve to stop a leak is a different measure: a meter not moving with the supply closed does not prove the installation is free of leaks. If you have already turned off the water because of an active escape, do not reopen it for this check.
Aguas de Alicante describes observing with taps closed and the supply open to detect possible leaks. Its instructions apply to its service. To identify indicators, units or controls on another meter, use your supplier's guide; do not assume they all have the same figures or controls.
What the observation lets you conclude
| Result | What you can report |
|---|---|
| The reading increases with no known water use | Water is passing and needs investigation; you have not located its destination |
| Someone used water during the interval | The difference no longer represents a period without water use |
| No increase is apparent | You have not observed consumption during that interval; it does not certify the whole installation |
| The meter or unit is unclear | The reading needs identifying before calculating differences |
Do not attribute the increase to a hidden pipe, a neighbour or a faulty meter based only on these notes. A high bill alone does not establish a leak either. Gather the bill, readings and any known changes in use to ask about the difference; share only the necessary details.
If consumption alerts are available
Aigües de Barcelona explains that its remote meter reading can flag unexplained continuous consumption. Availability depends on the contract and service rollout. An alert helps identify something to investigate; it does not identify the part or prove that an equivalent alert or app is available throughout Spain.
Send the readings to your supplier if you need to clarify the meter or billing. For a possible internal leak, give the record to the professional who will inspect it. If you observe escaping water or a risk to people, stop the check and deal with that situation directly.