OK a fun poll.

Our 15 year old water meter is definitely stuck, it is actually moving but the reading bears no relationship to our water usage.

Attention Aussies. Yes I'm a Brit but I do not dodge the soap, I have a shower every week whether I need it or not!

Besides my Thai granddaughter likes to luxuriate in her volcanic temperature showers for a typically teenage time (the log of power consumption tells all).

So what should I do?

The "Honest John" in my head says "Inform PWA" but since Madam is firmly in the "do nothing" camp and since it's her name on the bill ...

EDIT I have no idea what there's that big gap in the post.

I never volunteer information to the authorities.

So i'd do nothing.

43 minutes ago, Crossy said:

The "Honest John" in my head says "Inform PWA"

Surely the water meter is the property of the waterboard? Therefore inform them.

Had similar, when the guy comes around monthly for his 80bt he noticed one time it was only 10bt , and said, "need change meter for next reading please"

11 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Had similar, when the guy comes around monthly for his 80bt he noticed ons time it was only 10bt , and said, "need change meter for next reading please"

Would it be the water authority who change the meter (like they do for electricity)?

I’d say flush out the troublemakers… but as a Mod, you’ve already done that part. Just report the meter.

hit it with a hammer?

I did just go and give it a thump (or ten) with my rubber mallet, if it's not moved by Thursday time to call PWA.

The meter man comes on the 10th anyway.

2 hours ago, Crossy said:

Would it be the water authority who change the meter (like they do for electricity)?

Nah out here in the villages you are responsible for your own - 380 baht for a meter-

For a broken water meter in Thailand, immediately contact the local water authority (Provincial Waterworks Authority - PWA) to report it, as they generally own and maintain the meter. Tampering with the meter can lead to fines, so official repair is necessary. Valve assemblies can sometimes be replaced via the PWA or bought at stores like HomePro.

I would definitely COMPLAIN ..... and ask why the water bill was always so high before !!

Had similiar with MEA electrictity meter (bill in my name) a few years ago. Told condo juristic but it was about 3 months before it got changed. Free electric all that time. Not that I use much.

1 hour ago, CharlieH said:

Nah out here in the villages you are responsible for your own - 380 baht for a meter-

Indeed!

I recently had to replace one that was damaged due to grass cutting. No probs.

5 hours ago, Crossy said:

The "Honest John" in my head says "Inform PWA" but since Madam is firmly in the "do nothing" camp and since it's her name on the bill ...

In general I had better results in my life when being honest when it had to do with paying for something that I had consumed.

If Madam pays the bill and the possible fine with her money - and not yours - lean back and enjoy what will come sooner or later after the red flag at PWA has showed up.

5 minutes ago, Schoggibueb said:

In general I had better results in my life when being honest when it had to do with paying for something that I had consumed.

I also have the same policy, generally speaking. However my local bar is totally incompetent in passing on orders taken and delivered by the service staff to the cashier. This results in undercharging on a regular basis. For a long time I always used to point out the error and it was corrected. However, the reaction to my correction was never more than irritation/annoyance at having to do extra work. Never once a thank you. Now, I pay the bill as presented.

Boddy sparky doesn't know how to use a hammer?

@Crossy True story. Years ago the MEA decided it was time to replace my electrical meter after roughly ten years of use. Up to that point my electric bills always seemed a bit high. My concern was that after changing the meter the bills might go even higher if the old meter's gears were low on oil and no longer spinning fast enough. Instead the opposite happened. After the new meter was installed my bills dropped to about half. I was not expecting that at all. So these things really can go both ways. That is why I say be careful what you wish for.

That said if your water meter is definitely broken and you are not paying for water you are using that does not feel right. Water is inexpensive anyway and for most people it is probably the lowest monthly utility bill. Personally I would just replace the meter and start paying for water properly again simply out of common decency.

Low value comment removed

5 hours ago, Stiddle Mump said:

Indeed!

I recently had to replace one that was damaged due to grass cutting. No probs.

We live in a village, and we are responsible for the water,we had to pay 200 baht "to join" the system when we had the house built, any problems as in any burst pipes we have to repair them, but anything big like a submersible pump gone that would be the responsibility of the local council, they put in a new water tower 2 years ago, Our neighbor comes around every month, reads the meter, and we pay. They have an annual AGM every year,

I had to replace our meter 2 months ago stopped working 400 baht. The old one been they 12 years, had a good ending.

As for our Crossey, he lives in a town , on maims water that should be a PWA problem to sort it out.

I'm surprised that they actually charge you for water. I've seen pictures of all the free water regularly dumped right outside of you and your neighbors. Figured they'd pay you to use it!

My parents in law used to let the water drip in to this large clay pot they makes shower from, and the water meter doesnt move one turn at all. That was until I installed water heater and shower for me when I visited. Took them a year or two until they admitted they enjoyed heated showers.

I guess it is on you the water meter, and you should make sure it is operational as it should.

22 hours ago, Crossy said:

The "Honest John" in my head says "Inform PWA" but since Madam is firmly in the "do nothing" camp and since it's her name on the bill ...

@Crossy, I am of the same opinion as you about reporting the issue, but from experience, it would be better to go along with SWMBO's "suggestion", especially when there is no down side for you (she pays the bill)

Just enjoy cheap water, do not say anything

On 2/4/2026 at 10:20 AM, BritManToo said:

I never volunteer information to the authorities.

So i'd do nothing.

And then you have to pay at the end anyway. Good choice.

Like others have said, here in the village if you want to connect to the water supply you have to provide your own meter. The designated neighbour comes around every month to read it and we pay him directly if we're home. He knows how much we use on average, so would be suspicious if the usage suddenly dropped and we didn't have an excuse, like being away for an extended period. Conversely, when we had a leaking pipe that was unnoticed, making the bill quite a bit higher than normal, he just charged the regular amount as long as we promised to fix it straight away.

Coincidentally, a couple of weeks ago I was filling up the dog's water bucket at the tap by gate, next to the meter, and noticed it wasn't spinning. I gave the glass front a bang and it started again, Now I keep an eye on it when I'm out there every morning.

In the States, I canceled an internet connection. Then, by accident, I noticed that it was still connected, but wasn't getting a bill. I went and told them about it. They told me it had been disconnected and that is why I wasn't receiving a bill. I used that connection for many years, and then let a friend of mine use it, I think for a total of 12 years. Then one day I got a bill for one month's service. I ignored it, and they cut off the service.

In my village, water is cheap. I pay about a hundred baht a month. If I even noticed a change and told them, I doubt they would do anything about it.

On 2/4/2026 at 9:41 AM, Crossy said:

Yes I'm a Brit but I do not dodge the soap, I have a shower every week whether I need it or not!

Once per week? 🤢

Meters installed by a Provincial authority have a Serial Number on the bezel and this appears on the monthly invoice. The employee reading the meter montnly records this and it is transferred to the computer database. A faulty meter needs to be replaced by the owning authority to record the Serial Number change and ensure correct billing to the served property.

After my "impact maintenance" with the rubber mallet the meter seems to have stopped altogether ☹️

The meter-man comes on the 10th.

Assuming he doesn't say anything / leave a note Madam is going to "notice" that the reading isn't moving and will call PWA for "advice".

Of course the meter is encased in cement, I'm not sure why, possibly to prevent theft of the brass fittings.

I do recall paying something when it was installed, but 15 years as erased the memory of to whom and how much.

2 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Meters installed by a Provincial authority have a Serial Number on the bezel and this appears on the monthly invoice. The employee reading the meter montnly records this and it is transferred to the computer database. A faulty meter needs to be replaced by the owning authority to record the Serial Number change and ensure correct billing to the served property.

The waterman just comes round every month and asks for dosh.

Serial numbers. Receipts. Never seen them.