Water meter moving with everything turned off?

Start with the correct meter

Match its serial number to your water bill. In flats or on a shared supply, ask your water company or managing agent which meter and stopcock serve your home. Do not lift heavy covers or enter a flooded chamber.

1. Rule out ordinary water use

Turn off taps and water-using appliances, and wait for toilets or storage tanks to finish filling. Include outside taps, irrigation and water softeners. Take a photograph of the full meter reading, then compare it after a period with no water use. Your water company can advise how to read your particular meter.

A change suggests water is still flowing. A toilet trickling into the pan or an appliance refilling can cause that change too. A steady overnight reading pattern can be useful evidence, but it does not locate a leak.

2. Check the internal stopcock, if it is safe

If you know the correct internal stopcock and it turns easily, close it gently and observe the meter again. Do not force a stiff valve or operate equipment serving other homes. Ask your water company or a plumber if the supply arrangement is unclear.

Observation	What it may indicate	Next step
The meter stops	The water use is likely downstream of the stopcock.	Check visible taps, toilets and appliance connections.
The meter keeps moving	A supply-pipe leak, another branch or a valve that has not closed fully.	Confirm the pipe route and valve operation before assuming a leak location.
The reading is hard to interpret	A shared supply, intermittent use or a difficult-to-read meter.	Ask the water company for help identifying and reading the meter.

Restore the valve to its normal position after the check unless it needs to stay closed to limit an active leak. If you are uncertain, get advice before operating it.

3. Look for visible clues

• Water running into a toilet pan after the cistern has filled.
• Damp around an appliance hose, tap or accessible joint.
• A wet patch outside that remains in dry weather.
• New stains, swollen skirting or damp floor coverings.

A sealed heating circuit may lose pressure without the water meter moving continuously. Tell ADI if the boiler needs repeated topping up, even when the meter check seems normal.

4. Ask about help with the supply pipe

Your water company can explain pipe responsibility and any leak assistance or bill allowance it offers. Conditions vary. Check before paying for work, and keep records of the leak and repair. If the source remains hidden, ADI can investigate the supply pipe using tests suited to the pipe and ground conditions.

Further guidance: identifying your meter and carrying out a metered leak test. Follow your own water company’s instructions.