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Where is the outside stopcock and water meter?

Quick answer

An outside stop tap or meter is often in a small covered box near the property boundary, pavement or driveway. Its location and ownership vary, so contact your water company before operating an unfamiliar or shared valve.

Where to look

Check near the front boundary, pavement, driveway or garden path for a small ground-level cover. The box may contain a water meter, stop tap or both. In some properties the meter is indoors, in a utility area or under a sink. Ask your water company for the recorded meter location if you cannot find it.

Do not dig, lift a heavy cover or enter a chamber. A cover may be stuck, damaged or near other services. Do not use a key on a valve unless you know it is appropriate and have permission.

Responsibility and access

In general, the homeowner owns the private supply pipe from the boundary or external stopcock to the house, while the water company is responsible for the network before that point. Exact arrangements can differ, particularly on shared supplies, flats and private roads. Confirm responsibility with your water company, freeholder or managing agent.

The external stop tap may be controlled by the water company, and it may serve more than one property. Ask the company for help if you have an urgent leak and cannot turn off the internal stopcock. Do not shut off a shared supply without understanding who depends on it.

Meter checks

  1. 1Make sure taps and water-using appliances are off and no toilet is refilling.
  2. 2Note the meter reading, then wait a short period without using water and check again.
  3. 3If the reading changes, investigate possible use or a leak; the meter itself is not proof of the leak location.
  4. 4Contact the water company if the meter is damaged, inaccessible or giving an unexpected reading.

When to call a plumber

  • You cannot identify which external valve serves your property.
  • The meter box is damaged, flooded or inaccessible.
  • You suspect a leak on the supply pipe between the boundary and home.
  • You need urgent help isolating water and the inside valve has failed.

Common questions

Guides

Related guides

Keep reading — these often go hand in hand.

Stopcocks & Water SupplyWhere is my water stopcock?The internal stopcock is usually near where the mains water pipe enters your home, often under the kitchen sink, in a cupboard or by the front door. Knowing its location before a leak happens can help you limit damage.Read guide Leaks & Leak DetectionHow can I tell if an underground water supply pipe is leaking?An unexplained moving meter, persistently wet ground or loss of pressure may indicate a leak on an underground supply pipe. These signs are not conclusive; check the meter and contact your water company if the pipe route or responsibility is unclear.Read guide Leaks & Leak DetectionWho pays to repair a leaking water supply pipe?Responsibility commonly depends on where the leak is: homeowners generally own the supply pipe from the boundary or stopcock to the house, while the water company is responsible for the rest. Confirm the exact boundary with your water company and check your insurance before work.Read guide
See all guides

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