City Council has lifted restrictions on residents and business owners to shut off their water at the meter. Please follow these instructions and review the Water Meter Access and Shut-Off video to safely turn off your water.
- Locate your meter box, likely in the easement in front of your house. Your box might be shared with your neighbor so check between property lines.
- Fit the meter key into the “lock,” turn it counter-clockwise, and then tilt the key toward the outer edge of the box to lift the lid open. Be careful when opening the box, so you don’t break the meter reader wiring.
- Shut off the water by turning the ball valve 1/4 turn to make it perpendicular to the water pipe. If the ball valve is parallel, it is ON; if it is perpendicular (90° angle), it is OFF.
- Replace the lid and make sure that it is locked closed.
Avoid Fines for Breaking the Shut-Off Valve
This is a friendly reminder that only a City of Bedford Public Works employee is authorized to shut off water on city-owned water meters.
City Ordinance
Per city ordinance Section 118-3; (1) A person may not knowingly tamper, connect to, or alter any component of the city’s water system including valves, meters, meter boxes, meter box lids, hydrants, lines, pump stations, ground storage tanks and elevated storage tanks. This includes direct or indirect efforts to initiate or restore water service without prior approval of the city. (This includes licensed plumbers, builders, citizens, and sprinkler companies).
Private Shut Off Valve
This ordinance does not apply if your home has a private shut-off valve or you may hire a licensed plumber to install one so that you can shut off the water as needed. When a water meter is broken, oftentimes we must turn off the water main in order to make the repair. This can be a big inconvenience for your neighbors who will suddenly be without water for an extended period of time.
Contact Information
By calling the Public Works Department at 817-952-2200 to have water shut off at the meter, you will avoid possible fines and possibly a large repair bill for breaking the shut-off valve at the meter. Our crews are available 24/7 to assist you in a water emergency. For after-hour emergencies, call the Police Dispatch non-emergency line at 817-952-2127.