How to Shut Off Your Water

For top Shut-off valves only

Photo of a shutoff valve
Shutoff valve

Customers should generally shut off their water with their home valves. If your home does not have a water shut-off valve, we highly recommend that you contact a plumber to install one. There are a couple of situations in which you still may need to shut off water at the meter:

  • Home valve is broken, damaged or gets stuck.
  • Rupture in service line pipe from meter box to home, e.g., during an earthquake.

Important: Meters with top shut-off (TSO) valves (shown in photo) are the only types of meters that customers can shut off themselves.  Older meters require a special tool to shut off, and only SPU crews can operate these types. Customers should call SPU at 206-386-1800 if they do not have a TSO meter or if they need help in general to shut off water from the meter.  

1. Locate your water meter.  Water meters are typically located:in iron boxes sunk in the ground;

  • in the parking strip or sidewalk in front of or at the side of your house;
  • and they are covered by a 1x2 ft. metal plate that says CWM (City Water Meter).

2. Remove the water meter cover.
3. Locate the shut-off valve that is attached to the water meter.
4. Turn shut-off valve clockwise by hand or with a crescent wrench. Turn until the two valve holes line up to indicate the valve is closed. The meter dial stops spinning.

Public Utilities

Andrew Lee, General Manager and CEO
Address: 700 5th Avenue, Suite 4900, Seattle, WA, 98104
Mailing Address: PO Box 34018, Seattle, WA, 98124-5177
Phone: (206) 684-3000
SPUCustomerService@seattle.gov

Newsletter Updates

Subscribe

Sign up for the latest updates from Public Utilities

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is comprised of three major direct-service providing utilities: the Water Utility, the Drainage and Wastewater Utility, and the Solid Waste Utility.