Water Meter Services
Domestic, Irrigation & Fire Water Meter Installation
Mickie Service Co., Inc. provides comprehensive water meter installation services that support domestic supply, irrigation systems, and fire protection infrastructure. Our work centers on accurate metering, municipal compliance, and smooth coordination with public utilities across Greater Houston.
Domestic water meter installation, irrigation water meter installation, and fire water meter installation each play a direct role in how properties receive and manage municipal water. From initial applications through inspection and closeout, our team manages each phase with a clear understanding of local requirements and site conditions.
The Role Water Meters Play in Site Infrastructure
Water meters establish the point where municipal service begins, dictating how water usage is measured, billed, and monitored. In commercial settings, proper meter installation affects everything from operational costs to code compliance. For irrigation systems, accurate metering helps isolate outdoor consumption and avoid unnecessary sewer charges.
These considerations apply across a wide range of facilities, including offices, schools, churches, multi-family properties, industrial sites, and mixed-use developments.
Common Applications for Water Meters
Water meter installation services are often required when site conditions, usage demands, or municipal requirements change. Proper planning at these moments helps align utility infrastructure with approved designs, inspection schedules, and long-term operating needs.
- New construction: Domestic water meter installation and fire water meter installation are typically coordinated early in the project lifecycle to support building permits, utility plans, and initial service activation.
- Facility expansion or site modification: As buildings expand or site layouts shift, existing meters may need to be enlarged or relocated to accommodate increased demand or revised service routing.
- Irrigation system additions: Installing an irrigation water meter is common when outdoor watering systems are introduced or expanded, allowing irrigation use to be measured separately from indoor consumption and billed without sewer charges.
Compliance and Installation Expertise
Our team works within strict regulatory frameworks and maintains the qualifications required to complete both small and large meter installations. Mickie Service is listed with the City of Houston as an approved installer for small meters under 3 inches, supported by active licensing, insurance, and annual bonding.
Installation for Large Water Meters 3 Inches and Larger
Large meter installations involve additional coordination, documentation, and bonding. Mickie Service is registered with Taps & Meters and qualified to perform these installations as a utility contractor meeting all applicable bonding and registration requirements. This allows larger domestic and fire meters to be installed efficiently while maintaining compliance with city standards.
Save on Your Outdoor Water Costs
Residential Water Meter Installation
Residential irrigation water meter installation is often pursued by homeowners looking to control monthly utility costs. Outdoor watering can significantly increase sewer charges when irrigation usage is combined with indoor consumption. A dedicated irrigation meter separates those uses, allowing outdoor water to be billed without sewer fees.
Our Houston-area team assists homeowners throughout the process, from application guidance through installation and inspection, ensuring requirements are met at each step.
Mickie Service Advantage
Clients rely on Mickie Service for water meter installation services because the process requires more than just physical installation. It requires permitting fluency, municipal coordination, and disciplined execution.
Advantages include:
- An experienced water meter services team that completes hundreds of installations each year
- City of Houston (COH) approval for both small meters and large job installations
- Full-time Master Plumber involvement to streamline permitting, installation, and inspection
- Strong safety practices supporting irrigation water meter installation and other field work
- Dedicated project management and field supervision
- Full-time permitting management with detailed knowledge of local requirements and review workflows
- Collaborative coordination on design and installation alternatives
- Structured pre-job construction reviews
- Established working relationships with inspectors
- Long-standing partnerships with primary meter vault providers
Water Meter Service Areas
Mickie Service performs water meter installation in Greater Houston municipalities that do not self-perform this work. We also install meters for MUD and district operators. These services are provided directly for the MUD or district operator and not for general contractors or private developers.
Small Water Meters
Small commercial domestic and fire meter installations typically follow a defined municipal workflow. While each municipality applies its own standards, the City of Houston provides a useful reference point for understanding how these projects are structured.
Small meters are supplied by the city, with meter costs included as part of the application fee. Installations are located within the public right-of-way or within an easement granted to the city by the property owner. Unrestricted access must be maintained from the water main to the meter to support inspection, maintenance, and long-term operation.
Meter size, meter type, and overall site utility layout significantly influence permitting timelines, installation sequencing, and inspection requirements. Relocations exceeding 5 feet, enlargements of existing services, and new meter installations generally follow the same approval pathway. We manage this process on your behalf, handling documentation and coordination with the City of Houston from application through installation.
If your property is located within a MUD (Municipal Utility District), please contact your district operator.
Small Water Meter Commercial Domestic/ Fire Meter Installation Process
During this phase, "foundational" documents, drawings, and approvals are established - key components for water service are:
- Service address
- Building Permit
- Existing utility identification/ account consolidation (get the existing meters in the correct owner's name)
- Utility Customer Service Agreement
- Easement documents, if necessary
- Water Capacity Reservation (ensure the city has available utilities)
- Approved site plans
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Including type of meter (domestic only - or domestic/ fire combination), size of service, and location of meter will be established.
- Fire Domestic combination meters are used where usage requirements/applicable code dictates a fire sprinkler system - in conjunction with the domestic water system
- Irrigation/Sprinkler meters are also commonly installed. In most cases, irrigation meters use the same tap as the domestic/fire meter and are "teed" off the domestic service.
The owner, builder, engineer, or Mickie Service Company can apply for a domestic meter. City of Houston meters can be applied for online or in person at 1002 Washington Ave. using this form. No matter how you apply, the applicant needs the service address, the proposed meter location (if your house is on a corner – it can go along either street) billing/owner's information, size and type of the meter, and a city-approved "plumber" (like Mickie Service Company!).
Remember, the meter application process is separate from the general building permit process. A building permit does not guarantee that a meter application has been submitted.
If you apply in-person, you may pay for both the meter application, inspection fee (covers the meter/meter box, too), and any City of Houston customer deposit. All of these fees will be collected when you submit your application.
If you complete the online application, you must contact the City of Houston New Services Department at (713) 341-1400; they will then send you a copy of the bill. This bill can be paid anywhere a water bill can be paid. (Like a major grocery store customer service department)
The City of Houston will process the paperwork within 3-5 business days. The city will then determine if the service is a long or short tap. A short tap occurs when the water main is on the same side of the street as the proposed meter. A long tap is when the main is across the street.
In general, the water main is close to the street in the city's right of way. In some cases, the water main is located underneath the street. This is more common in older neighborhoods where streets have been widened.
The City of Houston will then submit a work order to your contracted plumber (Mickie Service!). This selection was made during the application process. We will then contact the owner to schedule the installation. (In most cases, we will coordinate with the general contractor or plumber for the residence). During this time, we will confirm that all necessary paperwork is filed correctly (e.g., certificates of insurance), confirm the scope of work is clearly defined (e.g., who is going to replace the grass?), and confirm the contract/proposal terms are in place. (In most cases, a preliminary proposal has been agreed to.)
We will generate necessary permits (sidewalk break/repair, bore), and we notify the city of the installation and inspection schedule. We excavate the City of Houston water main, tap (drill a hole in – under pressure), bore under the road/sidewalk (if necessary), connect copper tubing, and install specified valves/fittings. Then the city inspector reviews our installation, and if it meets the requirements, the inspector will provide the meter and meter box, which we then install.
The excavated site is filled back in and restored per proposal and job scope specifications. The private (site) plumber will then connects the private service line to the water meter. There is no documentation provided by the City of Houston – the fact that a meter is in the ground is verification that the job is in/complete. Our standard terms are payable upon the successful completion of installation.
Large Water Meters
Large commercial domestic/fire meter installation follows a similar sequence, with additional requirements related to meter procurement and testing.
Large meters are supplied by the customer. Once installed and approved, ownership transfers to the City of Houston. As with small meters, installations occur in the right-of-way or a city-granted easement, with full access required.
Large Water Meter Commercial Domestic/ Fire Meter Installation Process
During this phase, "foundational" documents, drawings, and approvals are established - key components for water service are:
- Service address
- Building Permit
- Existing utility identification/ account consolidation (get the existing meters in the correct owners name)
- Utility Customer Service Agreement
- Easement documents, if necessary
- Water Capacity Reservation (ensure the city has available utilities)
- Approved site plans and Plan & Profile Drawings, if necessary
Including type of meter (domestic only - or domestic/ fire combination), size of service, and location of meter will be established.
- A domestic compound meter is used when the meter will serve domestic requirements only.
- A fire compound (combination) meter is required if both domestic and fire services use the meter. (Also - a combination meter is required if a private fire hydrant is serviced by the metered line).
- A fire turbine meter is required if the meter serves only fire - and the fire system has a tank/pump on it. (A closed fire system - with no tank - requires only a check meter and can be supplied by an unmetered fire line).
The application process is relatively extensive.
- Generation of a large job number by the City using project specific information. This five digit large job number is the key coordination item for the application, installation, and inspection process.
- Creation of easement
- Submission of applicable civil engineering drawings/capacity reservation documents, bonds, inspection fees and deposits.
- Generation of a work order
- Calibration of the meter (done by City of Houston)
The City of Houston will process the paperwork
- 5-10 business days for easement review
- 5-10 business days for civil drawing/utility customer service review
- 3-5 days for meter calibration
- The city will then send a work order to the utility contractor (Mickie Service!) We will then deliver the meter to the City of Houston for calibration and contact our customer to schedule installation
We will generate necessary permits (sidewalk break/repair, bore), and we notify the city of the installation and inspection schedule. We excavate the City of Houston water main, tap (drill a hole in – under pressure), bore under the road/sidewalk (if necessary), connect copper tubing, and install specified valves/fittings. Then the city inspector reviews our installation, and if it meets the requirements, the inspector will pass the meter into service - or if the service line is >18 feet, the inspector will begin the chlorination/hydro-test process.
For those large jobs where the distance from the tap to the meter is .18 feet - the City of Houston will chlorination and test the service line. THis requires the installation of additional "jumpers" at the tap - and a 2" blow off at the end of the service line (in the meter vault). This process is performed by the City of Houston - and takes 1-2 weeks.
The excavation site is backfilled/ restored per proposal/job scope specifications. There is no documentation provided by the City of Houston - the fact that a meter is in the ground is verification that the job is in/complete.
Ready To Start Your Project?
Leveraging our core capabilities in water main tapping – we now provide line stops, insertion valves, and private fire line installation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Water Meter Installation
Irrigation water meter installation is commonly recommended when outdoor watering represents a significant portion of overall water use. Separating irrigation from domestic usage can reduce sewer-related charges and improve visibility into water consumption.
For small meters, the municipality often supplies the meter as part of the application process. Large water meters are usually supplied by the customer and transferred to municipal ownership after installation and inspection approval.
Water meters are installed within the public right-of-way or in an easement granted to the municipality. The city or utility authority must have unrestricted access from the water main to the meter for inspection and maintenance purposes.