In the case of an emergency, it is important to know the location of the water shut-off valve for your home. In the event your inside main water valve fails, there’s one final backstop you can operate to shut off water to the house: the main water valve on the street.
1. Locate your water meter. Water meters are typically installed inside plastic meter boxes with a metal lid and placed close to the street so it can be easily read by a utility staff member.
2. Remove the metal lid of the meter box. A standard screw driver can be used to help lift the lid.
3. On the street side of the meter, locate the oblong knob (as pictured here). This is the main shut-off valve also referred to as the angle stop.
4. To turn water off, place the Curb Stop Key over the center of the angle stop. If you do not have access to a curb stop key, you can improvise using a crescent wrench and screw driver.
5. Turn the Curb Stop Key, or make-shift tee handle approximately 180 degrees.
6. If the angle stop has not been operated in a long time, it could be locked up. Whatever you do, DO NOT FORCE THE ANGLE STOP. If it will not turn with a reasonable amount of pressure, call the County or City Water Authority.
Note that water meters and cutoff valves vary by county or cities, but they all follow this basic setup. In general, you are responsible for plumbing on your house’s side of the mater, and the city is responsible for the meter and everything before it. You may need a Curb Stop Key with a long extension to follow the instructions below if you’re in this situation.