Every household connection in a new water network ends at a meter, and every meter needs a home. In Georgia's mountain villages that home has to survive frost. In city districts it has to resist traffic and tampering. And everywhere, a meter reader — or a radio signal — has to get to the meter easily. A well-chosen water meter box protects the meter, the utility's revenue and the customer's supply. This guide explains what to specify.
What a meter box must do
- Protect from frost – a frozen meter bursts, and the customer loses supply.
- Give access – reading, replacement and verification without digging.
- Prevent tampering – lockable lids and sealed couplings discourage bypassing.
- Carry the load – a pavement or driveway lid must not crack under a car.
- Allow remote reading – the lid and box must not block the radio signal of smart meters.
Typical box types
| Type | Description | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Insulated plastic meter box | PE/PP body with insulating lid or foam insert; pre-assembled manifold | Rural networks, frost zones, fast installation |
| Plastic chamber with telescopic riser | Adjustable height to finished ground level | New districts with changing ground levels |
| Concrete or brick chamber | Built on site with cast-iron or composite cover | Large meters (DN 50+), bulk meters |
| Wall-mounted or above-ground cabinet | Meter inside a cabinet on a façade or plinth | Where excavation is difficult or frost risk is low |
Key specification points
- Burial depth: the meter should sit below the local frost line, or be protected by an insulated lid. High-altitude villages need deeper or better-insulated boxes.
- Size: fits the meter (usually DN 15–25 for households) plus inlet and outlet valves, a check valve and the couplings.
- Pre-installed manifold: some boxes come with valves and a meter coupling already fitted, which saves time on site.
- Lid class: A15 in gardens and B125 on pavements and driveways, in line with EN 124 practice.
- Lid material: plastic or composite lids let radio signals through to remote-read meters. Solid cast iron can block them unless an antenna is fitted.
- Locking: a tamper-resistant lid with a special key.
- Drainage: an open base on gravel so condensation and leaks can drain away.
Installation tips
- Set the box on a compacted gravel base, with the lid flush to the finished ground.
- Use flexible PE service pipe (PE100) with sleeves through the box wall.
- Install the check valve after the meter to prevent backflow.
- Record GPS coordinates and meter serial numbers at handover for the utility's GIS.
What to write in the BOQ
*"Insulated plastic water meter box for DN 20 domestic meter, depth to suit frost-free installation, with pre-assembled inlet/outlet ball valves, check valve and meter couplings, lockable B125 lid permeable to radio signal, set on 150 mm compacted gravel base, lid flush with finished ground."*
Quick selector
- Mountain village, cold winters → deep insulated box with foam-filled lid.
- New urban district, pavement → plastic box with B125 lockable lid and telescopic riser.
- Commercial or bulk meter DN 50–150 → concrete chamber, cast-iron or composite cover, dismantling joint.
- Smart-meter rollout → radio-transparent lids, pre-installed manifolds.
GON project experience
GON supplied PE100 pressure pipes and water meter boxes for the World Bank-funded rehabilitation of the water-supply system of Dmanisi and 19 villages. You can read more in our Dmanisi project note.
Related products: Water metering · PE100 pressure pipe · Fittings · Composite manhole cover B125
Further reading: Remote-read water meters: what to specify
Plastic or concrete meter chamber?
Plastic suits household meters and is fast to install. Concrete suits large meters and heavy loads.
Can one box hold two meters?
Yes. Multi-meter boxes exist for semi-detached houses, but each customer needs separate valves.
Get a project quote
Send connection counts and meter sizes to sales@gon.ge or call +995 595 818 800.
GON supplies drainage, water, gas and road-infrastructure products to contractors, utilities and IFI-funded programmes across Georgia.