At the point where the water pipe enters the customers building is a MAIN SHUT OFF VALVE. This valve is customer owned. It is the customer's responsibility to maintain this valve in good working order. All customers should be familiar with the location and operation of this valve. Water enters the customer's building and passes through the main shut off valve to the water meter. The WATER METER is the only component within the customer's home that belongs to the district. The customer must provide the district with a location for the water meter that is Clean, Dry, Accessible, and Protected from freezing. Most water meters are equipped with outside registers. This allows the district to read the meter without entering your building for each billing cycle. From time to time we will ask to read your meter within your building. This is to insure that the outside register is accurate. Water passes through the water meter to the back flow valve. The BACK FLOW VALVE prevents water within your buildings plumbing from reversing back into the public water system. This valve is also customer owned. The customer is responsible for maintaining this valve in good working condition. More information about this valve may be found in the following section labeled "cross connections""cross connections"