water meter confusion

My mum has just had a water meter fitted and I'm a bit confused by the whole thing. The night before I went round and cleared a space beneath the sink where the stopcock is. Next thing I know the chap from Seven Trent had been round and fitted the water meter in about a minute and not inside the house. According to my Mum he went out to the black plastic cap, on the pavement in front of the house. Fiddled with it and said it was fitted! He left her with a booklet and left.
I've just read the booklet and it says a whole load about how to read meters etc, and shows pictures of meters, but no mention about what my Mum has had done.
A few questions:
1) where is the meter
2) how will they take a reading to show how much water is being used?
3) the booklet says the homeowner should regularly check the readings. How can I do this?

All very confusing, and no explanation in the book.

Hi there,

The meter will have been fitted directly after you mums; connection to the main supply. This is to stop any possibilty of you being able to make any connections before the meter to stop you getting free water.

If you lift the plastic cover you will find the meter, it looks like and works like a gas or elctricity meter.

Hope this helps.

Rico

Most of the stopvalve boxes now have the option to have a meter fitted, its just a case of water off, removing the plug and screwing in the meter, and water back on, 1 miniute at the most!!!
Regards
Rob

thanks Rico,

you're right. Just popped round and lifted the lid to reveal a small meter. Presumably, when they want to take a reading for the bill they will have to take off the cover and get on their knees! That will be some job if the whole street has them fitted.

Virtually every new connection in the country has them fitted like this now. They are called boundary meters.

Get the kneepads!