The water meter valve to shut off your water can be easily broken, or seized. In most cases, it requires a special wrench to turn.

Most meter boxes will have a hole on the outside that the key fits in. Once the tool is in place on the shut-off valve, you are able to rotate the fin until it stops, shutting off the water.

If you can't find it or if it's damaged, you should be prepared to access the city's shutoff valve in the meter box. To open it, you may need a water meter key, which you can buy at a hardware store.

There’s usually a water supply shut-off valve next to your water meter outside where the city can easily turn your water on or off. It will likely be below an access panel buried in the ground ...