The specific types of change in residential water‐user behavior after the installation of meters are described for a sample of residential customers from Boulder, Colorado. The major types of response in order of sample frequency were (1) watching sprinklers more carefully, (2) ceasing to sprinkle parts of the yard, (3) permitting the yard to turn brown, (4) watering at night, (5) repairing outside leaks, (6) repairing inside leaks. The survey showed that 71% of the sample showed some interest in water matters and that, ex post, 58% would prefer not to be metered with restrictions being imposed as necessary. The conservation practices of 58% of the sample population intensified over time.