Systems and methods are provided for optically reading data from metering equipment by using a camera to record images of a meter, and converting the displayed data measurement regions of the images into alphanumeric data for reporting over a wireless network to a database system for storage, analysis and reporting. One implementation of the device is a water meter reading device integrated into a form factor that replaces the lid of a water meter box. The device captures images of the meter face, converts the images using optical character recognition software into usage data, meter identification and date/time of the data capture and sends the data to a database over a wireless data network.