How to open this cover for water shutoff?

[Zanne]

A friend of mine has a leak and needs to shut off the water to her house to fix it but she can't figure out how to open up the cover. It looks like there is a white disc and then next to it there's a metal cover. I've never seen the white disc thing before, so I'm thinking the metal one is what needs to be removed. It looks like the kind that you put a hook through and lift, but I'm not certain. She's tried lifting on both of them but hasn't had any luck.
We live in different states so I can't just go over and help her with it.

Any suggestions?
This is a photo:

Edit: After looking more closely at the picture, I don't see any edges to the metal part in the middle and it occurred to me that the white disc is something sitting on top of a large metal cover. Do you think that whole thing has to come up? Looks like she'd have to clear the dirt/grass all the way around and use a prybar to get it up. I've suggested that she call the water company for assistance on this one.

 

[havasu]

That lid is designed to lift up using a hook. The white disc seems to be an electronic meter reader, so be careful of any wires under the lid.

 

[jeffmattero76]

Around here, you simply call the water company and they come out and shut it off.

Is there a shutoff inside the house, where the water comes in? If not, I would suggest installing a ball valve there while the water is shutoff.

 

[Zanne]

Thanks! I thought it used a hook. I told my friend and she was able to remove the lid & shut the water off. She changed out the shower handle (hoping to stop the leak) but it didn't stop the leak so she has a plumber coming on Monday.

 

[jeffmattero76]

Thanks! I thought it used a hook. I told my friend and she was able to remove the lid & shut the water off. She changed out the shower handle (hoping to stop the leak) but it didn't stop the leak so she has a plumber coming on Monday.

I am not sure what you mean by "changed out the shower handle".

If water is leaking, it is typically a rubber washer (on the end of the valve when you remove the valve from the wall), or an O-ring on a cartridge type faucet.

 

[Zanne]

Yeah, that's what I told her. But her solution was to just put a new handle on the shower. She didn't provide pics or any more explanation than that.

 

[Mr_David]

I've had a few customers tell me they need a new shower head because it's dripping.

The lid. A hook helps but sometimes they are stuck in the box tight from the dirt.
I'll whack 'em with a hammer to loosen them up. big flat head screwdriver next best thing.
Don't pry off the white cap. That's a sending unit so the meter reader doesn't have to physically look at the meter.