I haven't read this entire thread so I don't know if this has been discussed or not. If it has, just ignore it.
The water meter reads 1K increments.
On day one 36,212 L passes thru the meter, meter reads 36K.
Log the data as 36K.
Twenty Four hours later 36,105 L passes thru the meter, meter reads 72K.
Log the data as 36K (72-36).
Twenty four hours later 35,892 L passes thru the meter, meter reads 108K.
Log the data as 36K (108-72).
Continue to read the meter every twenty four hours, whether daylight savings time or not.
I am not familiar with that particular water meter, but the ones that I work with do not have a reset to zero feature. Some electronic mag meters do have that ability.
Repeat for one year. Slight variability in actual water use would average out so that conceivably every day 36K would be accurately recorded. Its very possible that the metering pumps could keep within that range, no?