Water Submeter

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Most forms of submetering is a result of a landlord / tenant relationship. Whether the situation takes place in residential buildings or in a commercial structure, there is usually a landlord and a tenant involved.

Simply put a water submeter is a utility meter solution that is put in place to separate the usage of water into consumption-based billing. Basically, each tenant is billed based on what they use individually. This eliminates a lot of headaches for landlords.

Other public utility submeter options are availabe as well. Other public utility submeters include: electric service submeters and natural gas submeters.

"Installing a submetering system allows a property manager... to bill units individually for their share of the utilities. Submetering can be installed for all kinds of utilities, including water, gas, and electricity."

If you are a property manager, landlord or tenant that lives in a multi-unit building that has water service, you can definitely benefit from submeter solutions. If each multi-tenant residential structure and commercial structure used submeter solutions to personalize their public utility billing, it would save everyone time and money.

Each tenant would be able to control their utility bill by simply controlling the gallons of water they use each month. This lowers their overall utility costs. The landlord is able to save both time and money because the submeter systems informs the landlord how much each tenant used without additional work. Additionally, each billing cycle is simplified by the installation of submeters and therefore costs less to implement monthly billing.

Another typically unrecognized benefit of water submeter systems is the reduced need for a plumbing technician. Putting it simply, if the toilet is getting flushed less then the toilet is getting clogged less. Reduced water usage means a reduced need of a plumber. The same can be said for repair technicians besides the plumber. Service technicians for appliances that use water like laundry and dishwashers, will be fewer as well.

A final benefit is leak detection. If a property manager notices a spike in water usage that seems abnormally large and a subsequent amount of water damage somewhere in the building, submeters can help determine which line(s) are being affected. Leaks can cause serious damage to a residential or commercial property. The sooner the leak is detected the less expensive the clean up.

Combine these savings with the savings you receive by paying less money to your water provider and sewer company, by using fewer gallons of water, and you will see the savings grow. Let's face it the water provider and sewer company have plenty of opportunities for earning money. Water submeters help people determine how much money they want to give to the sewer and water provider.

What properties can have water submeters?

The average homeowner will have no need for a submeter solution of any kind. The standard utility meters are sufficient. This is because the average homeowner is completely responsible for their utility usage.

Properties that have a need for submeter solutions are generally multi-family residential properties and a commercial structure that either has multiple tenants or special systems that require additional measurements.

New buildings and older buildings can both have water submeters installed. However, you must check with local and state regulations to determine any specifics about your individual situation.

Every condominium complex, apartment complex, or other residential building, with individual dwelling units, uses a different amount of water. All buildings come equipped with a master meter that measures how much water the building tenants use. The master meter does not inform each dwelling unit how much water each one consumes.

A Ratio Utility Billing Systems (RUBS) is a utility billing system that allows a landlord or other property owner to implement usage-based billing. Each individual unit is equipped with a submeter for their water service. This measures how much water each unit consumes. The water bill is then divided up between the units based on the consumption used through the individual meters.

A building owner that opts to use a utility submeter system will find that it is a much easier method of billing for water use than attempting to include it in the rent or making a flat rate part of a rental agreement. Some people just don't care about their water consumption or water conservation. However, if an occupant is affected by their personal use through their individual meters, it is likely you will see a different attitude.

Are there water submeter regulations?

Submetering regulations vary from state to state and city to city. In fact San Francisco, California plumbing code now requires that all new multi-family residential buildings come equipped with submeters for water service and most other utilities.

Before getting involved with a water submetering company make sure you understand any requirements for your submeter installations. A random local ordinance, county ordinance, civil code or state law could wreak havoc on your net operating income.

Water submeter installation can help improve your overall property valuation. Landlords and building operators for apartment complexes, condominiums, mult-unit residential buildings and many forms of commercial real property love our utility submetering solutions. The master meter system simply doesn't help them control water usage the way an individual water meter does when installed in each dwelling unit.

Water submeter installation may require additional meter reading if it is not a wireless system. However, the benefits provided by individual utility meters far outweighs the costs associated with having them installed in each residential unit. Installation of water meters makes the gallons of water used per unit drop.

It can also have additional benefits in energy conservation without adding the extra cost of installing electric submeters. This is simply because being billed for the gallons you use typically results in shorter showers and more efficient dish and laundry washing. The net result is more than just less coming through the water lines. It also equates to less hot water heater usage.

The installation of water meters in each residential unit helps lower water usage and electric service usage. Additionally, since less water is being used the sewer service portion of the bill is decreased as well.