Top Solutions for Water Meter Apartment Management and Billing

As a property manager, you know that managing a water meter in an apartment building isn’t always easy. It can be tricky to figure out how much water each tenant uses, address potential water leaks, and more.

You need to have better water meter apartment management and other top solutions to avoid these problems.

In this blog post, we'll discuss the common problems property managers face with water meters and what methods to take to avoid bigger problems in the long term.

Why Is Water Usage in an Apartment Complex Hard to Manage?

Before we go to solutions, let's first talk in detail about why managing water usage in an apartment can be complicated. Here are a few common reasons why:

Problems With Shared Meters and Individual Meters

In many apartment buildings, especially older ones, there’s only one water meter for the whole property. This means the water bill gets divided among all the tenants.

The split is often based on the size of the apartment or how many people live there. But this isn’t always fair, and it can lead to arguments if someone feels they’re paying for water they didn’t use.

Some buildings have separate meters for each unit, which is great for fairness. But if the system isn’t automated, someone has to check all the meters by hand and figure out each tenant’s bill. This takes a lot of time and leaves room for mistakes, making it stressful for property managers.

Tenants Might Not Know How Much They Use

Most people don’t think about how much water they use. If they don’t see clear numbers or reports, they might not notice small things like a dripping faucet or long showers. This makes it harder to get everyone to save water and cut down on waste.

Why Monitoring Water Usage Matters

Keeping an eye on water use can make a big difference. Here's a few ways on how it can help you:

Save Money on Water Bills

Keeping track of how much water you use can help you spend less. When you know where water is going, it’s easier to find simple ways to cut back.

This could mean shorter showers, fixing a dripping faucet, or using appliances more wisely. Small changes like these can lead to lower bills and extra money in your pocket.

Prevent Wasting Water

Water waste often happens without you noticing. A tiny leak or forgetting to turn off the tap can add up to your utility costs over time. When you monitor your water use, you can catch these issues early.

Fixing leaks or being more careful with water not only helps you save on your water bill—but it also means less wasted water.

Fair Billing for Tenants

Nobody likes paying for something they didn’t use. With water tracking, tenants only pay for the water they actually use. This creates a fair tenant-billing system and avoids arguments over shared utility bills. Tenants are happier knowing they aren’t covering someone else’s water use.

How Can Technology Help You Manage Water Costs?

Thanks to new technology, tracking water usage in apartments has become much easier. We've listed how you can use available technology to your advantage:

Track Water Usage Anytime, Anywhere

Smart water systems have features where you can see how much water is used. You don’t have to wait until the end of the month to get a bill. This real-time tracking makes it easier to spot when water use is higher than usual, so you can make adjustments right away.

You also don’t have to physically check the meter anymore. Many systems come with constant monitoring features that let you see water use from anywhere. Whether at home, at work, or even on vacation, you can stay on top of your water usage with just a few clicks.

If you want a smart water meter, check out smart IoT-based micrometers.

Catch Leaks Quickly

Smart meters can do more than just track water—they can also send you alerts. If there’s a sudden spike in water flow, it might mean there’s a leak. With these alerts, you can find water leaks and fix problems quickly before they waste more water or cause bigger issues.

Transparency With Tenants

In apartment buildings, tracking water usage per unit can clarify things. You can see exactly how much water each tenant uses instead of guessing or splitting costs evenly.

Seeing how much water you use can also change your tenant's habits. When people know their numbers, they tend to be more careful about water use. Small actions, like turning off the tap or running full loads, happen naturally.

Everyone benefits when things are more transparent.

How to Implement an Efficient Water Meter Apartment Management System

Setting up an efficient water meter system in an apartment building takes some planning. Check out the steps that can guide you to better water management in your apartment!

Choose the Right System for Your Building

Start by looking at how your building currently handles water use. Does each unit already have its own meter, or is there just one master meter for the whole building?

If your building uses shared meters, you can use a Ratio Utility Billing System (RUBS) as a good alternative to divide water bills fairly. The RUBS splits costs based on factors like unit size or how many people live there.

If you want the most accurate way to track water use, having a separate meter for each unit is the best option. They show exactly how much water each tenant uses.

Another great option is investing in smart water meters and water submetering systems. They let you track water use in real time and monitor everything remotely, making them very convenient.

Hire a Professional Installer

Adding or upgrading water meters isn’t a DIY job. It’s best to hire a plumber or contractor who knows how to work with your building’s plumbing.

They can make sure everything is installed properly and fits with the systems you already have. This way, you avoid problems later and know the job is done right.

Set Up Monitoring and Billing

Once your system is installed, you’ll need a way to track and bill for water use. Many systems come with apps or software that make this easy. You can see how much water each unit is using and create accurate bills for tenants.

Sharing usage reports with tenants is also a good idea. It helps them understand their own water use and can encourage them to save.

Plan for Regular Maintenance

Keeping the system in good shape is important. For smart meters, check for warnings like low battery alerts or error messages. Scheduling regular inspections is also a good idea.

This helps you catch leaks or other problems early before they cause bigger issues. Regular maintenance keeps everything running smoothly and avoids costly repairs down the road.

How DrizzleX Can Help You With Water Meter Apartment Management

DrizzleX allows you to detect fixture leaks to stop wasting water. It also alerts you to excessive water overuse by tenants. Typically, buildings that use DrizzleX reduce their water bills by 25-45% or more.

And you can expect a pretty quick return on investment (ROI). Buildings with DrizzleX save enough water to cover the entire cost of DrizzleX within about 9 months on average.

Usage Reports

One of DrizzleX's solutions is the Water Consumption Insights Report. Since many people aren't really aware of their excessive water usage, an accurate report can be very helpful in preventing unnecessary expenses. Using the reports, you can communicate with your tenants about their water consumption habits, and back it up with precise data too.

Leak Detection

Leaks can be sneaky because they aren't always visible. With property inspection, you can see the obvious ones. But, silent leaks will only show up on your utility bills. DrizzleX gives you water control because you can monitor the water flow in your building.

The system will notify you about where and how much water is being lost.

E-mail Notifications

Once DrizzleX spots the leak, it will notify you via email. The message you receive will include all the details about the exact apartment and fixture that is the culprit, how many gallons were used, how much it will cost you if the problem isn’t fixed, and even possible causes for the water waste and how to fix it.

Billing

DrizzleX also allows you to bill your tenants. Tenants conserve water when they are the ones paying for it. You can easily create water bills based on accurate water consumption and bill them fairly.

FAQs About Water Meter Apartment

Where is the water meter in most apartments?

Water meters are usually in a utility room, basement, or near the main water supply for the building. In some cases, individual meters are in each unit or just outside it.

How is water measured in apartments?

Water is measured by a meter that tracks how much water flows through the pipes. This can be done for the whole building or for each unit if separate meters are installed.

What happens if you don't want a water meter?

In some places, you might not have a choice if meters are required. If not, your bill is usually based on estimates, like the size of your unit or how many people live there. This may not reflect your actual water use.

How to read the apartment water meter?

To read your apartment water meter, locate it (usually in a utility area or near the main water supply) and note the numbers displayed. For digital meters, read the number directly, while for dial meters, record the numbers from left to right. Ignore any red numbers or decimals, as they represent fractional units.