Individual metering of water usage within multi-unit residential buildings allows for precise tracking of consumption for each dwelling. This contrasts with situations where a single meter measures the total building’s water use, with costs divided among tenants using a variety of methods, sometimes equally regardless of actual consumption. For example, a building owner may install submeters to measure individual apartment consumption, and bill tenants based on their usage.
Implementing this system promotes water conservation, as residents are directly accountable for their water bills. It provides transparency and fairness in cost allocation, eliminating potential disputes among residents or between residents and landlords. This system also enables early leak detection within individual units, mitigating potential water damage and waste. Historically, master metering was the norm, making it difficult to pinpoint responsibility for high consumption. Advancements in metering technology and increasing awareness of resource management have spurred the adoption of individual unit measurement.