Sub-metering Water Creates Awareness of Water Conservation

Most of the apartment complexes depend on borewell water. But since these wells go dry, the residents and the management of the complexes turn to private water suppliers. However, when demand for water rises, private water suppliers quote anything between Rs 500 to Rs 1000 for one load of water tanker supply which can be used up to 100 or 120 people. The monthly water bill of an apartment complex would be Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000. The apartment owners’ association or property managers would divide the expense equally among its residents. The practice of owners paying an equal share often leads to unpleasantness and ill-will among residents.

Sub-metering Water

Sub-metering water is installing individual water meters to solve problems of water scarcity. Sub-metering is typically done by a contractor hired by the Apartment Owners Association or Residents Welfare Association of apartment community. Installing individual water meters or Sub-metering water allows each unit to be billed separately for their water consumption and creates awareness of water conservation in an apartment community.

Sub-metering is most cost-effective when incorporated into a new building project. However, retrofitting a building can also be cost-effective depending on water and sewer rates, the number of rental units, and the type of sub-metering service.

Advantage of Sub-metering water

• Sub-metering water eliminates unpleasantness and ill-will among residents while paying for water.

• Helps apartment owners association to keep a watch on the water consumption by its residents.

• You are paying only for the water you use and not your neighbors’ usage.

• The homes that consumed an excess of water stands exposed.

• The rates and fixed slabs ensure accountability and the judicious use of water.

• Residents learn to use water sparingly since the meter will reveal if consumption has gone beyond normal limits.

• Installing individual water meters helps to attain water efficiency.

• When residents are accountable for their personal water usage, they will conserve water.

• Sub-metering is becoming more cost-effective as technologies improve and more companies enter the market to support sub-metering

• Overall water consumption typically decreases by 15 to 50 per cent when individual units are sub-metered and costs are transferred to those responsible for its use.

Water and energy use are mutually reinforcing. If water consumption could be reduced, we would see a concomitant decrease in energy demand. There is need to adopt less wasteful practices that will decrease our impact on natural resources, particularly water and energy. Most of the apartment complexes are installed automatic motor pumping system which automatically pumped up water every time the water level dropped in the overhead tank. This always results in water crisis and hefty electricity bills. Installing individual water mere or sub-metering water will conserve water, brings accountability and brings down utility bill of an apartment.

The success of this initiative will depend on the complete cooperation of all the flat owners. As all apartment owners are facing the same problem and installing individual meter is one of the solutions to bring accountability and conserve water, everyone will support this initiative. Do not exploit groundwater and ensure proper recharge or borewell or groundwater is done in your apartment either by rainwater harvesting or depending less on groundwater.