I have some duplexes. They have combined water lines. Meaning I pay the water because they do not have separate meters. Does anyone know of a product I can use that will let me know the separate water usage of each tenant. I looked into adding a meter with the city. The price is outrageous and they dont want to do it. --99.190.xxx.xx

Most towns and cities want to discourage separating out water as they know rental housing providers will always pay. With the shortage of water that is common on the west coast cities and towns need to look at water conservation. The best way to separate water is to use Uponor pex commercial piping then a shut off valve then it is matter of getting a water meter. So look a buying or see if the town or city will provide water meters. Copper piping is very labour intensive along with cost of copper piping is more expensive when compared to roll of 30 meters or 100' of Uponor pex piping. 3/4" or 1" then piping can be connected to a manifold where the manifold supplies all the fixtures without a pressure drop as the larger pipe feeds the manifold. If want to find out a A type pex piping then view some videos on You Tube. Commercial pex piping is sold at plumbing supply operations not the big box stores. --99.236.xxx.xxx

We used Neptune T-10 3/4" potable water meter in one of our duplexes to basically keep an eye on things, however in that town, the water/sewer bill is linked with the property and not the occupant so the owner is ultimately responsible. --72.231.xxx.xx

There are companies that will read them and send a bill to the tenants, but if possible, I'd want to read them myself if there were a reasonable number of them and they were close enough. --24.180.xx.xx

DAE AS200U-75 Water Meter, 3/4" NPT about $45 Amazon --99.111.xx.xxx

I needed to know my factory water use so I spent $300 for inside water meter. You should be able to meter each house without landscape water usage. --99.23.xxx.x

We sub-meter. Yes, water is still ultimately our responsibility but per the lease, the tenant reimburses us for their use as determined by the meter. We've not had a problem with that at all. --50.82.xxx.xxx

The sub meter idea is popular here also, however the meter for each unit must be visible to the tenants at all times, I put a chain link fence in my multi basements so equipment tampering slows way down, the breakers are accessible to tenants but the meters, heaters and other stuff are behind the fence in plain view. --76.188.xxx.xxx

There is a company called Livable that will determine utilities for each unit, using square footage, number of occupants and your utility bills that show usage. They bill your tenants. If tenants don't pay, they are in violation of the lease and owe you rent. You can give them 30 day notice to move. I've been using them and have had no problems or complaints from my tenant. Costs $6. a month per unit. --66.74.xx.xxx