According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American family wastes around 9,400 gallons of water annually from leaks alone –  not even counting waste from misuse or inefficient appliances, equating to more than 900 billion gallons each year. Almost as much water as 11 million homes would use… and it’s all washed away.

Smart, sustainable water metering is emerging as a key technology in combating domestic water waste. Through innovative, modern technology, homeowners and residents are able to understand their water consumption habits which empowers them to make conscious, data-driven decisions. Actions that help conserve water and support a more sustainable future.

Smart Water Use is Vital – And Here’s Why

The US Geological Survey states that as of 2015, the US uses 322 billion gallons of water every single day across multiple sectors, including residential. It’s a commodity and an essential part of life and the environment. Here’s a table showing US water use by sector:

Water Use by Sector
Sector	Approx. Use/day	Sustainability Considerations
Residential	30 billion gallons/day	Water wasted from leaks, improper use
Agriculture	118 billion gallons/day	Inefficient irrigation, water-hungry crops
Industry	41 billion gallons/day	Wasted water
Energy/Power	41 billion gallons/day	Inefficient cooling

With increasing pressure from population growth, increased human activity, and climate change, effective management of scarce water resources is more critical than ever. Although these are global-scale problems, statistics show that there’s a lot households can do to help. 

Household-level interventions like smart water metering have a critical role to play in managing scarce water resources to ensure sufficient water supplies now and in the future.

What Is Sustainable Water Metering?

Sustainable water metering focuses on using water resources responsibly by accurately measuring every gallon consumed or lost through leaks, helping to conserve and maintain a reliable water supply, both now and in the future.

Sustainable water metering systems use smart water meters to deliver highly accurate consumption data, real-time monitoring of consumption, analytics, and leak detection. This approach has multiple benefits compared with traditional analog meters: automated remote data collection and analysis improve efficiency and save time, leak detection helps reduce water waste while saving money by allowing leaks to be fixed early, and detailed analytics provide key information necessary to make data-driven choices.

At the residential scale, companies like Kamstrup, Zenner or Mainlink offer effective water submetering solutions. In this context, property owners and residents get:

• Smart water submeters: Provide accurate, near real-time water usage monitoring and notifications about abnormal usage.
• Transparent data for billing: Residents know exactly how much water they’ve consumed each month and can expect a bill that matches their actual usage.
• Data management platform: Provides property managers with full visibility of their portfolio; each apartment unit’s data is accessible and can be used for analysis, insights, and billing.

Why Smart Water Submetering is a Game-Changer

In submetering, water meters track individual unit-level consumption in multifamily buildings, unlike bulk metering systems. This unit-level approach allows fair billing and accountability. These twin pillars drive real behavioral changes resulting in decreased water consumption. 

According to US Census Bureau data, 31.4% of housing in the US is multifamily, positioning multifamily residential housing as an ideal area for sustainable submetering that realizes massive water savings.

Property owners and utilities have many options for smart water submetering — the space is competitive and diverse. Companies like Metron and Truety are popular choices; while one manufactures a range of mechanical water meters and the other offers meters for apartments and multi-family spaces.

A standout company in this sector is Mainlink, which offers Axioma ultrasonic smart water meters known for their high accuracy, durability, and advanced leak detection capabilities. Mainlink provides a robust, comprehensive water submetering solution that supports sustainability at both the property and unit levels.

Its Mainhive cloud platform securely processes and analyzes data, automates monitoring processes, and easily integrates with existing systems. The end-user app enables consumers to monitor their utility usage and make data-driven consumption choices. In one case study, implementing Mainlink’s smart metering solution reduced water consumption by up to 30%.

These tangible benefits position Mainlink as a highly effective choice for sustainable water submetering. 

The Long Road to Sustainability

Sustainability isn’t something that just happens – it’s a process we all need to work towards constantly to ensure we get it right. By implementing modern, sophisticated approaches like sustainable water metering, we can make homes more sustainable, more cost-effective, and better for the environment.