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California Drought Gets Tenants and Landlords on Board For Submetering in 2018

California Drought Gets Tenants and Landlords on Board For Submetering in 2018

Posted by Michelle Farrell on 29th Dec 2017

While there are a few exceptions, most landlords in California bundle the cost of water usage into the rent payment. That means tenants have no knowledge of the amount of water they consume and have no incentive to conserve water in the drought-stricken state. This method of water metering of apartment buildings will change in California, with the installation of individual water meters, known as submeters, in each rental unit of apartment buildings constructed after January 1, 2018.

Given California’s on-going need for water conservation, the current drought, though lessening, has worked to coalesce landlords to support a new California law (Senate Bill 7) which requires newly constructed (after January 1, 2018) apartment buildings to include submeters for every rental unit. Consequently, landlords will be able to bill every tenant for their specific water use, which gives tenants the information about their consumption. Earlier studies have shown that simply giving tenants such information helps them to cut water use by an average of 15%.

California joins nine other states, including Arizona and Texas, which already allow for submetering. With so much advance notice (the bill was signed into law on September 26, 2016), California builders and contractors are including submeters into their plans for new construction of residential apartment buildings.

In support of helping Californians comply with their new submetering law, Flows.com is offering a 10% discount on the following meters (these water meters and submeters meet California’s NSF lead-free standards):
Assured Automation WM-PC Series Water Meters
Assured Automation WM-NLC Series Water Meters
Neptune T10 Series Water Meters
Master Meter WM-FAM Series Water Meters

We are also offering FREE ground shipping to California buyers for orders over $100.
To redeem your coupon, just enter coupon code: CALSUBMETERS at checkout.
This offer is valid for one-time use only and good through Dec 31, 2017.

We’re here to help! Let us know if you have any questions about this new California submetering law, and we’ll do our best to answer your questions.