Baltimore water and sewer rates keep rising, and Maryland's new water submetering law took effect October 1, 2026. Submeters bill each unit for exactly what it uses, so your water billing is fair, defensible and built for the new rules.
Water and sewer are among the fastest-growing costs in a master-metered Baltimore building, and Maryland now spells out how you can recover them.
Baltimore City approved 9% water and 9% sewer increases for each of fiscal 2026 and 2027. In a master-metered building, the owner absorbs every increase.
Maryland's 2026 water submetering law (Chapter 262) lets owners install submeters and bill each unit for its measured use, with clear limits on fees and charges.
A bill based on each unit's own reading is easier to explain than a formula based on square feet or occupancy, and cuts disputes.
Unit-level data flags running toilets and hidden leaks in days, not at the next quarterly water bill.
Maryland's 2026 law sets statewide rules for billing residents through water submeters, and older rules still cover allocation without meters.
| Rule | What it says | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 262 of 2026 (HB 220), from Oct 1, 2026 | Owners may install water submeters and bill each unit in proportion to its actual use, and no more than the water provider's actual charges. | Submetered bills pass through what the building pays, by measured use. |
| What can't be billed | Water used in common areas or non-residential space, and water lost to leaks or poor maintenance the owner is responsible for. | Submeters measure only what flows into each unit, so common-area water stays off residents' bills. |
| Fees | Billing or administrative fees are capped at $1 per unit per month. | Plan billing costs within the cap. |
| Tenant notice | A written lease, the bill at least 20 days before payment is due, and written notice of past water and sewer costs before the lease starts. | Unit-level usage history makes the notices straightforward. |
| RUBS disclosure (Real Property § 8-212.4) | Allocating a master-meter bill without meters requires a written disclosure: the last two bills, the prior-year average, the calculation method and any fees. | Submetering replaces formulas with measured use. |
This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm your lease and billing setup with counsel.
We review your water bills and unit count and estimate your savings. Your trusted plumbing partner checks the plumbing on site, and we turn both into a fixed quote.
Your trusted plumbing partner installs ultrasonic submeters on each unit's supply line. We coordinate the work and schedule unit access around your residents to keep disruption low.
Meters report usage automatically. We produce each resident's bill from actual consumption and handle the questions.
You see usage by unit, spot leaks early and recover the water cost you used to absorb.
AQUEES has served owners and developers across the DC metro and Baltimore since 2010, in rowhouse conversions, small apartment buildings, condos and mixed-use buildings. Recent Baltimore results:
Apartment portfolio, 9 properties. The owner had absorbed the entire water bill with no visibility into leaks. Result: 28% less water used and about $210,000 a year recovered.
Rental portfolio. Water costs for rental units are now recovered, and leak events are visible unit by unit.
Yes. Maryland's 2026 law (Chapter 262, in effect from October 1, 2026) allows owners to install water submeters and bill each unit for its measured use, with limits on fees and charges.
Billing or administrative fees are capped at $1 per unit per month, and you can't bill more than the water provider's actual charges.
It depends on how many units you have and how the plumbing is laid out. Most AQUEES clients see payback in 6 to 10 months. Book a free assessment for a fixed quote.
Yes, if each unit has its own water supply line. Your trusted plumbing partner can check the risers during the free assessment, and we tell you upfront whether it will work.
Send us your unit count and a recent Baltimore City water bill. We'll send back a fixed quote and a savings estimate.
or email service@aquees.com
We serve DC, MD and VA. See also: Water submetering in Washington, DC
Sources (checked Oct 7, 2026): Maryland HB 220 (2026) fiscal note · HB 220 bill text · Baltimore water and sewer rate increases (WEAA)
