Water and sewer rates keep rising across Virginia, and in a master-metered building the owner pays for every gallon. Submeters bill each unit for exactly what it uses, so your water billing is fair, defensible and ready for Virginia's 2027 record-keeping rules.
A master-metered building pays for every gallon twice: once for water and again for sewer or wastewater treatment. In Hampton Roads, for example, the city bills the water and HRSD bills the treatment. Without submeters, the owner absorbs all of it.
From July 1, 2026, HRSD charges $9.84 per 100 cubic feet (748 gallons) to treat wastewater, up from $9.03. HRSD bills by metered water use, so every gallon a building buys is charged again for treatment.
The City of Norfolk lists $6.51 for water and $5.66 for wastewater collection per 100 cubic feet. Add HRSD treatment and a Norfolk building pays roughly $22 for every 748 gallons its residents use.
From July 1, 2026, Virginia Beach charges $6.54 per 1,000 gallons for water (up 31 cents) and a $6.30 monthly availability fee, on top of the city sewer fee and HRSD treatment.
On one master meter, a running toilet in one unit is paid by everyone, usually the owner. Unit-level meters show where the water goes and flag leaks early.
The Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act sets the rules for billing residents through submeters in Va. Code § 55.1-1212.
| Rule | What it says | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Lease disclosure | Owners may bill residents through submeters only if the written lease clearly says so. | Put submetering terms in new leases and renewals before billing starts. |
| Approved equipment | Submetering equipment must meet State Corporation Commission standards (Va. Code § 56-245.3). | Use meters that meet the standard. We help select compliant meters and coordinate with your preferred plumber, who installs them. |
| Billing period and due date | Residents are billed for the same period as the utility bill unless the lease says otherwise. The due date must be at least 15 days after the bill is mailed or delivered. | Bill monthly on the utility's cycle and allow 15 days to pay. |
| Fees | Billing, account and similar fees must be set out in the lease. A late fee is limited to $5. | Every fee must be disclosed in the lease up front. |
| Meter testing | A resident may ask for a free test of the equipment once every 24 months, with a written report within 10 working days. | Accurate, maintained meters keep disputes short. |
| Records, changing July 1, 2027 | Owners must keep billing records that residents can inspect. From July 1, 2027 (2026 Acts, ch. 783 and 784), records must also explain how monthly billing fees are calculated and show a 12-month payment history. | Meter-based billing with a clear fee breakdown meets the new rule. |
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 preferred plumber checks the plumbing on site, and we turn both into a fixed quote.
We coordinate with your preferred plumber, who installs ultrasonic submeters on each unit's supply line. We 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 read and billed water submeters for owners and developers in DC, MD and VA since 2010, in garden apartments, small and mid-size apartment buildings, condos and mixed-use buildings. We bring the same service to buildings across Virginia, from Northern Virginia and Richmond to Norfolk, Virginia Beach and the rest of Hampton Roads: one team for the assessment, monthly billing and resident questions, coordinating with your preferred plumber, who installs the meters.
Buildings from 2 to 200 units, including older properties with shared risers.
Separate residential water from retail, and design metering into new projects from day one.
Yes. Va. Code § 55.1-1212 allows owners to bill residents through water submeters when the lease clearly says so, using equipment that meets State Corporation Commission standards.
Billing and account fees have to be set out in the lease. A late fee is limited to $5, and the due date must be at least 15 days after the bill is mailed or delivered.
From July 1, 2027 (2026 Acts, chapters 783 and 784), billing records must explain how monthly utility billing fees are calculated and include each resident’s payment history for the tenancy or the past 12 months. Clear, meter-based billing makes that easy to meet.
Buildings across Virginia, including Northern Virginia, Richmond, Norfolk, Virginia Beach and the rest of Hampton Roads. We read and bill water submeters for apartment, condo and mixed-use buildings and coordinate with your preferred plumber, who installs the meters.
Send us your unit count and a recent water and sewer bill. We'll send back a fixed quote and a savings estimate.
or email service@aquees.com
We serve DC, MD, VA, DE, PA and NC. See also: Water submetering in Washington, DC · Water submetering in Maryland · Water submetering in Pennsylvania · Water submetering in Delaware · Water submetering in North Carolina
Sources (checked Oct 8, 2026): Va. Code § 55.1-1212 · § 55.1-1212 as amended July 1, 2027 · HRSD rate schedule, July 1, 2026 · City of Norfolk water and sewer rates · Virginia Beach fees and rates, July 1, 2026
