DC Water bills keep rising, and from January 1, 2027 DC landlords can no longer bill tenants separately for common-area or vacant-unit utilities. Submeters bill each unit for exactly what it uses, so your water billing is fair, defensible and ready for the new rule.
Water and sewer are among the fastest-growing costs in a master-metered DC building, and new rules are narrowing how you can recover them.
DC Water's proposed FY2027 multifamily rates, effective Oct 1, 2026, are $7.21 per Ccf for water and $12.91 for sewer: about $20 for every 748 gallons, before the Clean Rivers charge.
D.C. Law 26-156 bars separate charges for common spaces and vacant units starting Jan 1, 2027. Submeters measure only what flows into each unit, so there is nothing to carve out.
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.
DC has no statute that licenses residential water submeters, but several rules shape how you can bill residents for water.
| Rule | What it says | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| D.C. Law 26-156 (from Jan 1, 2027) | Housing providers and their billing companies may not separately charge tenants, other than through rent, for common-space or vacant-unit utility charges. RUBS is still allowed. | Submetered bills cover only each unit's own use, which fits the rule by design. |
| DC Attorney General guidance | Disclose how utilities are billed before the lease is signed and make sure meters and submeters calculate usage accurately. | Put the submetering method in every new lease. Our ultrasonic meters and reports give you the accuracy record. |
| Rent control (D.C. Code § 42-3501.03) | Hot and cold water are "related services" in rent-controlled housing. | Submetering is simplest for new leases and new construction. |
| Condominiums (D.C. Code § 42-1903.12) | Expenses benefiting fewer than all units can be specially assessed as the condo documents allow. | Check your bylaws. Submeter data supports usage-based assessments where they are permitted. |
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 manages water submeters in rowhouse conversions, small apartment buildings, condos and mixed-use buildings in more than 20 DC neighborhoods, in all four quadrants:
Yes. DC does not prohibit water submetering for residential buildings. You must disclose the billing method before the lease is signed, bill accurately, and not charge tenants billing or administrative fees.
Starting January 1, 2027, landlords and their billing companies cannot separately charge tenants for utility costs of common spaces or vacant units. RUBS remains allowed. Submeters measure each unit directly, so common-area water is never on a resident's bill.
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 DC Water bill. We'll send back a fixed quote and a savings estimate.
or email service@aquees.com
We serve DC, MD and VA. Ask about your building in: Maryland · Baltimore/a> · Northern Virginia
Sources (checked Sept 29, 2026): D.C. Law 26-156 · D.C. Code § 42-3505.10 · DC OAG tenant alert · D.C. Code § 42-3501.03 · D.C. Code § 42-1903.12 · DC Water FY2027–28 proposed rates
