High Water Bills in Atlanta? You Need Water Submetering
Last reviewed by NES Editorial · September 2026
Atlanta's combined water and sewer rates are among the highest of any big U.S. city, and the owner of a master-metered building absorbs all of it. Submetering bills each unit for its own use instead.
Atlanta water is expensive for a reason: decades of court-ordered sewer work are baked into every bill from the Department of Watershed Management. On a master meter, the owner carries that cost for every unit. Submetering ends that. Each unit gets a meter, residents pay for what they use, and leaks that used to hide in the master bill surface within a day.
How does submetering lower high water bills in Atlanta?
Atlanta's combined water and sewer rates run high, and owners who absorb the master-meter bill feel it most. Water submetering installs a meter on each unit and bills residents for their own use, which usually cuts consumption 15 to 30 percent and recovers the cost the owner was carrying. Leaks also surface fast through daily reads, which prevents the spikes that drive a high bill.
Yes. Submetering is allowed in Atlanta, Georgia, with some restrictions.
Water submetering follows the Georgia Water Stewardship Act, and NES handles the requirements for you.
Why Atlanta owners submeter
- Residents pay for what they use, so water consumption usually drops 15 to 30 percent
- Leaks are caught early through daily meter reads
- Common-area usage is measured and billed accurately, not absorbed by the owner
- Costs are allocated fairly, so careful residents are not subsidizing heavy users
- Most installs pay for themselves within 12 to 18 months
Water and sewer in Atlanta come from the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management, electricity from Georgia Power, and natural gas through Atlanta Gas Light.
Rules & complianceSubmetering rules in Georgia
Georgia's Water Stewardship Act (O.C.G.A. 12-5-180.1) requires individual water submetering in new multifamily construction and allows it for existing buildings, with residents billed for measured use.
Local rules can vary by city and county, and NES verifies the requirements for your exact address.
Official sources: Georgia EPD (Water Stewardship Act) · O.C.G.A. 12-5-180.1
General information only, not legal advice. Confirm current rules with the Georgia EPD · O.C.G.A. 12-5-180.1 (Water Stewardship Act) or a qualified attorney.
Areas NES serves around Atlanta
- Atlanta
- Sandy Springs
- Brookhaven
- Decatur
- East Point
- Marietta
Submetering in Atlanta
See what your Atlanta property can recover.
Send us your master-meter bills and unit count. We’ll run the numbers on your actual property and reply within one business day with a clear, no-obligation estimate.