Submetering Multifamily Properties in Atlanta
Last reviewed by NES Editorial · September 2026
Georgia has required water submetering in new multifamily construction since 2012. NES installs it, reads it, and runs the resident billing for Atlanta communities, new and existing.
If your Atlanta building was permitted after July 1, 2012, Georgia's Water Stewardship Act already requires a water meter on every unit. Older buildings can add submeters any time. Either way, the payoff is the same: residents pay for their own use, consumption drops, and the owner stops absorbing the Watershed Management bill. NES installs and runs it for communities across the metro.
Why do Atlanta multifamily properties submeter?
Georgia requires water submetering in new multifamily construction, so it is often the default for new Atlanta builds, and existing buildings can add it any time. Submetering puts a meter on each unit so residents pay for what they use, which usually cuts water consumption 15 to 30 percent and lets owners recover cost instead of absorbing the Watershed Management 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. Residents are billed for measured use, and meters must meet accuracy standards.
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.