The Role of Smart Technologies in Modern Water SubmeteringWhy Water Submetering Needed to EvolveGlobal water scarcity is increasing, driving up ...
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network
Why Water Submetering Needed to Evolve
Global water scarcity is increasing, driving up utility costs and raising bills for consumers. Governments are introducing new measures to limit water use, and international organizations continue to promote conservation and stronger water-management practices.
Traditional water meters can’t support these goals. They provide limited data and rely on inefficient methods of collection and analysis. Smart water metering directly addresses these limitations by enabling easier access to data, improving efficiency, and supporting more accurate billing.
To meet the fast-changing demands of modern submetering, the industry had to move beyond legacy systems and provide timely, reliable access to data and management tools and that shift led to the rise of smart submetering.
What Is Smart Water Submetering?
Water submetering is the process of measuring individual unit water consumption within a multi-dwelling or commercial building, rather than relying on building-level billing with allocated costs.
Although legacy submetering systems still exist, they require manual meter readings and manual data analysis – they aren’t “smart.”
Smart submetering provides real-time insights to improve efficiency, supports transparent and individualized billing, and enables features such as leak detection. These capabilities are possible only because of the smart technologies at the core of modern submetering.
The Core Smart Technologies at the Heart of Modern Submetering
Smart submetering relies on four core pillars:
IoT Sensors and Smart Meters
Wireless Connectivity
Cloud Platforms and Data Integration
Advanced analytics
IoT Sensors & Smart Meters
Modern submeters utilize advanced sensors and technologies to deliver highly accurate and precise readings.
Ultrasonic smart water meters, such as those used by Mainlink, a leading global provider of submetering, provide accurate, minimally invasive measurements with low power requirements. Modern approaches allow continuous monitoring for near real-time consumption tracking and remote diagnostics.
Wireless Connectivity
Wireless connectivity is essential in smart submetering. LPWAN technologies such as LoRaWAN and NB-IoT transmit meter data to cloud platforms over long distances.
LoRaWAN is the preferred option for submetering because it supports low-power, building-wide networks and works well in dense residential environments. NB-IoT relies on cellular networks and offers broader reach, but typically requires more power. Both technologies give submetering providers flexibility to match connectivity to the property’s specific conditions.
Cloud Platforms & Data Integration
Cloud systems aggregate and store data securely, allowing remote access and seamless integration with property management and billing software. This approach enables effective automation, from real-time alerts to monthly reports and automated billing.
Advanced analytics
Advanced tools can help to identify leaks, anomalies in the system, and inefficiencies quickly and effectively. Predictive analytics can help forecast usage trends and optimize water allocation, while robust data collection and comparative usage history provide unprecedented amounts of data to drive strategic decision-making.
The Benefits of Smart Technologies in Water Submetering
The smart technologies used in smart water submetering provide many benefits for users and utilities:
Increased operational efficiency: Automated data collection and billing reduce labor costs and opportunities for human error
Leak detection and easier maintenance: Early alerts prevent costly losses and property damage
Transparency: Tenants have access to the data that determines their billing, encouraging more appropriate use
Sustainability: Data-driven insights support conservation goals by allowing for strategic decision-making
Attached link
https://www.technology.org/2025/11/27/the-role-of-smart-technologies-in-modern-water-submeteringTaxonomy
- Smart Meters
- Smart Metering
- Meters
- Smart Water
- Groundwater Data Scientist
- Domestic Water Use