What is the primary method by which residential water is metered?

Residential water is primarily metered through water meters that measure the volume of water used. These devices are installed at the point where the water supply enters a residence and are designed to provide accurate measurements of water consumption. By calculating the flow of water in gallons or liters over time, water meters allow utility companies to bill customers based on actual usage rather than estimates.

This method is preferred as it provides precise data, enabling fair billing for each household's water consumption. Additionally, accurate metering supports resource management and conservation efforts by incentivizing residents to be mindful of their water use.

In contrast, app-based monitoring systems, while growing in popularity, still often rely on the data from traditional water meters for their readings. Estimating water usage based on household size may not account for actual consumption patterns, leading to inaccuracies in billing. Periodic visual inspections do not offer a reliable or continuous measure of water usage and can lead to significant errors in understanding actual consumption. Thus, the reliability and accuracy of volume measuring through water meters make it the primary method for metering residential water.