Customer Profile
- Property: Greentree Commons Condominiums Association
- Type: HOA / Condo Association
- Location: Chesapeake, VA
- Meter Count: 83 units
- Interviewee: Regina, Board President
Challenge
The HOA relied on a local meter reading company that was notoriously unreliable.
- Technicians marked meters as “unreadable” and based bills on averages or estimates.
- Even existing mechanical submeters could not be trusted because no provider interpreted them accurately.
- Board members resorted to personally cleaning and checking 83 meters just to reduce billing errors.
- The situation caused frustration, wasted weekends, and unpredictable water bills.
Impact
- Inconsistent billing: Residents received inaccurate and unfair charges.
- Stress on leadership: Regina spent every Sunday monitoring meters.
- Resident dissatisfaction: Frustration grew across the community.
- Unmanageable system: Traditional meter reading services failed to deliver reliable data.
Solution
SimpleSUB Water provided a hands-free, accurate, and affordable alternative:
- Clamp-On Design: No need to cut pipes, amend bylaws, or hire professional plumbers.
- DIY Installation: Two volunteer board members installed all meters on a flexible schedule.
- Automated Billing: Partnered with Think Utility Services to handle unit-level billing and collections.
- Leak Alerts: Proactive notifications helped residents avoid unexpected high bills.
Features
- Battery Operated — No wiring needed.
- No Tools Required — Simple strap-on installation.
- Cellular Connectivity — Independent of WiFi networks.
- Online Reporting — Real-time data access for billing and leak detection.
Results
- 83 clamp-on meters installed by board volunteers.
- 13,000 gallons saved per month through proactive leak alerts.
- 52 Sundays freed yearly — Regina no longer spends weekends checking meters.
- Consistent, accurate billing — Residents now pay fairly, without disputes.
Success
The Greentree Commons project shows how HOAs can:
- Transition from stress and inaccuracy to seamless billing
- Save thousands of gallons monthly with leak alerts
- Free leadership time and reduce board burnout
- Improve resident satisfaction through fair billing
“Everything has been smooth since we got installed. SimpleSUB is by far the most cost-effective and easiest solution I could find for our building. Their service is thorough and prompt, and in our 18 months as customers we’ve never had a problem.”
— Regina, Board President, Greentree Commons HOA
Modernize Your Water Management
Is your HOA still struggling with unreliable meter readings or billing disputes? Schedule your free SimpleSUB Water audit today and take water billing from “a headache” to “totally seamless.”
