A familiar situation for every apartment association board member
The end of the month is approaching. The chairperson of the apartment association sends a reminder to residents: "Please submit your water meter readings by the last day of the month." The responses arrive one by one, sometimes days apart. Someone submits an incorrect reading, someone forgets to report one of their meters, and someone does not respond at all. The chairperson sends another reminder and waits. For many apartment associations, this is a recurring monthly task that consumes both time and energy. In many cases, it falls on a single person who performs the work voluntarily, often without any compensation. In a building with 20 apartments, collecting readings, checking them for errors and forwarding the information to the accountant can easily take one to two hours every month. Over the course of a year, that adds up to a significant amount of administrative work that could be automated.
Typical issues with manually submitted meter readings include: late submissions and missing deadlines; typing errors when reporting readings; forgotten submissions, especially during holidays or periods of absence; deliberate non-reporting by some residents; Inconsistent billing periods, as readings may be submitted on different dates and at different times
What is a remote water metering system?
A remote water meter measures consumption just like a traditional water meter, but it automatically transmits meter readings wirelessly without any manual intervention. Residents do not need to submit readings, and apartment association board members do not need to collect them.
Indome uses LoRaWAN technology: a single gateway is installed in the building to collect data from all apartment water meters and transmit it to the cloud. The data is then available at any time through a management platform or as a report for the accountant.
Why choose an ultrasonic water meter?
There are various types of remote water meters available on the market, but not all of them offer the same level of performance. Mechanical water meters contain moving parts, such as an impeller, which can wear out over time, become affected by sediment or limescale buildup, and lose accuracy precisely where it matters most - at low flow rates. The result is less accurate billing and a meter that requires more frequent maintenance or replacement. Indome primarily installs Axioma ultrasonic water meters, which contain no moving parts. This means their accuracy remains consistent over time, and there are no components that can become stuck or worn. In addition, ultrasonic meters cannot be rolled back or otherwise manipulated, which is important for ensuring fair billing and protecting the interests of the apartment association. Axioma water meters are supplied with a 6-year warranty, and the manufacturer's expected service life is up to 16 years - significantly longer than a typical mechanical meter, which often requires replacement after just 4-6 years.
Detecting leaks in hours instead of days
With a manual meter reading system, apartment association board members or property managers typically receive consumption data only once a month. For example, if a meter records 30 m³ instead of the usual 3 m³, substantial damage may already have occurred by the time the issue is discovered. A remote metering system continuously collects consumption data and can automatically generate alerts when usage exceeds normal thresholds. This allows potential leaks to be identified in hours rather than days or weeks.
Daily water consumption monitoring through the Indome platform ensures that unusual usage patterns and anomalies are detected immediately rather than at the end of the month.
Screenshot from the Indome management platform, June 2026.
Installation and system integration
In each apartment, both cold and hot water meters are typically installed, or, depending on the specific characteristics of the building, only a cold water meter may be required. A LoRaWAN gateway is installed in the building to automatically collect data from all meters. Replacing the water meters in a single apartment usually takes 30 to 60 minutes, causing only minimal disruption for residents.
After installation, the management platform is configured. The apartment association board member and/or accountant receives access to a web-based portal where meter readings can be viewed in real time and monthly reports are generated automatically.
Data sent directly to Korto
Many apartment associations use Korto as their property management software. The Indome system transfers water meter readings directly to the Korto platform, eliminating the need for apartment association board members or accountants to manually copy data or upload files. Readings are delivered automatically, on time and without errors.
For residents, this means that the consumption shown on their utility bill accurately reflects the actual meter reading - without human error or delays.
The system grows with the building
A remote water metering system is not just a standalone solution — it can serve as the foundation for future development. If desired, the Indome management platform can also integrate other building systems, including electricity, heating and cooling meters, as well as heating and ventilation systems. Naturally, it can also incorporate production and consumption data from the apartment association’s own solar power installation. All data is consolidated into a single management platform and can, if required, be transferred directly to Korto. This gives the apartment association a complete overview of the building’s consumption and associated costs, all accessible from one central platform.
Maksumus
Ühekordne suurem kulu on arvestite paigaldus ja seadistus. Edasi toimib süsteem kuutasu alusel, ühe arvesti kohta kuus. Indome pakub kahte taset:
| Package | Carefree | Basic |
| Price | 0.55 € + VAT per month / meter | 0.25 € + VAT per month / meter |
| Data transmission | Access to the Indome platform | CSV reports via email |
| Technical support | Yes | Yes |
| Alerts (leaks and other anomalies) | Yes | – |
| Integration with accounting software | Yes | – |
| Who is it suitable for? | Täisautomaatse halduse jaoks | Lihtsama andmeedastuse vajaduse korral |
How do you get started?
Contact us and we will review the size of the property, the existing meters and any building-specific requirements, such as the plumbing layout and technical infrastructure. We will then prepare a tailored quotation based on the number of apartments, the scope of work and the selected service package. If everything is suitable for both parties, we sign an agreement, schedule an installation date, record the final readings from the existing meters and connect the new devices to the network. From that point on, meter readings are automatically transmitted to the Indome platform and, depending on the selected package, also to your property management or accounting software.
What does the EU directive require and where is Estonia heading?
The EU Energy Efficiency Directive requires that main utility meters in apartment buildings be remotely readable by 2027. The requirement for remote readability of individual apartment meters currently depends on whether it is considered cost-effective in a particular member state. In Estonia, this requirement has not yet been made mandatory under national legislation.
However, the direction is clear: remote meter reading is becoming the standard. Apartment associations that postpone the transition may eventually face a more challenging market situation and higher implementation costs. At present, installation capacity remains available and suitable solutions are readily accessible.
