You will likely hear from a lot of people pushing syndications since your post is chumming the water.

And I will state different jurisdictions have different rules, processes, expectations, etc.In my area you are required to have a permit to swap a water heater.

And if you do, you are going to possibly sacrifice the value of the tenant that you get for the price that you're getting upfront, and if you're going to lose your tenant that you currently have then you risk the vacancy, having to do a rent turn, and that would come with more maintenance, and many additional costs that you would have To encumber that would most likely far exceed that $160 extra that you were trying to raise in the first place. vacancy means no money coming in, and then your investment is dead in the water.

Same property listed water bill paid by landlord so how much does it cost to put individual meters for each property so cost can be moved to tenants? 

Running water through it? 

While you may be willing to live without heat/ac or hot water for a week.

I purchased a new furnace and water heater for another unit.

Hot water heaters are tankless and new.

Solid curtains, water fountain in the backyard, adding trees at the property line nearest the freeway, white noise generators are all other options.

I believe it is completely reasonable to have a clause in your lease that places a cap on utilities with any overage (proven by a bill) being the responsibility of the resident.Our clause states that any electrical bill (we don't have gas, and water has never been a problem) that is over double the same month's bill from last year will have the overage assigned as a fee.It is important to keep your bookkeeping straight if you do assess a fee.