You would need separate meters on each unit even if from a private company.Maybe also an award for reporting excess water usage or stealing.These ideas might be horrible I am just trying to think outside the box. 

Wow, @Kyle Burrows, you really started something here...I do believe this will get you an award for being a debate starter! 

@Joshua Dorkin what does it mean when I have won an award ?

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Pro 12,362 posts 6016 votes 23 awards I cant agree more with J Scott on this.

Second, although a judge may have some reservations in awarding you damages for your time, it is certainly possibly and definitely permissible.  

I'd bet his quote came in seemingly low and he was award that job for that reason.  

Toledo investors and landlords had our day in court today and really the day could not have gone better.We were awarded our preliminary injunction immediately stopping the enactment of the ordinance...we now have an absolute unequivocal ruling that the City of Toledo cannot carry forward with the threat to fine landlords who don't comply with their ordinance.This ruling is of course in advance of the Judge's final ruling on the case...for a permanent injunction of the entire ordinance.Of note - our esteemed Judge awarded our injunction citing validity OF ALL FOUR key justifications of the lawsuit:- The city of Toledo city council cannot hand over enforcement powers it doesn't possess as a legislative body (the cornerstone of unconstitutionality) over to the Lucas County Health Dept.- The city failed to have an agreement with the LCHD when they enacted the ordinance (they created one months later when we requested a copy for our lawsuit).- There is a violation of the equal protection of individuals (landlords) in enforcing this ordinance ONLY on owners 1-4 units and not on all rentals or all homes built before 1978.- The city fumbled the definition of Owner in their municipal code (we filed the issue in court about a week ago)...anyone who had a utility bill and controlled the property was considered an owner and thus exempt from the ordinance so totally muddying the waters two weeks before implementation was to occur.

The COSL will notify all qualifying purchasers by regular mail that additional bidding will be required and, the winning bid will be awarded to the highest bidder.

They never tested the house for lead and never proved that that lead poisoning came from that house but the jury still awarded him a 9.3 million judgment against the property owner.