System for distribution of hot and cold water and metering of same

A method of heating, distributing, measuring and billing water supplied to individual building units in a multi-unit building complex comprising the steps of:

• providing a central water heating unit, a first distribution line for supplying heated water, a delivery line from said first distribution line to each individual building unit, a cold water distribution line, a cold water delivery line to each individual building unit, and a cold water meter for measuring the quantity of cold water supplied by cold water delivery for each individual building unit;
• heating water in the central heating unit;
• delivering hot water from the central water heating unit into the first distribution line;
• supplying hot water from the first distribution line to the delivery line for individual building units;
• supplying cold water from the cold water distribution line into the cold water delivery line for individual building units;
• measuring the quantity of hot or cold water usage into each individual building unit;
• allocating the amount of non-measured cold or hot water used at each individual building unit based on the measured amount of water usage for that individual building unit;
• generating an invoice for each individual building unit based on the amount of such cold and heated water usage;
• and
• distributing receipts for each said invoices.

A method of heating, distributing, measuring and billing water supplied to individual building units in a multi-unit building complex, comprising the steps of:

• providing a central fuel-fired water heating unit, a first distribution line for supplying heated water, a delivery line from said first distribution line to each individual building unit, a cold water distribution line, a cold water delivery line to each individual building unit, and a cold water meter for measuring the quantity of cold water supplied by cold water delivery for each individual building unit;
• supplying water and fuel to the central fuel-fired water heating unit;
• heating water in the central heating unit;
• delivering hot water from the central water heating unit into the distribution line;
• supplying hot water from the distribution line to the delivery line for individual building units;
• supplying cold water from the cold water distribution line into the cold water delivery line for individual building units;
• measuring the quantity of hot or cold water usage into each individual building unit;
• allocating the amount of non-measured cold or hot water used at each individual building unit based on the measured amount water usage for that individual building unit;
• generating an invoice for each individual building unit based on the amount of such cold and heated water usage;
• and
• distributing receipts for each said invoices.

A system for heating, distributing, measuring, and billing potable water supplied to individual building units in a multi-unit building complex from a potable water source, comprising:

• a central water heating unit;
• a first distribution line in fluid communication with said central heating unit extending throughout the multi-unit building complex and having a return line portion allowing heated water to circulate through the multi-unit building complex and return to said central heating unit;
• a delivery line extending from said first distribution line to each individual building unit;
• a cold water distribution line extending throughout the multi-unit building complex;
• cold water delivery lines extending from said cold water distribution line to each individual building unit;
• a meter for each individual building unit for measuring the quantity of heated or cold water supplied;
• a water heating system in fluid communication with said first distribution line;
• and
• an billing and income allocation system including:
• means for recording the amount of measured heated or cold water usage at each said meter,
• means for allocating the amount of non-measured cold or heated water used at each individual building unit based on the measured water usage for that individual building unit,
• means for generating an invoice for each individual building unit based on the amount of such cold and heated water usage, and
• means for distributing receipts for each said invoices.