Forget Remote Meter Displays — Cut $200 Per Unit and Stay NTEP-Compliant 

Wall-mounted remote meter displays are officially outdated.  
They are expensive, unnecessary, and easily replaced. Today, a mobile app can do everything a remote water meter display does—at zero cost—and with more value for residents, property managers, and inspectors. Mainlink’s NTEP-certified solution proves you can ditch $200-per-unit hardware and still stay fully compliant. 

Why Remote Meter Displays Were Necessary – Until Now 

According to California Code of Regulations UR.2 – Accessibility of Customer, it is required that water meters be “readily observable.” This means that if a meter is hidden in a wall, ceiling, or vault, it needs either a remote water meter display (remote water meter reading) or an NTEP-listed wireless endpoint with a mobile app. 

Many U.S. states enforce similar regulations, often based on NIST Handbook 44, which includes User Requirement UR.2: Accessibility of Customer Indication. These rules ensure that water usage data is visible and accessible to residents and inspectors-without requiring special tools or equipment. 

In practical terms, property owners are required to install a remote water meter display that can be easily observed. With Mainlink, it’s now enough to provide a mobile app that puts meter data directly in the resident’s pocket. 

What Are the Common Types of Remote Water Displays? 

Type	Description	Compliance Requirement
Wired Remote Water Display	Wall-mounted screen wired to the meter	Must be on NTEP CC
Wireless Digital Water Meter Display	Electronic read-out often installed in utility closets	Must be on NTEP CC
Mobile App (like Mainlink)	Displays readings directly on a phone	Must be listed on the same NTEP CC as the meter

How Remote Displays Drive Up Costs 

Here’s a breakdown of the typical cost to install one physical water meter display: 

• Display hardware: ~$125  

• Wiring and Installation: for cables and installer labour $75 

That adds up to $200 per unit—and that’s just for compliance, not additional functionality. 

Short ROI Calculation: 200-Unit Property Example

Item	Cost per unit	Total for 200 units
Digital water meter display hardware	$125	$25,000
Wiring & Installer Labour	$75	$15,000
Total Avoidable Cost	$200	$40,000

With Mainlink, Eliminate the Need for a Meter Reader Display 

The entire $40,000 is saved – because our mobile app satisfies the display requirement and costs $0 to deploy. Most remote displays have a lifespan of around 7-10 years, after which they require battery change or full replacement—an additional expense Mainlink helps you avoid entirely. 

Mainlink’s residential mobile app is NTEP-certified and fully compliant with government regulations. It empowers residents to monitor their water usage in real time, receive instant leak alerts, and actively contribute to sustainable water use. 

Mobile App vs. Meter Reader Display: What Residents See 

Feature	Wall Display	Mainlink Residential App
View daily usage	Only on-site	24/7 via phone
Burst & Freeze alerts	Not available	Yes
Usage history & charts	None	Yes
Maintenance	Batteries, wall damage	None
Upfront cost	$125+ installation	$0

What Is NTEP and Why Does It Matter? 

If you’re installing submeters for billing or cost allocation in the U.S., NTEP (National Type Evaluation Program) – is non-negotiable. 

An NTEP Certificate of Conformance (CC) confirms that a device has passed accuracy and compliance tests under NIST Handbook 44, a national standard. Before a water meter can be legally used for billing, local inspectors check whether each component—including the meter, display register, transmitter, and even software or app—is listed on an active NTEP CC. 

• 46 states + Washington, DC require an NTEP certificate to seal a meter for billing use. 

• The remaining states (like California and New York) have their own programs but accept NTEP as equivalent or use the same test criteria. 

Why NTEP Matters for Property Owners 

Without an NTEP-compliant system property owners: 

• Can’t legally bill tenants for water. 

• County Weights & Measures inspectors may tag the entire system “out of service.” 

• You may face costly retrofits if inspectors find components missing from the certification. 

Take the Smarter Path – Choose Mainlink as Your Water Submetering Technology Partner 

Mainlink’s smart water metering solution consists of: 

• Axioma Metering ultrasonic water meter 

• LoRaWAN gateway 

• Cloud-based data management platform (Head End System) 

• Mobile app for residents 

If you’re specifying water submeters for a new project or retrofitting an older building, Mainlink offers a modern, sustainable, and cost-efficient solution. Unlike other systems that require transceivers, repeaters, or remote readers, Mainlink gives you everything you need—without extra hardware. 

Every additional device you add to a system increases the long-term costs: to buy, install, maintain, and eventually replace. Mainlink removes that burden. 

Mainlink Solution Snapshot 

Ultrasonic Meter: 

• 16-year battery life 

• Leak detection 

• NTEP Certified 

• Remote readings 

• No moving parts – reduced maintenance 

Head End System (HES): 

• Full access to water usage data 

• Instant notifications for leaks and bursts 

• Reports and analytics for deeper insights 

Mainlink Mobile App: 

• Real-time visibility for tenants 

• Zero maintenance 

• Free with your metering package 

Conclusion 

Forget the old way of managing water. Times have changed, and advanced solutions are reshaping the market. Be the one who invests in your property’s future with a reliable, compliant, and hardware-light system. You’ll gain full data visibility, lower long-term costs, and happier tenants. 

Want to calculate your savings or see a live demo of the mobile app? 
Let’s talk – book a meeting at your convenience: https://shorturl.at/DumJJ