The passive aggressive approach is to just have the water turned off and when the tenant asks say "Yea, I said to get it put in your name. Nobody was paying for it so they shut it off." That would fit with the narrative you've already given the tenant I think. There's no need to turn it into an additional social transaction if you're worried about that. As someone who often forgets about certain things when I move into a new place, I can tell you that I wouldn't question that narrative at all. I'd go to turn on the sink, realize the water was off, remember being told to get it put in my name, and then feel shame at my irresponsibility.
For what others have said, I wouldn't do that. It's probably a real good way to get human shit on your ceiling.
I just bought my first rental house, and I go back and forth on utilities. Specifically around here, I know the gas company sucks at transferring service. Their "new service" guys are not nearly as backed up as their "terminate service" guys and so the new service guy comes out right away, sees the gas is on, and says, sweet! Then three weeks later the terminate service guy comes out and shuts off the gas. It's two separate systems that don't talk to each other, because that's what happens when there's no competition, broken processes stay broken. This has happened to me and everyone I know every time. It's always..."I think my hot water heater is broken, I had a cold shower this morning." And then a few days later "You'll never guess what the silly gas company did."
So for gas, water, trash, and the like, I think pick a conservative amount and build it into the rent. To handle the "wastefulness of the free" you could offer some sort of rebate or credit if they use it responsibly (define that carefully though).
For electricity (along the gulf coast anyway, because A/C can go nuts) I think tenant pays. I've seen thousand dollar electric bills if people don't manage the thermostat in the summer.
Cable/internet would be another tenant one. I can argue for this to be a landlord thing, but it's a weak argument. I'd rather repair the damage the installer does to the house then mess with trying to return boxes/modems.
Landscaping I think I'll pay, because it is something I enjoy doing so I'll just do it myself. This one will probably be a conversation with the tenant though. I can imagine the appeal of renting a house might be getting to putter around in the yard. All kinds of folks.
I'm not sure how legit it is to withhold something like the water bill from the security deposit unless the lease specifically calls out water as a tenant responsibility. The more legit way to do that would be to deduct water from the rent paid and treat it like late rent. That probably is going to vary by state so check your local rules. I was very surprised about what is, and what is not, a valid security deposit item.