Americans Are Paying 60% More for Water than They Did a Decade Ago
The nonprofit said bills rose 62% in 10 years and were unaffordable for low-income households in 93% of systems it analyzed.
- On Tuesday, nonprofit Food & Water Watch released a report showing community water systems increased household prices 62 percent between 2015 and 2025, with Louisiana, Maryland, and New Hampshire experiencing particularly steep rises.
- Last year, average water systems charged households $531 annually for 60,000 gallons of water; eleven years ago, households typically paid about $336, representing a substantial cost escalation.
- The Environmental Protection Agency recently estimated water systems need $625 billion in upgrades over twenty years, while The American Water Works Association placed that figure closer to $960 billion, leaving low-income households facing affordability pressures in 93 percent of systems.
- Jenn Kocher, spokesperson for the National Association of Water Companies, said rising bills "reflect sector-wide cost pressures, not ownership models," while the report identified Puerto Rico as having the worst affordability crisis, with low-income households charged a "dangerous 20 percent" of their income.
- Food & Water Watch warned that climate-driven droughts and severe weather will threaten water supplies globally, recommending that Congress "reject cuts to safe and clean water" and restore federal funding to address the nation's water affordability crisis.
63 Articles
63 Articles
Water in the US costs 62% more than a decade ago. Know the cities and states where households pay the highest rates
Water bills rise nationwide: What to look out for
MADISON, Wis. - Water bills are rising nationwide. A recent analysis from the Food and Water Watch, a nonprofit advocacy group, finds water charges at hundreds of large U.S. systems have climbed over the past decade, and bills vary sharply…
U.S. households pay 62% more for water over decade amid infrastructure gaps
U.S. households are paying significantly more for water access, with annual bills rising by 62% over the past decade to an average of $531. This increase adds a substantial financial burden on families, compounding existing pressures from rising food costs. The actual expense varies sharply depending on whether the local infrastructure is run by a private entity or a municipal government. Households connected to private systems pay an average of…
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