A new survey of 30 large cities in the United States shows that the cost of water utilities has risen by up to 150 percent over the last seven years.
The data from Circle of Blue, a group of journalists and scientists tracking water issues, shows that in some cities, a family of four using 12,000 gallons a month—which is considered average household use—could pay up to $154 per month.
That was the rate for Santa Fe, N.M., with San Francisco coming in at $131; Austin, Texas, following at $121; San Diego next at $111; and Seattle rounding out the top five at $103.
The study notes that the average increase from 2016 to 2017 was only 4 percent, but says that from 2011 to 2014, "Atlanta, Las Vegas, and San Francisco all experienced double-digit increases in prices. Chicago experienced a staggering 25 percent price hike from 2011 to 2012."
Reasons for the increases, the study says, include rising fixed costs for water systems (including repairs of aging systems), shrinking customer bases, and falling water use, often due to conservation efforts. Also, federal funding for water infrastructure was typically over 60 percent in the late 1970s but has fallen to 9 percent now.
Source: "Water Is Getting Much, Much More Expensive in These 30 Cities," vox.com
