Water Bills Are Rising. Here’s What to Do About It. (2024)

Scorching temperatures blanketing much of the country make cool showers enticing. But beware the water bill.

Average water and sewer bills — they are often combined — have increased about 50 percent over the last decade, according to Bluefield Research, an advisory firm, and are expected to continue to rise. Rates vary, but the average monthly bill for water nationally was about $49 last year, up from $32 in 2012. (The numbers are based on average monthly household water use in the 50 largest U.S. cities.)

Inflation is one reason for the increase, along with supply chain disruptions and the cost of replacing older pipes and equipment, said Charlie Suse, an analyst with Bluefield. Some cities delayed rate increases during the pandemic and are now catching up. Prolonged drought in the West isn’t helping. Cities like Phoenix, facing tight water supplies, are raising rates to cover costs and encourage conservation.

“Given the toll that climate change continues to have on water infrastructure,” Mr. Suse said in an email, “we expect drought conditions to continue to impact rates in many cities.”

Even if rates haven’t spiked in your community, they are likely to do so in the future. Many water districts serve growing populations, leading to higher costs for treatment and distribution. And some water districts are having to replace systems that date to the post-World War II era, said Veronica Blette, chief of the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program, which helps consumers and businesses find ways to use less water.

“Rates are going to go up,” Ms. Blette said. “That’s the reality of it.”

Where does that leave consumers?