New Report on U.S. Water Affordability Shows Rising Burden of Water Bills
Guardian US, the American arm of the British print newspaper The Guardian, commissioned and released a study on the cost and affordability of water and sewer services in 12 American cities. The analysis shows the combined price of water and sewage increased by an average of 80% between 2010 and 2018 across the 12 cities. In an article summarizing the results of the study, The Guardian also points out, “Federal funding for water systems has fallen by 77% in real terms since its peak in 1977,” leaving water systems to rely further on rate revenue to address growing challenges of aging infrastructure, new regulations, and impacts from extreme weather events.
Illustration: Erre Gálvez/The Guardian
