US water bills rise 62% over decade, outpacing inflation

A new analysis by the nonprofit Food & Water Watch reveals that household drinking water bills in the United States increased by an average of 62% between 2015 and 2025. This rise has outpaced inflation, grocery prices, and median household income, with water costs growing 1.6 times faster than the overall inflation rate.

The report, which examined the 500 largest community water systems serving approximately 155 million people, highlights significant regional disparities. In states such as Louisiana, Maryland, New Hampshire, and West Virginia, water bills grew roughly twice as fast as median household incomes. California contains more than half of the nation's most expensive water providers, with the San Jose Water Company reporting rates more than double the national average.

Economic pressures are expected to continue as the American Water Works Association estimates that U.S. water systems will require up to $2.4 trillion in investment over the next 25 years to address aging infrastructure, pollution, and climate-related disruptions.