A new survey from Circle of Blue has revealed two interesting trends with water utilities in the US: the price of water is increasing, and some water utilities are relying more on monthly fixed fees to offset decreased water use brought on by conservation.
The average price for a family of four using 100 gallons per person per day increased 6.2 percent in 2014, shows Circle of Blue’s annual survey of single-family residential water rates in 30 major US cities. Since 2010, the average water price has risen 33 percent, the equivalent of adding $15 per month to a $45 water bill.
The survey shows that water utilities are trying to find the right balance between encouraging water conservation while increasing revenue to pay for new pipes and treatment equipment. Some utilities are solving this by increasing fees for high-volume use or relying more on monthly fixed fees as people use less water in water-scarce regions.
Read more about the survey at Circle of Blue.