Water Bills Surge Nationwide, West Virginia Leads with Highest Rates
A new report shows U.S. household water bills jumped 62% from 2015 to 2025, outpacing inflation and grocery price growth.
According to Food & Water Watch's "Surging Water Costs amid the US Affordability Crisis" report, drinking-water bills rose 62% between 2015 and 2025, far exceeding the 1.6-times inflation rate and double the increase in grocery prices. The analysis of the 500 largest community systems shows an average household payment of $531 in 2025, with the lowest bill of $133 in Hempstead, New York, and the highest of $1,416 from a private California provider.
West Virginia tops the list of costly states at $1,383.27 annually, a rise twice as fast as median household income, attributed to private operators and a shrinking customer base. Private water companies on average charge $823 per household, compared with $494 for publicly owned systems. Researchers also cite necessary upgrades to aging pipes and new climate-resilience requirements as factors driving the upward trend.
Why it matters
Rising water costs threaten household budgets and highlight the impact of privatized utilities on affordability.
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