According to a recent study by the Food and Water Watch organization, from 2015-2025 residential water costs in the United States increased at a faster rate than groceries, inflation and median household income.
More specifically, water rates increased 1.6 times the inflation rate and twice the rate of groceries. In West Virginia, Louisiana, Maryland and New Hampshire water rates increased two times faster than median household income.
The study revealed the national average of water costs for a typical household in 2025 were $531. In stark contrast, annual residential water costs in West Virginia were $1,383, the highest in the nation. The state with the lowest average annual cost was Idaho, at $286.
The study found that corporate water systems cost households more than public water systemsa lot more. The study revealed the average annual residential cost to be $494 for public water systems and $823 for corporate water systems, an increase of 67%.
The study found that states with corporate-friendly structured regulatory environments have higher water bills. Private ownership is the biggest factor in increased costs — more so than drought and aging infrastructure. Over the past 10 years, the average corporate water system has increased bills faster than the average local government.
West Virginia and Puerto Rico were found to have the most unaffordable systems with West Virginia’s largest systems charging typical low-income households 11% of their household income for basic water service.
The study concludes that, in order to maintain affordability and accessibility to clean water, federal support for public water systems must be restored and state and local governments must take action. The report recommends local and state governments ban privatization and repeal privatization legislation, support local control of water systems and municipalization of corporate systems and hold polluters accountable for drinking water contamination.
For additional information, visit foodandwaterwatch.org.
