Water and wastewater rates on the rise

Utility rate trends and drivers were analyzed in the US using demographic, rate, and operating data garnered from utilities around the country during the biennial Water and Wastewater Rate Survey (WWRS). The survey revealed that annual median water and wastewater rates in the country had increased by 4.9 and 5.2% from 1996. These rate increases, compared with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increases of 2.5% per year, demonstrated the degree to which water and wastewater rate increases were overtaking inflation and driving customer bills to be a higher percentage of household income. The survey series was one of the most recognized compendiums in the industry and provided information on utility characteristics and charges for a diverse and meaningful sample of urban, suburban, and rural systems. A major goal of the survey was to identify water supply and distribution and wastewater collection and treatment utilities serving the core population of each community.