Water is getting much, much more expensive in these 30 cities.
Water utility prices in the US continue to march upward, and now as many as a third of Americans may be unable to pay their monthly water bill.
In the past seven years, water rates in the US have climbed more than 50 percent on average, according to a new survey of water rates in 30 large US cities.
On average, Circle of Blue found that water rates have increased by 54 percent across the US since 2010.
Between 2016 and 2017, rates only increased 4 percent on average, the smallest yearly increase since Circle of Blue began collecting data in 2010.
Chicago experienced a staggering 25 percent price hike from 2011 to 2012.
What’s more, what you see in the map above is only a fraction of what people are actually paying for water in the US.
Rates are increasing to fund infrastructure, but poorer Americans will be disproportionately impacted The story of how America’s water systems found themselves in such dire straits begins with a post–World War II infrastructure boom followed by 40 years of neglect.
This is a massive problem because civil engineers estimate the price tag for overhauling America’s drinking water system and bringing it up to code will be at least $1 trillion over the next 25 years.
What’s more, it’s going to impact lower-income Americans the most.