Americans are paying 62% more for water than a decade ago. Here
Americans paid substantially more for water than they did ten years ago, as other household costs remain high. Food and Water Watch found that bills rose by an average of 62%.
The group examined charges for 60,000 gallons of water at 500 large community systems serving 155 million people. Its figures exclude wastewater and stormwater services, which are billed separately.
Last year, the average annual bill among the systems studied was $531. Hempstead, New York, had the lowest reported charge at $133, while San Jose Water in California averaged $1,416 in 2025, a 163% increase over ten years.
Bills also differed widely between states. Idaho’s three largest systems averaged $286 in 2025; West Virginia’s two largest, both owned by American Water, averaged $1,383.
Federal infrastructure support is another concern. The American Society of Civil Engineers said Congress has provided at least $1 billion less than authorized each year since fiscal 2022 for a fund backing state water projects. The report does not specify what future funding will be.
Key points
- Food and Water Watch found water bills rose 62% over a decade.
- The 500 systems studied serve 155 million people; average annual water charges were $531.
- Congress has fallen short of authorized annual funding for a federal state water infrastructure fund.