US household water bills up 62% in decade, outpacing inflation and income

A Food & Water Watch analysis of 2025 billing data from 500 largest US community water systems finds household water costs rose 62% over the past decade, exceeding inflation, grocery prices, and income growth. The study attributes the surge to for-profit water corporations, federal funding cuts, and climate-related infrastructure stress. This signals growing affordability pressure on households and potential strain on public water systems, though the study's methodology and scope may not capture all regional variations.