Post Tagged with: "rates and affordability"

Are We Measuring Water Affordability Wrong?

Are We Measuring Water Affordability Wrong?

Rates & Affordability, Water Finance April 20, 2026 at 11:15 am

Putting Poverty at the Center of the Affordability Discussion By Ahmed Rachid El-Khattabi Over the past decade, water and wastewater affordability has emerged as a pressing concern due to rising utility costs and stagnant household incomes. In response, many utilities are trying to incorporate affordabilityRead More

Bluefield: U.S. water, sewer bills rising, outpacing inflation

Bluefield: U.S. water, sewer bills rising, outpacing inflation

Rates & Affordability, Water Finance April 7, 2026 at 10:05 am

Global water market data and insights provider Bluefield Research has released an annual report showing that U.S. household water and sewer bills hit a five-year high in 2025, rising 5.1% and outpacing inflation. Bluefield’s annual U.S. Municipal Water & Sewer Rate Index benchmarks utilities in 50 citiesRead More

AWWA report: Persistent, growing funding gap to test customer affordability

AWWA report: Persistent, growing funding gap to test customer affordability

Rates & Affordability, Water Finance April 6, 2026 at 10:45 am

A report released in March by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) finds that addressing U.S. drinking water infrastructure and other critical needs will require $2.1 to $2.4 trillion over the next 25 years. The report is titled Beyond the Replacement Era: Balancing Compounding Infrastructure Needs with HouseholdRead More

Call for speakers! Submit an abstract for the 2026 Water Finance Conference

Call for speakers! Submit an abstract for the 2026 Water Finance Conference

12th annual event seeking proposals on water pricing, affordability, federal funding and asset management Organizers of the 2026 Water Finance Conference are looking for speakers for its 12th annual event to be held Aug. 4-5 in Denver, Colorado, at the Fritz Knoebel Events Center at the University ofRead More

Commentary: The Future Must Be Full-Cost Pricing for Water Utilities

Commentary: The Future Must Be Full-Cost Pricing for Water Utilities

By Jason Mumm For anyone tracking the U.S. water industry – a sector encompassing both water and wastewater providers, largely managed by municipal entities – a paradox unfolds. Reports frequently highlight consistent rate increases while simultaneously detailing the alarming deterioration of vital water infrastructure. WeRead More

AMWA honors UW-Madison Professor Teodoro

AMWA honors UW-Madison Professor Teodoro

Rates & Affordability, Water Finance November 10, 2025 at 6:45 am

The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) presented its 2025 Donald R. Boyd Award to Dr. Manny Teodoro, professor at the La Follette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, at its 2025 Executive Management Conference, Oct. 26-29 in Austin, Texas. According toRead More

House reintroduces LIHWAP water assistance bill

House reintroduces LIHWAP water assistance bill

Rates & Affordability, Water Finance August 11, 2025 at 8:34 am

In July, the House of Representatives introduced the bipartisan Low-Income Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) Establishment Act. The legislation would re-establish and make permanent, the first-ever federal water assistance program after funding for the program expired in 2022. The bill was introduced by Reps. Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.),Read More

AWWA State of the Industry report says capital funding is top sector challenge

AWWA State of the Industry report says capital funding is top sector challenge

Rates & Affordability, Water Management June 16, 2025 at 7:15 am

In June, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) released its 2025 State of the Water Industry (SOTWI) report, which regularly ranks the top challenges and priorities facing the sector. This year, financing for capital improvements led the way as the top challenge among water sectorRead More

Report: U.S. water, sewer bills have increased 24% in five years

Report: U.S. water, sewer bills have increased 24% in five years

Rates & Affordability, Water Finance February 17, 2025 at 11:15 am

According to a new comprehensive analysis of drinking water and sewer rates, the combined water and sewer bill for a typical U.S. household has increased by 4.6% from 2023 to 2024 and about 24% in the past five years. Bluefield Research, which analyzes and providesRead More

Call for Speakers! 2025 Water Finance Conference

Call for Speakers! 2025 Water Finance Conference

11th annual event seeking presentation proposals on western U.S. water issues, rate setting, affordability, BIL funding and more RICHFIELD, OHIO — Organizers of the 2025 Water Finance Conference are looking for speakers for its 11th annual event to be held Aug. 5-6 in Scottsdale, Arizona, at the SkySongRead More