The Conundrum of Water Affordability: What’s at Stake?

By Ann Bui, Mike Orth & Bruce Allender

The U.S. water industry has worked hard in recent years to remind people that potable water is not free. Procuring, treating, and distributing water is costly, and utilities need to cover their costs to make sure customers have safe drinking water, delivered at adequate pressure for on-demand needs at affordable prices. But what is “affordable?” The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged what we all view as normal and taken water planning and standard practices to new levels.