Americans are paying 62% more for water than a decade ago. Here’s where costs have risen the most.

October 7, 2026 / 11:07 AM EDT / CBS News

Americans aren't only paying more for food amid stubbornly high inflation — the cost of washing it down has also surged.

Water costs have shot up across the U.S., with a new study by the nonprofit advocacy group Food and Water Watch showing that households are paying 62% more for water at home than a decade ago. Those expenses are rising as utilities invest more in aging infrastructure and in adapting their systems to cope with the effects of climate change, Food and Water Watch said in its study.

Federal support for the nation's water infrastructure has declined. The 2025 Infrastructure Report Card, an evaluation by the American Society of Civil Engineers, said that since fiscal year 2022, Congress has appropriated at least $1 billion below the authorized funding levels for a federal fund that supports state water infrastructure projects.

A 2023 survey by the Environmental Protection Agency projects that drinking water systems across the U.S. will need $625 billion in investment over the next two years to implement upgrades and meet health requirements.

Food and Water Watch based its findings on data from 500 of the largest community water…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/moneywatch/