Cost of Water

The cost of providing water & wastewater services is climbing in response to aging infrastructure, more advanced treatment to address water quality concerns (e.g. PFAS), algae bloom mitigation, and climatic events. The impact is showcased by residential water bills in the U.S. that have outpaced average annual income growth (5%) and inflation rates (1.9%).

Within this environment, utilities and system operators are being forced to adapt through a range of measures, including improved asset management, alternative billing structures, and outside sources of funding (e.g., SRF, WIFIA, USDA) to bridge the gap.

Bluefield helps address key trends impacting your business…

Utility water rates rise to meet looming financial challenges

The combined water and sewer bill for a typical U.S. household has increased by 56% since 2012, or 4.2% annually. Across 50 of the largest U.S. metropolitan areas, average monthly household water bills increased to US$50.61, and monthly sewer bills reached US$71.16, based on average household water consumption. >>Learn More

Utilities in cities focus on affordability for low-income customers

Utilities are attempting to balance water affordability with operational needs for water & wastewater systems by restructuring tiered pricing models. Of the 50 U.S. water utilities tracked by Bluefield annually over the last decade, 39 utilities currently feature a tiered pricing structure for residential water rates. >>Learn More

Changing customer behaviors threaten traditional utility business model

Industrial & commercial customers are increasingly enabled to circumvent the centralized utility model through alternative, onsite treatment solutions. For every gallon of water conserved, or reused, distribution pipes networks need be resized and wastewater plants are forced treat more concentrated effluents. >>Learn More



Corporate Subscriptions

Subscribe to receive ongoing, monthly data sets, reports, and insights on key topics related to the cost of water.

Subscription Options

U.S. and Canada Municipal Water

Providing data and market insights for decision makers seeking to better understand municipal water rates and the cost of water in the U.S. and Canada.

Europe Municipal Water

Providing data and market insights for decision makers seeking to better understand municipal water rates and the cost of water in Europe.

Data

Data Navigator

Access to Bluefield’s Data platform for more real-time data updates and relevant dashboards.

  • Water Rates by City (U.S. and Europe)
  • Macro Economic Indicators
  • Material and Equipment Price Indices

Support & Interaction

Analyst Access

Dedicated team on-call to meet client inquiries, review forecast methodologies, or clarify proprietary data and analysis.

Custom Client Support

Board meeting presentations, onsite client workshops, and customer-focused events.

Corporate Subscriptions

Subscribe to receive ongoing, monthly data sets, reports, and insights on key topics related to the cost of water.

Subscription Options

U.S. and Canada Municipal Water

Providing data and market insights for decision makers seeking to better understand municipal water rates and the cost of water in the U.S. and Canada.

Europe Municipal Water

Providing data and market insights for decision makers seeking to better understand municipal water rates and the cost of water in Europe.

Data

Data Navigator

Access to Bluefield’s Data platform for more real-time data updates and relevant dashboards.

  • Water Rates by City (U.S. and Europe)
  • Macro Economic Indicators
  • Material and Equipment Price Indices

Support & Interaction

Analyst Access

Dedicated team on-call to meet client inquiries, review forecast methodologies, or clarify proprietary data and analysis.

Custom Client Support

Board meeting presentations, onsite client workshops, and customer-focused events.