Life for ordinary people is becoming increasingly tough. It is hard to find anything whose price hasn’t gone up. For drivers commuting a 100-mile round trip every day, gas prices soaring to $6–$7 per gallon are devastating. A bowl of Vietnamese pho, once an affordable meal, now approaches $20 with tax and tip, and hamburger prices have climbed to levels that make you wonder if they should really be that expensive.
Yet there is an essential commodity whose price is rising even more steeply, though it is rarely mentioned: water. According to the civic group Food & Water Watch, residential water rates across the nation’s 500 largest water systems increased by an average of 62% between 2015 and 2025. This far outpaced overall inflation of 39% and grocery price increases of 30% over the same period.
Based on an annual usage of 60,000 gallons, the national average household water bill last year was $531. California, which ranked 7th highest in the nation at $693, is home to 13 of the 25 most expensive water systems. San Jose Water in Northern California was the most expensive in the country at $1,416, while Escondido in Southern California also reached $1,360. Los Angeles hit $953, jumping 144% from a decade ago. For reference, 60,000 gallons is equivalent to roughly 454,000 500ml bottles of Costco’s Kirkland bottled water, which would cost about $73,700 to purchase.
Southern California relies on external water sources for a significant portion of its domestic water supply. The Colorado River accounts for about 25%, and the State Water Project (SWP) flowing down from the Northern Sierra is another major source. Together, these two sources supply roughly half of the water used in Southern California. However, as over 20 years of drought have reduced water levels, the rising costs of securing Colorado River water, transporting it through long-distance aqueducts, and storing and treating it are ultimately leading to higher water rates.
The snowpack that accumulates in the Sierra Nevada mountains during winter serves as a frozen reservoir that supplies about 30% of California’s total water demand. Consequently, the amount of snowfall heavily impacts the water supply during that year’s summer and dry season.
Under these circumstances, what can be done to prepare for water shortages? According to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Water Research Foundation, toilets account for the largest share of indoor water use at 24%. Faucets and showers make up 20% each, washing machines account for 16%, and leaks waste another 13%.
Simply checking if your toilet tank is leaking and watching whether your water meter moves after turning off all taps can help detect hidden leaks. Running washing machines and dishwashers only with full loads and using water-saving showerheads also help. Checking that sprinklers operate properly and on schedule, as well as replacing lawns or gardens with drought-tolerant plants, are also effective measures.
However, when consumers use less water, water utilities lose revenue while the fixed costs of maintaining pipelines and treatment facilities remain unchanged. Furthermore, rising costs for replacing aging infrastructure, meeting water quality regulations, and preparing for disasters like droughts and wildfires inevitably increase pressure to raise rates. The EPA estimates that $625 billion will be needed over the next 20 years to upgrade and repair the nation’s drinking water infrastructure.
Can the paradox where water rates rise the more people conserve be solved simply by shifting the burden of rate hikes onto consumers? Government infrastructure investment and support for low-income households must go hand in hand.
In the movie Mad Max, those who control the water hold the power. While it is a fictional story, when climate change, population growth, and water pollution overlap, the ability to stably secure safe drinking water could determine the competitiveness—and even the national security—of cities and countries. Before it is too late, the government must expand water supply sources—such as recycled water, groundwater recharge, rainwater harvesting, and seawater desalination—and accelerate the improvement of aging infrastructure.
Water is not merely a commodity you can use as long as you pay for it. It is an indispensable lifeline and a vital resource that must be protected. How much longer can we take for granted the everyday reality of water flowing whenever we turn on the tap? It is time for everyone to rethink the value of a single drop of water.
