Climate Change Could Double Household Water Costs in some Cities, Study Finds
A Nature Sustainability study says new infrastructure costs could push bills higher, with low-income households facing the steepest burden.
- On Wednesday, a study published in Nature Sustainability found Santa Cruz median household water bills could nearly double to $120 a month by 2050, driven by infrastructure needs in a hotter, drier climate.
- Unlike other California cities that import water, Santa Cruz relies on local rainfall, forcing the municipality to fund costly infrastructure projects like desalination plants that will be passed directly to consumers through higher rates.
- Some 20% of Santa Cruz households already pay more for water than Environmental Protection Agency standards allow, and that share could rise to 35% in hot, dry conditions; low-income residents face bills potentially reaching $111 monthly.
- Jennifer Skerker, lead author of the research, warned that current trends seem unsustainable without state and federal government help, noting households may face difficult trade-offs between paying for water, energy, or groceries.
- Stanford University assistant professor Sarah Fletcher warned that similar vulnerable areas across the country could face 'water affordability hotspots,' with bills potentially rising even more than Santa Cruz's current projections.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Hanford Sentinel
Climate change could double household water costs in some cities, study finds
Household water costs could nearly double in some American cities, new research suggests, as climate change further stresses municipal water systems. Researchers at Stanford University and other institutions studied how a hotter, drier climate is poised to spike water bills…
Climate change could nearly double water bills as cities invest in drought resilience, study finds
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