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 that Santa Cruz median household water bills could nearly double to $120 a month by 2050 as the area becomes hotter and drier.
- Unlike other California cities that import water, Santa Cruz relies on local rainfall, forcing it to fund costly infrastructure like desalination plants that will be passed to consumers through higher rates.
- Some 20% of Santa Cruz households already exceed Environmental Protection Agency affordability standards, a share that could rise to 35% in hot, dry conditions; low-income residents face the steepest burden, with bills potentially reaching $111 monthly.
- Jennifer Skerker, lead author of the research, warned the current trajectory seems unsustainable without state and federal 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 American cities could face "water affordability hotspots," with bills potentially rising even more than Santa Cruz's projections as climate stress intensifies.
15 Articles
15 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
Hotter, drier conditions could double water bills in some cities by 2050, as utilities spend big on infrastructure to keep supplies reliable – and the poorest households will be hit hardestResearchers have found that climate change and ageing water infrastructure have combined to drive steep increases in household water bills, with affordability expected to worsen in the coming decadesTap water in the United States has already been getting more …
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