May 2016, Vol. 71 No. 5
Web Exclusive
Americans' Water Rates are Rising While Infrastructure Remains in Peril, Says New Survey; Special Town Hall on Finance and Infrastructure Held in Response
The price Americans pay for municipal water is rising faster than any other city household expense, according to a new survey published today by Circle of Blue, the award-winning network of journalists and researchers that reports on water and worldwide resource issues.
Circle of Blue’s annual water rates survey, including data visualizations from Qlik, tracks prices for 30 major U.S. cities. At a time of increasing stress, utilities are trying to balance widespread conservation with earning enough revenue to reinvest and rebuild aging systems.
To put the situation in immediate context, Circle of Blue, American Public Media (APM), and Columbia University Water Center held a special national, interactive town hall on Wednesday, May 11.
Facilitated by David Brancaccio of APM’s Marketplace, experts, journalists, and the public were invited to dig deep and explore the critical state of the nation’s water infrastructure — from what happens when pipes and policies fail to the opportunities for innovative finance, policy, and technology.
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