WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A report released today by the U.S. Conference of Mayors says that water and sewer rates for American households will double to quadruple over the next 20 years. The report forecasts future spending for public water and wastewater systems will range between $2.5 and $4.8 trillion over the next 20 year period 2009 to 2028.Over the last 53 years, local governments have invested $1.6 trillion.
The report shows that cities provide the overwhelming majority of public water and wastewater infrastructure investment—accounting for more than 95% of total expenditures for these public services. In 2008 local government spent $93 billion on water and sewer services and infrastructure, while Congress provided only $2 billion in grants to states who then disbursed the money in the form of loans to local governments which have to be paid back with interest.
“We need a new partnership with the federal government to achieve the clean water goals: providing safe, adequate and affordable water quality for the 21st Century while protecting the environment,” said U.S. Conference Mayors President Burnsville (MN) Mayor Elizabeth Kautz. “Right now the federal government is imposing many more mandates than the money needed to meet them.” she said. “Many of these mandates impose costs on cities to clean up the pollution caused by mining and agricultural activities. But it is our citizens, whose family budgets are already strained by the economy, who will have to pay the skyrocketing water and sewer rates.”
Average American Household Water and Sewer Rates Are Expected to Increase 2 to 4 Times by 2028 on Environmental Expert
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