Clean, safe drinking water is often taken for granted. We’re afforded that convenience by a complex maze of pipes, treatment plants, pumps, and storage facilities — much of it built decades ago — is quickly approaching the end of its useful life. A new, U.S. drinking water report says maintaining the infrastructure and meeting a host of other needs will dramatically raise the cost of water service, and those costs will impact household water bills in the years ahead.

For decades, the biggest challenge facing water systems was aging infrastructure. Today, that challenge has grown to include stricter health protections, such as removing lead pipes and treating contaminants like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Communities are also investing in making water systems resilient in the face of droughts, floods, wildfires and extreme weather. Add rising labor, energy, and technology costs—including cybersecurity—and the price of delivering safe water continues to climb.

Altogether, the report estimates the nation’s drinking water systems need a $2.1 to $2.4 trillion investment by 2050. Current spending, however, falls short of that need, leaving an annual funding gap of roughly $56 billion.

What does this mean for families?

If utilities rely only on local water bills to cover these costs, the average annual household drinking water bill could increase from about $429 today ($35.75 per month) to nearly $1,000 by 2050 ($83.33 per month), before even adjusting for inflation. 

The report warns that affordability is approaching a tipping point. By 2050, more than 30 million households could be spending more on water than is generally considered affordable based on income. Small and rural communities may face even greater challenges, since the cost of major infrastructure projects is shared by fewer customers.

The report emphasizes the importance of sustained federal loan programs to help communities repair and modernize water systems while keeping rates more affordable. Low‑interest loans, grants, and targeted assistance programs can reduce the pressure on household bills and help ensure access to safe drinking water for everyone.

Clean, reliable water is vital for public health and economic stability. The choices communities and policymakers make today will shape the reliability and affordability of water for current and future generations.