Western Municipal Water District
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THE VALUE OF WATER
Water is essential to our daily lives, but few people stop to consider its value and importance, especially when compared to bottled water and other everyday products.
Tap water costs less than a penny per gallon – a true bargain considering the energy and expertise it takes to treat and deliver safe and reliable water to homes and businesses day in and day out. But like many basic services today, the cost of treating and delivering water is going up for several reasons.
Though specifics may vary for individual water agencies, here are some of the factors affecting the cost of treating and delivering water:
- Rising treatment costs. Increasingly stringent drinking water regulations add to the cost of providing water.
- Increasing energy costs. It takes lots of electricity to pump, treat and deliver water. Rising costs for energy directly affect the cost of delivering water to you.
- Aging water infrastructure. Repairing and upgrading aging pipelines, pumps and other facilities accounts for a significant portion of monthly water bills.
- Cost of developing new supplies. Monthly water bills reflect the cost of securing other new water-supply sources and producing recycled water .
- Invasive species. Some water suppliers are now spending millions of dollars annually to contain the spread of invaders, such as quagga mussels, that clog and compromise pipelines and water facilities.
Customers of public water agencies get more than just a product for their money. They’re getting reliable service that includes ongoing maintenance, sophisticated water quality testing and treatment, and highly trained personnel. Simply put, they’re getting one of the best deals around.
Fast Facts on Rising Water Costs
