Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
systems so that the more water one uses, the higher the price one
pays per unit, whatever that unit amount is. Though increasingly
the approach is disappearing, some municipalities—including
in water-rich Iowa—still have declining rate structures: The more
water you use, the less the cost, says Huff. This kind of a fee struc-
ture could be used as an incentive to attract water-intensive busi-
nesses to a community to spur economic development. But that's
certainly not always the case. Experts, including Huff, agree that
this approach to water must change and is changing. Otherwise,
there's little incentive for people to consider conservation, which
must be a cornerstone of twenty-fi rst-century water philosophy.
Iowa isn't the only place where water usage pricing may
not refl ect national water concerns. Many cities around the
United States don't meter water, adds Maxwell. “Those approaches
may have worked 50 years ago or in an area not yet at a water-
crisis level today. But they certainly won't work in the future,” says
Maxwell. The trend is toward much more accurate monitoring of
water usage, whether at a residential level or an agricultural one.
There's also little doubt that water rates, even in water-rich
states, will eventually go up. The questions become when and by
how much. The answers will depend on supply, demand, geo-
graphic location, and more.
Water rates will continue to escalate for several reasons, says
Peiffer Brandt, RFC's project manager for the AWWA/RFC bien-
nial rate survey. These include aging infrastructure, increasing
regulations, and additional source-of-supply costs. Historically, the
cost of providing water has been subsidized, says Brandt. “There
has been the belief that availability of water is almost a God-
given right. We've shifted from that viewpoint, and are evolving
to the point where rates will refl ect the full cost of providing the
service.”
The price of water still isn't high enough to jolt consumers,
no matter where they live, says Southwestern water expert Steve
Mumme. “Whether you're talking about farmers consuming water
for production or folks watering their lawns, or water for ameni-
ties in the cities, we're not sending the right messages to people
about . . . our [shrinking] water supply,” he says.
