Does The Low Cost Of Water Discourage Conservation?
By Sara Jerome,
@sarmje
The price of water is dangerously low, and the result is that people use more of it, according to a New York Times columnist.
"Water is far too cheap across most American cities and towns. But what’s worse is the way the United States quenches the thirst of farmers, who account for 80 percent of the nation’s water consumption and for whom water costs virtually nothing," the analysis said.
Water rates do not reflect the true value of water, according to the column.
"The price of water going into Americans’ homes often does not even cover the cost of delivering it, let alone the depreciation of utilities’ infrastructure or their R&D. It certainly doesn’t account for other costs imposed by water use — on, say, fisheries or the environment — caused by taking water out of rivers or lakes," the analysis said.
One sign of the problem: Rates do not vary by the amount of rainfall a region gets.
"In Fresno, which gets less than 11 inches of rain a year, a family of four using 400 gallons a day faces a monthly water bill of $28.26. In Boston, where rainfall exceeds 40 inches, the same family would pay $77.73," the columnist said.
The debate over the value of water is complex, and experts say settling it would be difficult.
"Defining the value of water creates a paradox because water is both priceless and free, and between these values lies a whole range of values dependent on a complex interaction of multiple factors, perspectives and contexts. Yet it is vital that people understand the value of water in order to make wise decisions regarding management of this essential resource," Susanna Eden, assistant director of the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center, recently wrote in the Arizona Capital Times.
The issue is of pivotal importance to the water industry. In 2014, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) ranked value-of-water issues as top concerns among water professionals. Numbers four and five on AWWA's list, respectively, were "public understanding of the value of water resources" and "public understanding of the value of water systems and services."
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