Water supply and sanitation in the United States information
Water supply and sanitation in United States
Data
Access to an at least basic water source
99.88% (2020)[1]
Access to at least basic sanitation
99.68% (2020)[1]
Average urban water use (L/person/day)
330 litres (87 US gal) in 2010[2]
Share of household metering
very high[clarification needed]
Annual investment in WSS
$28.5 bn or $97/capita (2005)[3][4]
Share of self-financing by utilities
39% (water only)[5]: 18
Share of tax-financing
5% by government grants, 13% by government loans (water only, 2000)[5]
Institutions
Responsibility for policy setting
State and federal
No. of urban service providers
4,000[6][7]
No. of rural service providers
50,000[6]
Service providers
Local
Water supply and sanitation in the United States involves a number of issues including water scarcity, pollution, a backlog of investment, concerns about the affordability of water for the poorest, and a rapidly retiring workforce. Increased variability and intensity of rainfall as a result of climate change is expected to produce both more severe droughts and flooding, with potentially serious consequences for water supply and for pollution from combined sewer overflows.[8][9] Droughts are likely to particularly affect the 66 percent of Americans whose communities depend on surface water.[10] As for drinking water quality, there are concerns about disinfection by-products, lead, perchlorates, PFAS and pharmaceutical substances, but generally drinking water quality in the U.S. is good.
Cities, utilities, state governments and the federal government have addressed the above issues in various ways. To keep pace with demand from an increasing population, utilities traditionally have augmented supplies. However, faced with increasing costs and droughts, water conservation is beginning to receive more attention and is being supported through the federal WaterSense program. The reuse of treated wastewater for non-potable uses is also becoming increasingly common. Pollution through wastewater discharges, a major issue in the 1960s, has been brought largely under control.
Most Americans are served by publicly owned water and sewer utilities. Public water systems, which serve more than 25 customers or 15 service connections, are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state agencies under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).[11] Eleven percent of Americans receive water from private (so-called "investor-owned") utilities. In rural areas, cooperatives often provide drinking water. Finally, over 13 million households are served by their own wells.[12][13] The accessibility of water not only depends on geographical location, but on the communities that belong to those regions.[14] Of the millions who lack access to clean water, the majority are low-income minority individuals. Wastewater systems are also regulated by EPA and state governments under the Clean Water Act (CWA). Public utilities commissions or public service commissions regulate tariffs charged by private utilities. In some states they also regulate tariffs by public utilities. EPA also provides funding to utilities through state revolving funds.[15][16]
Water consumption in the United States is more than double that in Central Europe, with large variations among the states. In 2002 the average American family spent $474 on water and sewerage charges,[10] which is about the same level as in Europe. The median household spent about 1.1 percent of its income on water and sewage.[17] By 2018, 87% of the American population receives water from publicly owned water companies.[18]
^ ab"WHO UNICEF JMP". washdata.org. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
^Cite error: The named reference USGS DS10 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^United States Census Bureau. "Statistical Abstract of the United States. State and Local Governments: Expenditures for Public Works 1995–2005" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2009. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
^Calculated from United States Census Bureau. "State and Local Government Finances by Level of Government and by State: 2005–06". Archived from the original on May 1, 2009. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
^ abCommunity Water System Survey 2000, Vol. 1 (PDF) (Report). Washington, D.C.: United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). December 2002.
^ abCite error: The named reference EPA stats was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Urban providers are defined as entities serving systems with more than 10,000 inhabitants
^Cite error: The named reference AMWA was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference National Academies was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abWater on Tap: What You Need to Know (Report). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). December 2009. p. 11. EPA 816-K-009-002. (Quoting Mehan, G. Tracy III (April 15, 2003). "Investing in America's Water Infrastructure". Speeches and Testimony. Schwab Capital Markets' Global Water Conference. EPA. Archived from the original on June 2, 2003.)[dead link]
^Cite error: The named reference EPA Alumni 2016 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Private Drinking Water Wells". EPA. April 26, 2019.
^"Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 2000: Domestic Supply". United States Geological Survey (USGS). 2005. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
^Cite error: The named reference Patel 2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Learn about the Clean Water State Revolving Fund". EPA. April 11, 2022.
^"How the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Works". EPA. June 24, 2022.
^"Mean Income: 1975 to 2007". United States Census Bureau. 2007. Archived from the original on November 27, 2008. Retrieved February 28, 2009.
^Hanna, Thomas M. (December 10, 2018). "The Public Ownership Solution". Jacobin.
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