2 0 2 2
Cost of Clean Water Index
107 Million
Regional Average Annual Charges, 2022
POPULATION SERVED
173
UTILITY RESPONDENTS
$569
AVERAGE NATIONAL ANNUAL SEWER SERVICE CHARGE
4.5%
INCREASE IN SEWER CHARGES 2021-2022
8.0%
INCREASE IN CONSUMER PRICE INDEX 2021-2022
All Respondents
Average Charge for Wastewater Services Increased 4.5% in 2022 NACWA’s 2022 Cost of Clean Water Index indicates that the average cost of wastewater services rose 4.5 percent in 2022. The average increase was the highest reported since 2013, but lower than the increase in the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) (see Annual Change in Cost of Clean Water Index vs. Inflation chart on page 2). This marks the second straight year that national charges for wastewater collection and treatment services have been outpaced by inflation. In 2022, the national average amount that a single-family residence paid for wastewater services was $569. Wastewater service charges vary widely among EPA regions and states, and are affected by demographics, geography, system age, regulatory requirements, and a range of other issues. To illustrate these variations, the Regional Average Annual Charge map (above) shows a breakdown of average charges by EPA region. The average service charge by Region varies from a low of $334 in EPA Region 8 to a high of $1,000 in EPA Region 1.
2 0 2 2 C O S T O F C L E A N WAT E R I N D E X | T H E N AT I O N A L A S S O C I AT I O N O F C L E A N WAT E R A G E N C I E S