2 0 2 3
Cost of Clean Water Index
99 Million
Regional Average Annual Charges, 2023
POPULATION SERVED
164
UTILITY RESPONDENTS
$588
AVERAGE NATIONAL ANNUAL SEWER SERVICE CHARGE
3.2%
INCREASE IN SEWER CHARGES 2022-2023
4.1%
INCREASE IN CONSUMER PRICE INDEX 2022-2023
All Respondents
Average Charge for Wastewater Services Increased 3.2% in 2023 NACWA’s Cost of Clean Index for the 2023 calendar year indicates that the average cost of wastewater services rose 3.2 percent. The average increase was 0.9 percentage points below the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) (see Annual Change in Cost of Clean Water Index vs. Inflation). This marks the third straight year where national charges for wastewater collection and treatment services were outpaced by inflation. In 2023, the national average amount that a single-family residence paid for wastewater services was $588. 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 shows a breakdown of average charges by EPA region. The average service charge by Region varies from a low of $387 in EPA Region 8 to a high of $1,010 in EPA Region 1.
2 0 2 3 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