[MTP Reggie]

More bad news: U.S. water bills to triple
02/27/2012
washingtonexaminer.com

<More Here>

First high gas prices, now water. A shocking new report about the nation's crumbling drinking water system says that Americans should expect their bills to double or triple to cover repairs just to keep their faucets pouring. That means adding up to $900 a year more for water, nearly equal the amount of the newly extended payroll tax cut.

Fixing and expanding underground drinking water systems will cost over $1 trillion in the next 25 years and users will get socked with the bill, according to the American Water Works Association. As with most infrastructure investments, spending heavily now means less costs down the road. But with little appetite in the country for even trickling taxes now, a delayed and more expensive fix is almost guaranteed. The association figures that spending to fix leaky water systems will double from roughly $13 billion a year today to $30 billion annually by 2040.

(snip)

Currently, Americans pay about $400 a month in water taxes and fees.

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[MTP Reggie]

article, on 27 February 2012 - 01:53 PM, said:

Currently, Americans pay about $400 a month in water taxes and fees.

Um....


Where is this? We use about 20,000 gallons a month and pay $50.

[Adam Smithee]

MTP Reggie, on 27 February 2012 - 01:53 PM, said:

Currently, Americans pay about $400 a month in water taxes and fees.

We live in Portland Oregon with one of the highest water/sewer rates I've ever seen. Our water bill already includes paying for a lot of what the article describes plus every other side project that city hall can figure out how to tack on.

We pay about $400 per bill... but around here water billing is quarterly not monthly.

[horseman]

MTP Reggie, on 27 February 2012 - 01:54 PM, said:

Um....


Where is this? We use about 20,000 gallons a month and pay $50.

It's not a lot here either. My combined water/sewage bill runs 117.00 to 130.00 a month. And the three women in my household take loooooooong showers and flush the toilet about a million times a day. Not to mention all the laundry what with the 2 or 3 wardrobe changes a day.

[Skiking]

MTP Reggie, on 27 February 2012 - 01:54 PM, said:

Um....


Where is this? We use about 20,000 gallons a month and pay $50.

We pay about $100/month and only about $10 is actual water usage. The other $90 are taxes and fees.

[MTP Reggie]

Dodgerking, on 27 February 2012 - 02:43 PM, said:

We pay about $100/month and only about $10 is actual water usage. The other $90 are taxes and fees.

A lot of that will be your sewage charge. We are on a septic system and have no city sewer. We do have 'city' water (it's a co-op) but the ONLY item on my water bill is for actual water.

My house in town is rented out. The water bill there runs about $150 per month but their actual water usage is only about $30 of it; another $30 is sewage. The rest is fees.

[Coach]

I pay nothing, got my own well. Maintenance averages out to $100 per year over the life of the house and well.

[KenaiLady]

We have awful water here. It has a high level of arsenic in it. Our water/sewer runs about 65 a month, which I thought was terrible. So we end up buying drinking water and a cooler/dispenser. They are looking for new wells, and the city has that in their budget, but I am sure we will pay in the end. On the brite side, they do not meter our water.

[Taggart Transcontinental]

Ironic isn't it when 75% of the world is water?

[AnnieGotHerGun]

horseman, on 27 February 2012 - 02:32 PM, said:

It's not a lot here either. My combined water/sewage bill runs 117.00 to 130.00 a month. And the three women in my household take loooooooong showers and flush the toilet about a million times a day. Not to mention all the laundry what with the 2 or 3 wardrobe changes a day.

You'll miss that one of these days...Maybe not the high water bills, but you will miss the girls & laughing & friends & drama...just everything that comes with girls! But then now I'm getting to experience part time with my granddaughters...

[ASE]

So, if the current water bill $$ has not been used to maintain the water infrastructure, just what the hell WAS it used for?

[horseman]

AnnieGotHerGun, on 27 February 2012 - 06:03 PM, said:

You'll miss that one of these days...Maybe not the high water bills, but you will miss the girls & laughing & friends & drama...just everything that comes with girls! But then now I'm getting to experience part time with my granddaughters...

Well, I won't miss the drama.

[Hawkeyeted]

ASE, on 27 February 2012 - 06:19 PM, said:

So, if the current water bill $$ has not been used to maintain the water infrastructure, just what the hell WAS it used for?

The same Social Security was used for?

[Adam Smithee]

ASE, on 27 February 2012 - 06:19 PM, said:

So, if the current water bill $$ has not been used to maintain the water infrastructure, just what the hell WAS it used for?

Funny, that's exactly what a current lawsuit against the city of Portland is asking.

City Of Portland Sued Over Water & Sewer $$

And you can bet your bottom dollar that if Portland is doing it, every other municipality is doing it too. Our guys just aren't smart enough to come up with some of these things all by themselves.

[ASE]

Adam Smithee, on 28 February 2012 - 12:12 AM, said:

Funny, that's exactly what a current lawsuit against the city of Portland is asking.

City Of Portland Sued Over Water & Sewer $$

And you can bet your bottom dollar that if Portland is doing it, every other municipality is doing it too. Our guys just aren't smart enough to come up with some of these things all by themselves.

Someone must have picked the 'locked box' it was in.

[leftcoast, right winger]

ASE, on 27 February 2012 - 06:19 PM, said:

So, if the current water bill $$ has not been used to maintain the water infrastructure, just what the hell WAS it used for?

If you have to ask you haven't noticed all the vacations certain ppl have been taking!

[leftcoast, right winger]

horseman, on 27 February 2012 - 11:38 PM, said:

Well, I won't miss the drama.

Grandpa, Chloe used up all the hot water and I had to take a freezing cold shower!

Well, if you hadn't slept past noon, dearie....

This post has been edited by leftcoast, right winger: 28 February 2012 - 01:34 PM

[William]

Got my own well, got a septic tank too! I also have a well with a pitcher pump on it. Out back there's a large pond. When the poop hits the fan (no pun intended), I'll have water and I'll be able to flush my toilets!

[MTP Reggie]

William, on 28 February 2012 - 01:49 PM, said:

Got my own well, got a septic tank too! I also have a well with a pitcher pump on it. Out back there's a large pond. When the poop hits the fan (no pun intended), I'll have water and I'll be able to flush my toilets!

We have a well also. But I need to get it serviceable, add electric, storage and a pump house. I am also planning on tying it in with the co-op water line and putting a 180-degree switching valve in between so I can switch back and forth.

This post has been edited by MTP Reggie: 28 February 2012 - 01:52 PM

[GI JANE]

horseman, on 27 February 2012 - 02:32 PM, said:

It's not a lot here either. My combined water/sewage bill runs 117.00 to 130.00 a month. And the three women in my household take loooooooong showers and flush the toilet about a million times a day. Not to mention all the laundry what with the 2 or 3 wardrobe changes a day.

Mine runs about $45. The day I have to pay $130.00 a month, is the day I make everyone in my house use a wash basin and dig their own latrine.