LeakBird

(Jan. 4, 2009, Greenville Online)
Two years ago, when wells started to run dry in southern Greenville County, state and county leaders sought ways to bring water to residents along an eight-mile stretch off U.S. 25.
State Rep. Eric Bedingfield and County Councilman Fred Payne have warned residents at numerous community meetings that $60,000 in state money [...]

(Jan. 3, 2009, San Bernardino Sun)
On Friday, American States Water Co. reported $4.5 million in earnings for its third quarter, which ended Sept. 30.
The $590 million market- capitalized water and electricity retailer made $19.1 million in the first nine months of 2008 versus $22 million over the same period in 2007.
Robert Sprowls became president and [...]

(Dec. 31, 2008, WAOW)
Starting January 1st, water rates in the Village of Brokaw will nearly triple and that has some homeowners upset.
Right now, the average Brokaw homeowner pays less than $50 dollars every 4 months for 9,000 gallons of water. When their next water bill comes, they’ll pay nearly $130.  It’s an increase some say [...]

(Dec. 29, 2008, Sustainable Industries)
Unlike the price of oil, another natural resource on which the global economy depends, the price of water does not value the water itself. Instead its price is determined by the cost of the infrastructure and transportation used to move water from one place to another. The average cost per 1,000 [...]

(Dec. 30, 2008, CBS42)
It won’t exactly be the happiest of new years for many Birmingham area residents.  The Birmingham Water Works will be increasing their rates.
It takes roughly 136 55-gallon drums to equal the average monthly water usage of a Birmingham water works customer.  And the monthly charge for that 7,500 gallons will be 13.2% [...]

(Dec. 21, 2008, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Forsyth County water customers are facing another major rate increase, in part because they did what they were told: they conserved.

(Dec. 15, 2008, PRWeb)
America’s failing water and wastewater sector looks set to decline further in 2009, as capital expenditure on crucial infrastructure projects is cut back by 12.9%, according to Water Market USA*, published today by Global Water Intelligence. Restraints on borrowing, shrinking tax bases and a drop in capital contributions from property developers have [...]

(Dec. 17, 2008, The Bakersfield Californian)
Water districts that rely on the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta for much of their water supply are fuming over a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision that could potentially hike water rates for consumers and hurt farmers already smarting from a drought.
“We believe these are dangerous regulations and they will severely [...]

(Dec. 16, 2008, AlterNet.org)
Using some of the strongest language yet regarding the impacts that natural gas drilling in New York state could have on New York City’s drinking water supply, the city’s chief accountant warned state officials that drilling could have “crippling implications” for the city’s water system.
City Comptroller William Thompson wrote State Department of [...]

(Dec. 1, 2008, The San Diego Tribune)
People fishing and boating on San Diego’s reservoirs next year will be the first to feel one effect of the current city budget shortfall: fee increases.
The cost of water recreation on city reservoirs will increase 30 percent or more Feb. 1, generating $625,000 in extra revenue a year for [...]

(Nov. 28, 2008, The Sentinel)
Carlisle residents are facing the possibility of a third water rate increase in as many years.
The proposed 2009 budget includes a 10 percent hike in the user fee. Council may adopt the fiscal plan at its Dec. 11 regular meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. at borough hall, 53 W. South St.
The [...]

(Nov. 30, 2008, The Morning Call)
Under Hoffman’s proposal, water rates would rise from $2.68 to $2.86 per 1,000 gallons of water, while sewer rates would jump from $1.93 to $2.19 per 1,000 gallons of sewage.
The city’s water and sewer funds have seen operating deficits in recent years, forcing officials to draw down on cash reserves [...]

(Nov. 30, 2008, The Chicago Tribune)
Detroit officials are expected to raise water and sewer rates next month as revenue dries up in the face of declining demand.
The Detroit Free Press reports Sunday that water rates could increase by up to 10 percent and sewer rates as much as 17 percent in the city and [...]

(Nov. 29, 2008, The Reading Eagle)
Huge increases in Birdsboro water-sewer bills have customers wondering whether there’s something wrong with new meters installed by the Birdsboro Municipal Authority…

(Nov. 29, 2008, The San Diego Tribune)
The City Council will vote Tuesday on whether to raise water and sewage rates.

(Photo Courtesy of Sarah Coleman, The Color of Water)

Water rates are on the rise in virtually every city, region and county across the nation. One fact that I’d like to point out, that I actually haven’t heard anybody say yet, is that rising water rates are a symptom of inflation, and they will continue to [...]

(Nov. 25, 2008, The Antelope Valley Press)
A new rate structure could influence Palmdale Water District customers to cut back on their water use: At least that’s what agency board members hope.
Water district board members listened last week to a presentation from Sudhir Pardiwala, vice president of Raftelis Financial Consultants Inc., the Pasadena-based consulting firm contracted [...]

(Nov. 23, 2008, The Albany Times Union)
A Washington, D.C., consumer advocacy group called Food & Water Watch is launching a campaign against a company called Aqua New York, a subsidiary of a national water company called Aqua America. Food & Water Watch says Aqua New York wants to raise water rates in Cambridge, and it [...]

(Nov. 20, 2008, Tacoma Weekly)
Tacoma residents can count on their water bills going up $2.14 per month in 2009. A typical commercial customer inside the city limit can expect an increase of $21.97.

(Nov. 17, 2008, The San Deigo Union-Tribune)
Should the council approve the increase, the typical single-family ratepayer will pay $57.31 a month for water, up $4.43. The increase would cover the rising costs of the city’s water purchases and pay for a pilot project that would examine turning highly-treated wastewater into drinking water.

(Oct. 30, 2008, Florida Today)
“The cities are realizing that the need to rebuild, upgrade and modernize will have to be paid for locally,” Berg said. “The public is much better off paying 4 percent (more) every year for their water, because that’s what the inflation rate is. I would at least expect the price of [...]

(Oct. 15, 2008, CBS4)
North Miami recently added a nearly 50 dollar fee to every quarterly water bill for residents. That increase has pushed Francisca’s dreams of a shower at home again, even farther out of reach.