Water Access and Affordability: The Rising Cost of Water

By Rose Poton, Verde Water Justice Policy Associate

Water affordability is an Oregon and nationwide issue. Water rates have been rising faster than inflation, grocery prices, and median household income (2, 4). In Oregon, we rank among the states with the highest average water rate increases over the past decade (5). Nationally, an estimated 12-19 million households face unaffordable water bills (3, 4). The high cost of water rates can force families into impossible tradeoffs including choosing which bills to pay and what basic necessities can wait. Impacts of unaffordable water can show up as water shutoffs, housing instability, and health risks.  

Ageing infrastructure and decades of underinvestment are major drivers of rising water rates. In 2025, Oregon’s drinking water infrastructure was graded a C and stormwater and wastewater a D+ by the American Society of Civil Engineers (1). Over the next 20 years, Oregon will need to invest an estimated $46 billion dollars to improve our water infrastructure and bring it up to good condition (6). In  addition to aging water infrastructure, a new study highlighted climate change as another factor increasing water rates (4). Unless creative solutions can be found, water rates are likely to increase, impacting millions of households in Oregon and nationwide.

Solving the water affordability crisis will require more than adjusting water rates. Anchored by PolicyLink, the Water Equity and Climate Resilience (WECR) Caucus, a network of over 80 frontline organizations, including Verde and Oregon Water Futures Collaborative, is advancing a Water Affordability for All framework. The framework calls for sustained federal investment in water infrastructure, community-driven solutions, and policies that maintain household access, including an end to water shutoffs for inability to pay. Water is essential to our health. Everyone should have access to safe, affordable water without having to forgo or limit other basic needs.  

References

1. American Society of Civil Engineers. (2026). “2026 Report Card for Oregon's Infrastructure”. https://infrastructurereportcard.org/state-item/oregon/ 

2. Food & Water Watch. (2026). “Surging water costs amid the US affordability crisis”. https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/research/2026/10/06/surging-water-costs-amid-the-us-affordability-crisis/ 

3. Levine, L. (2026, January 28). “Governors, legislators, and utility affordability: Broadening the frame to water.” NRDC. https://www.nrdc.org/bio/larry-levine/governors-legislators-and-utility-affordability-broadening-frame-water 

4. Skerker, J., Klassert, C., Francois, B., Verma, A., Brown, C., & Fletcher, S. (2026). Urban water affordability crisis exacerbated by climate change. Nature Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-026-01890-z 

5. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2024). Water Affordability Needs Assessment: Report to Congress. https://www.epa.gov/waterfinancecenter/water-affordability-needs-assessment 

6. The Value of Water Campaign. (2026). The economic benefits of investing in water infrastructure: Oregon fact sheet. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/67dd711d1a117219a03e4f7a/t/690940ac9c5cfd05829a642b/1762214060353/Oregon+Fact+Sheet.pdf 

7. Water Equity and Climate Resilience Caucus. (2026). Water Affordability for All. https://www.climatewaterequity.org/water-affordability-all