Nationally, West Virginia has the most expensive average water and wastewater costs, with typical monthly bills reaching around $ 121. California and Oregon generally follow as the next most expensive states, with averages frequently exceeding $ 80 to $ 90 per month.
The most expensive water in the U.S. is found in West Virginia (highest statewide average at roughly $91 to $121/month) and California (highest individual city rates). State averages are driven up by private utility ownership, aging infrastructure, and high treatment and delivery costs.
Average monthly water bill
The average water bill in the U.S. is $49 per month, with most bills falling between $40 and $60 per month. However, monthly water bills range from $15 to $100+, depending on the household size, water usage, and location. A typical family of 4 uses over 300 gallons of water per day.
At £4.86 per cubic metre the most expensive water charges in the UK are from South West Water.
More people than usual staying in your home. New appliances that use more water, such as a power shower or garden sprinkler. Your previous bill being based on estimates rather than a meter reading. Leaks on pipes, toilets, taps or other appliances.
Some common causes of high water bills include:
9 Ways to Reduce Your Water Bill
Here are the world's top 10 most expensive waters in 2024.
Wessex Water, Northumbrian Water and Portsmouth Water remain top of the leaderboard for customer satisfaction and experience, despite all experiencing drops in their C-MeX score.
What is Average? The water industry estimates that an average person uses 3,000 gallons of water monthly, so a family of 4 would use 12,000 gallons for bathing, cooking, washing, recreation and watering. But a lot of factors come into play when calculating average use.
Indoors, the toilet is the largest water consumer in the average home, accounting for about 24% to 30% of total indoor water use.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a full bathtub requires about 70 gallons of water, while taking a five-minute shower uses 10 to 25 gallons. You might argue that very few people fill the tub to the top, but a simple calculation shows that either way, baths use more water.
A 10-minute shower typically uses 15 to 25 gallons (57 to 95 liters) of water. The exact amount depends on your showerhead's flow rate:
The state with the least expensive costs for water is Florida, where the average family spends an extraordinarily low charge of about six dollars per month, or about $72 per year. This is followed by Wisconsin and Vermont, which average $18 per month, $216 annually. Those are the lucky states.
Wealthy consumers generally drink ultra-premium spring waters, highly alkaline options, or custom-filtered tap water. Popular luxury brands include Fiji Water, Voss, Evian, and Acqua Panna, alongside specialized options like Icelandic Glacial. Many also install advanced, whole-home reverse osmosis systems rather than buying bottled water.
Depending on your criteria, the "#1" water varies: Evian is frequently ranked as the top premium/cleanest bottled water, Fiji is the top pick for taste, and Aquafina is the highest-selling by volume. Generally, natural spring waters are considered the healthiest options.
Regardless of their prices or promises, all the waters on the market hydrate you equally well, and no better than tap water does. So if that is all you care about, just grab the cheapest. Even better, remember to fill up a reusable bottle at home before you leave next time.
The city that holds the #1 ranking for the most expensive depends on the index you reference. The top contenders are outlined below:
Water meters are accurate and reliable instruments and rarely the reason behind a high bill, so let's first look at the more common reasons for a higher bill: 1) increases in household water usage, and 2) leaks in your plumbing. Additional occupants taking more showers, more laundry loads, dishes, etc.
Here are ways to shave money off your home's water bill.
As you can see, a sudden spike in your water bill can be caused by a variety of issues, including hidden toilet leaks, leaky faucets, increased outdoor water usage, and even a broken water pipe.
For example, we use it when we cook certain foods. We also use water for washing our clothes, our dirty dishes and ourselves. Every time we flush the toilet we use water. Our washing machines and dishwashers also use a lot of water.
This means a lower water and energy bill at the end of the month if a standard shower is compared to a standard bath. However, long, hot showers or the added feature of dual shower heads can double the water consumption, driving water and energy bills even higher for showers than standard baths.
Find the Main Shut-Off Valve
In most homes, this is located near the main water pipe leading into the home - typically the kitchen, downstairs or utility room. In warmer areas, the valve may be outside on an exterior wall or buried near the road.