In understanding water cost per gallon by state, it is important to look at the issue holistically from utility bills. Without a doubt, everyone in California bears the burden of utilities. This comprises monthly expenses that are majorly among the general cost of living in a particular location. According to World Population Review, the average cost of water per gallon in California is $65.
That being said, utility bills include the cost of gas, internet, cable, electricity, and water. The costs widely vary by state, with the highest bill found in Alaska (average cost is $496 per month) and the lowest in New Mexico (average cost per month is $232).
This article looks at the cost of water per gallon by state and why California experiences a high cost of water.
Average Water Cost By State
Going by the average $35 water cost, it means that the water portion of a utility bill is way lower than that of electricity, gas, cable, and internet, although there are always exceptions to the rules. According to data collected by RENTCafe, the cheapest cost of water in the US by state is Florida, with an average cost being $6. This is followed by Wisconsin and Vermont, with an average cost of water at $18 per month.
On the other end, Alaska has the most expensive cost of water at $95 per month, followed by West Virginia at $72, Connecticut at $69, California at $65, New Jersey at $64, Utah at $58, Hawaii at $57 and Washington at $57.
How Is Water Rate Calculated For Each Person In California?
Rates are calculated based on the cost of services that the consumer advocates in the state of California determined. The amount you will pay will depend on local infrastructure investments, and the amount of water you use, among other determinants. Moreover, the new water rates in California will not be effective until 2023.
Why Is The Cost Of Water In California Increasing?
California is proposing important infrastructural projects that are essential for the maintenance of unswerving services for everyone in the state. In due course, the state of California will establish the particular infrastructure that would be executed and how the cost would affect customer bills. This is different from the daily expenses of water though. Besides, across the country, the cost of construction, materials, treatment, and testing is on the increase.
As a result of the above, it is important that California increases its water rate and improve the infrastructure before things fall apart. A low water rate will not be feasible in improving the quality of water. When that happens, public health will be jeopardized. This has already happened in some other states. Hence, if the state of California does not invest in the right infrastructure for water, it may become catastrophic.
For instance, some pipes that have stayed for 50 years and more deserve to be replaced. The replacement helps in providing safe and potable water as well as having enough resources for firefighters to protect the state during emergencies. Equally, new changes will not take place until 2023 and the cost may be spread over time.
You may want to see this: How Much Does It Cost To Waterproof Your Basement?
Why Do Monthly Water Costs Per Gallon Change?
Numerous reasons could bring about the change in the monthly water cost per gallon by state. The rates usually reflect the cost of services offered. In addition, when certain expenses increase, the water rates equally increase.
Such expenses as purchased power, purchased water, pump taxes, and temporary surcharges for specific costs are charged to the residents on a dollar-for-dollar basis. These are necessary to operate the water system and their prices affect the water cost per gallon by state.
What Other Utilities Are Factored In Your Rent In California?
It is very crucial that you read the terms and conditions before signing the lease whenever you need a new house. Ensure the major elements are factored into your bills. For instance, most rental companies in the U.S. include utilities like water, sewage, and garbage. Where it is not included in the lease, it could, therefore, add extra payments to your monthly bills. Here is an outline of the utilities you must prepare for each month:
1. Electricity
Electricity is an important utility in your home. You would need to keep your equipment and appliances on and charged while ensuring that the lights are constantly on. This is possible because of electricity. When you pay for electricity, you pay for the heating, cooling, electric appliance, and lighting systems in your house. If you live in Northern California, you may pay higher bills. Your electricity bill can be somewhere between $100 and $150 per month, depending on your usage.
Related Post: How Much Does It Cost To Install A Dishwasher?
2. Gas
You would need natural gas-propelled appliances such as grills, furnaces, gas ranges, water heaters, fireplaces, and ovens. The number of these items in your house and their usage will affect the cost of gas per month you would pay. On average, you should expect to pay around $35 per month in California.
3. Cable and internet
Your internet and cable also demand their share of your income. Internet costs will vary, depending on the speed and connection type. Except if you want to keep traditional cable, rather than streaming, you will also pay a certain amount of money on that. Overall, you will be looking to pay between $80 and $120 per month for your internet and cable.
4. Water
Water is as essential as the air we breathe. We can do away with every other thing, but water usage is compulsory. The average US family (of four) uses around 100 gallons per day, making it an average of $72.93 each month for an average family in California.
This number goes up or down, depending on usage. Families that use 50% more water than average can spend around $115.50 a month and those that use 50% less water than average can spend around $36.90 a month. If you heavily water your grass, have a pool, or have more than four people living in your home, your monthly bill will likely be quite higher than the average.
Two major dynamics establish the amount you spend on your water bill and they are:
- Your total water usage. It is simple! The more water you use in your home, the higher your average water bill will become. Away from your water personal spending habits, other factors that affect your total water usage are the size of your house and the water competence of your domestic devices. So, you should try as much as you can not to waste the water.
- The cost of water in your state. Without a doubt, the cost of the average water bill varies, according to the state, zip code, and region you reside. As the case may be, your bill may probably increase or decrease if you change your location, even if your monthly usage remains the same.
Another point to note is that you may not have a choice when it comes to your water provider since your location determines that. Therefore, it does not make any sense to shop around for a cheaper provider like you can do with your insurance and others. That is why we want to help you with the right and easy steps to take in bringing down your average water usage.
Related Post: How Much Does It Cost To Sell Stuff On Amazon
Easy Steps To Minimize Your Water Cost Per Gallon
As we pointed out, the average water cost is $72.93 each month, based on 100 gallons of water a day per person in a family of four. Although it seems too big, it is quite simple to cut down on the usage. Here are a few steps that can help you drastically cut down the cost of water per gallon:
1. Turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth
When brushing your teeth, do not leave the water running. As you may not know, it wastes close to 900 cups of water per week and that is the same as 56.25 gallons. So, rather than keep the water running, you can take the simple step of turning off the tap and using it only when necessary.
2. Make use of your dishwasher
Using your dishwasher saves more water than using your hands to wash them. The truth is that an average dishwasher cycle will use just four to six gallons of water. But if you are hand-washing your dish, you will probably use 2.2 gallons per minute to run your tap.
3. Fix any leakage
If you have any leaky tap, it is time to fix it. Releasing one drop per minute will cost your faucet to waste around 1,440 drops a day and 34 gallons a year. The solution is simple – fix the faucet and save the water leakage.
READ ALSO: How Much Does It Cost To Redo Plumbing?
4. Be careful with your lawn maintenance
Around 30% of the water a family uses each day is spent on outdoor uses. Most times, the lawn gulps down more. Simply put, your lawn is a potential water waster. Whereas it does not mean you should ignore watering your lawn, it is best you lower the number of times you do so. At that, you can save more water than you could imagine.
Conclusion
Aside from understanding water cost per gallon in states, you need to understand other factors that affect the amount you pay as a bill per gallon in California. Hopefully, we believe this article has offered the right answers to that.
References
- worldpopulationreview.com – Water Prices by State 2022
- calwater.com – Understanding Water Rates in California
- irvinecompanyapartments.com – Understanding the Average Cost of Apartment Utilities
- moving.com – How Much is the Average Water Bill?
We Also Recommend
