It was yesterday that I discovered that there is something very bizarre occurring with the cost of water in the United States. As you may have noticed recently there are some very positive changes occurring in industries like artificial grass and solar power. Changes that are happening so quickly with measured results that reaffirm our belief in a better, brighter, and more efficient tomorrow. Where companies like PG&E now purchase electricity directly from a homeowner who's solar panels store more power than he can use, or better yet, the always beautiful, always lush, synthetic lawns that made mowing and weeds a thing of the past and finally shed light on the unnecessary vanity and water wasting expense of a regular lawn. But, of course, the moment I begin to feel somewhat optimistic about the future I am slapped in the face with things like this... I read some things that, ever after 24 hours, I am still confused and alarmed considering the implications and how this has an impact on each and every citizen in the US.
According to the most recent publication of the United States Census, there is a strange and surprisingly not talked about wide variation between the use and price for water consumption in major urban areas. Riddled with enormous gaps where things only seem to move farther and farther away from the norm. It is crazy to read published statistics that plainly show that the use and price for water consumption in areas like Milwaukee to have a total monthly water bill that costs less than the cost of a blue-ray disc, to places like Phoenix where the total might be $35-40 per month then to a whopping $68 dollars for the same gallons per day as those in Phoenix and pay twice as much!
Now, normally one would assume that this somehow is a reflection on the area's geographic location as well as whether they are is in the northern or southern hemisphere. I would bet that arid and dry areas would be those who use less and conserve more, in turn showing some sort of fiscal reflection in that those who are accustomed to using less pay less, and so on and so forth. But, strangely it is the complete opposite.
The survey, conducted by Circle of Blue over the last several months, also found that average daily residential water use ranged from a low of 41 gallons per person in Boston to a high of 211 gallons per person in Fresno, California.
.
The Circle of Blue survey includes data on water rates and water usage from the 20 largest U.S. cities, according to the 2000 Census, and ten regionally representative cities to gain a broad view of urban water pricing. The survey comes as municipal water departments and their customers across the country contend with the ironic and unintended consequence of the economic recession and water conservation. In most major cities water use is declining while rates charged to residential customers are rising.
So, as this is quite a lot to absorb in one tiny little blog entry. I will leave you with an interesting infographics to ponder upon. After viewing it, ask yourself "why does this all have to be so confusing? Maybe it's time for a change, maybe it really is time to cut your water bill by 75%. Why not checkout the fantastic innovations with synthetic grass? Isn't it time to try a new approach in life?" With bills that low you could really keep any eye what the real deal is with the rising cost of water and consumption!
