The annual survey conducted by the NUS Consulting Group found that the average price of water in the United States climbed by 6.0 percent for the period of July 1, 2006 to July 1, 2007.

The survey, which includes 51 water systems located throughout the country, revealed the highest price paid was in Huntington, WV at $5.61 per one thousand gallons ("KGal") while residents in Greenville, MS enjoyed the lowest water price at $0.80 per KGal. The average cost of water in the U.S. was $2.64 per KGal -- rising 25 cents per KGal over the past year. Including related sewer costs, the survey also found that the national average price rose to $6.52 per KGal -- an increase of 5.9 percent from July 2006. Over the past five years, average surveyed water rates in the U.S. have increased by 28.6 percent.

Some of the more notable increases in water prices over the past year were observed in Trenton, NJ (+40.0%), Indianapolis, IN (+36.2%), Albany, NY (+25.1%), New York, NY (+22.4%), Los Angeles, CA (+20.8%), Duluth, MN (+19.7%), Denver, CO (+14.2%), Savannah, GA (+11.4%), Kansas City, MO (+10.9%) and Cleveland, OH (+10.5%). Of the water systems surveyed, none reported a decrease in pricing with 19 having no increase in pricing.

"Our experience is that average water costs consistently rise each year," remarked Richard Soultanian, co-president of NUS Consulting Group. "While considered cheap when compared to other industrial nations, the long term outlook for water rates in the United States is increased pricing well above the annual rate of inflation."