Affordability of household water services across the United States

Households that cannot be able to afford their water bills may lose access drinking and wastewater services. This study seeks quantify how many households struggle pay for services across 787 of the largest providers located within each state United States. Household affordability is ability a household basic without undue hardship. Here, we select 6,000 gallons per month (22.7 m 3 /mo) as sufficient meet needs define hardship spending more than 4.6% income (one day labor month) Monthly are combined with census data based on service area boundaries determine We find unaffordable 17% (28.3 million persons) in this study. The median, or representative community, has one seven paying developed visualization tool allow users explore challenges change different volumes usage levels financial ( https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/water-affordability/water-affordability-united-states ). research shows unaffordability not localized problem but rather challenge experienced by communities nation.