Water rates in the United States have risen more than twice as much as groceries over the past decade, and more than 1.5 times the overall rate of inflation, which has left Bay Area residents with some of the biggest water bills in the nation, according to a new report. An analysis of the country’s 500 largest community water providers, published by the consumer advocacy group Food and Water Watch on Tuesday, cites the privately held San Jose Water Company as the nation’s most expensive water retailer. … Thirteen of the 25 most expensive providers are in California, with their rates averaging more than twice the national average. The authors of the report say the average national water rate hike of 62% between 2015 and 2025 is largely due to the need to upgrade aging infrastructure, treat water pollution and adapt to more extreme weather with climate change, on top of lagging federal water investments.

Related:

• Inside Climate News: Water bills surged more than other costs in US homes over 10 years, a ‘striking’ new report shows​
• Stateline: Americans’ water bills are growing faster than groceries, overall inflation
• Bloomberg: Rising water bills have added to the squeeze on American households
• The Guardian: US households pay 62% more for water than they did a decade ago, study finds