The percentage of community water systems (CWS) operating at a loss increased between 2000 and 2006, according to a recently released survey from the U.S. EPA and reported by the American Water Works Association. The survey, last conducted in 2000, also revealed the largest decrease in the number of CWS in operation since the studies began in 1976.
The 2006 Community Water System Survey shows that expenses increased more than revenues in most size categories, especially for publicly owned systems. CWS are public water systems that supply water to the same population year-round. They comprise about one third of all public water systems in the United States.
Publicly owned systems averaged a 57 percent increase in expenses between 2000 and 2006 compared with a 15 percent increase in revenues. While the gap was apparent in all sizes of systems, those serving more than 100,000 people were hardest hit — an average 61 percent increase in expenses offset by an average one percent increase in revenues.
On average, privately owned systems appeared to do better — a 29 percent increase in expenses versus a 64 percent increase in revenues on the average. However, privately owned CWS serving 500 or fewer people reported a 64 percent increase in expenses and a one percent decline in revenues.
The number of CWS declined by 6 percent between 2000 and 2006. The largest decline is among private systems serving 100 or fewer people (down 17 percent, more than 2,000 fewer systems) and those serving 101 to 500 people (down 12 percent, 1,300 fewer systems. Meanwhile, the number of small publicly owned systems increased.
