Many American households are finding that their water bills are increasing. In the Third District of the Walnut Valley Water District in Southern California, Water Commissioner Li Jiani recently shared how the district is working to mitigate the rising costs and provide residents with affordable water services amidst significant increases in water bills nationwide and in California.
According to a recent study by the non-profit organization Food & Water Watch, which analyzed data from the 500 largest community water systems in the U.S. in 2025, serving approximately 155 million people, accounting for 45% of the U.S. population. The report revealed that average household spending on drinking water in the U.S. has increased by 62% over the past decade, surpassing inflation rates, food prices, and household incomes. California ranks sixth in water bill increases in the U.S., with a rise of 83% over the past decade. Half of the top 25 most expensive water systems in the U.S. are in California.
On Tuesday, October 20th, Li Jiani spoke at the “Common Mission” press conference held jointly by Mayor Wu Lilun of Walnut City and Councilman Deng Jiayou of Diamond Bar in Los Angeles County, where she discussed how various factors like inflation and water infrastructure upgrades have led to continuous water price hikes in both the U.S. and Southern California. Faced with these challenges, the Walnut Valley Water District is working to enhance the affordability, safety, and sustainability of water for residents.
She explained that during times of abundant rainfall, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) auctions off excess water at lower prices. The Walnut Valley Water District takes advantage of these auctions to store water in reservoirs; when water prices are high or resources are scarce, they utilize the stored water to supply residents. This proactive approach allows the district to avoid following the trend of widespread water price hikes.
The sustainability of water supply also impacts water prices. As external conditions change, the Walnut Valley Water District’s purchases from MWD are gradually decreasing. To ensure water security for residents, the district has begun developing groundwater resources, collecting rainwater, and recycling water that seeps into underground reservoirs after irrigation. This strategy reduces dependence on MWD for water supply and helps stabilize water prices.
In the Walnut Valley Water District, water rates are typically lower for water-conscious households or small residential units. Homes located in high-altitude zones requiring water pumping may face higher water rates.
Nevertheless, the water security of California residents also depends on the state’s overall water capacity. Li Jiani mentioned in a previous interview that California is set to begin construction on the Sites Reservoir in Northern California by the end of this year or early next year. With a storage capacity of 1.5 million acre-feet, the reservoir will support the water needs of 24 million Californians and 500,000 acres of farmland. Once completed by the end of 2033, this project will help alleviate water pressure in California.