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The survey, conducted by NUS Consulting Group, examined local water prices in 14 countries located in North America, Europe, Africa and Australia, and found the world price for water averaged 76.4 US cents per cubic metre (264 gallons).
According to NUS, Germany led all nations with an average price of US$1.52, with South Africa having the lowest price at 34 US cents. The United States was 10th in the survey with an average price of 52 cents per cubic metre. Every country reported increased costs for water with the exception of the Netherlands which showed a decrease of 0.8% in cost over the past year.
“We are finding that water pricing around the world is increaseing at a steady rate and all indications are that even larger increases are on the horizon,” said Richard Soultanian, NUS Consulting Group Co-President. “Issues such as scarcity of supply and improving water quality are coming [to] the forefront in most countries and as such, prices are bound to dramatically increase to meet these challenges.”
The countries surveyed and their average water price were, in order, with the most expensive first:
- Germany, with $1.52 per cubic metre;
- Denmark, $1.46;
- United Kingdom, $1.11;
- The Netherlands, $0.98;
- France, $0.93;
- Belgium, $0.75;
- Italy, $0.62;
- Spain, $0.58
- Finland, $0.53;
- United States, $0.52;
- Sweden, $0.51;
- Australia, $0.48;
- Canada, $0.37; and
- South Africa, $0.34.
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