All humans – rich and poor, young and old — need water, and they need it in similar quantities. Water that is affordable, as well as accessible and safe, is a fundamental human right. However, the price that households must pay to maintain their water supply is increasing rapidly. The cost per unit of water for U.S. consumers has increased 50 percent since 2010, much faster than incomes. By 2022, water bills are projected to be unaffordable for 36 percent of U.S. households.

It is no surprise that Massachusetts residents are increasingly burdened by the cost of water. Although this issue has received little focused attention across the Commonwealth, there are indications that rising water prices in Massachusetts are exacerbating the impacts of economic and racial inequalities. This paper covers the topic of water affordability policies in twelve Massachusetts communities and it focuses on what steps are being taken to address the current and potential impacts on low-income consumers of rising water prices in Massachusetts.