U.S. Water Rates Escalate as Americans Conserve More
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Concerns Mount for Carpet Cleaning Technicians
West Chicago - While Americans are now using approximately 400 gallons of water less per year per person than they were three decades ago, they are paying more for water than ever before.
Further, those rates are expected to escalate by at least 5 percent per year for the foreseeable future.
This is one of the conclusions of a just-published survey conducted by Black & Veatch, a management consulting firm.*
According to the report, the cost of water has doubled over the past 12 years in the 29 communities studied, which represent a diverse mix of cities and states throughout the U.S.
In fact, in three communities-Atlanta, San Francisco, and Wilmington, DE-water costs have actually tripled or increased by even more. This is true even though actual consumption is lower than it was a decade or more ago.
According to the report, the key reasons for the rising cost of water include:
· Costs related to paying off old municipal bonds issued to fund water repairs and improvements
· Increases in the costs of electricity, chemicals, and fuel used to supply and treat water
· Compliance with government clean-water mandates
· Rising pension and healthcare costs for water agency workers
· Increased security measures to protect the nation's water supply
"The professional cleaning and carpet cleaning industries use more water than we realize," says Doug Berjer, Product Manager for CFR (manufacturers of recycling carpet extractors). "These rate increases may therefore have an impact on our industry."
Berjer notes that large water consuming industries-such as car washes, Laundromats, and dry cleaners-are already taking steps to reduce water consumption, mostly by recycling and reusing water.
"Recycling and reusing water, whether at a car wash or when carpet cleaning, helps us use water more efficiently," says Berjer. "For [carpet cleaning] techs, this can help moderate the mounting costs of water."
* The utility industry survey was conducted from 22 February through 13 March 2012. Analyzed survey responses are from qualified water utility industry participants. Statistical significance testing was conducted, and represented results have a 95 percent confidence level.
About CFR, a Tacony Company
CFR designs and manufactures a complete range of eco-friendly carpet cleaning systems and high performance specialty tools with an innovative, patented technology that is radically different from other carpet cleaning systems. Continuous Flow Recycling (CFR) technology provides superior moisture-controlled cleaning, faster drying times, and increased cleaning productivity that is unmatched compared to standard carpet extractors on the market today. Through a state-of-the-art recycling filtration system, coupled with moisture-controlled atomization wand technology to minimize carpet moisture, CFR is the Greenest carpet cleaning system available.
