UCLA recently found that in Los Angeles County, average household water bills climbed nearly 60% from 2015 to 2025, faster than inflation, putting significant strain on the region's lower-income households.

This new data comes from recent updates to the 2025 Southern California Community Water Systems Atlas, a collaborative effort between UCLA's Luskin Center for Innovation and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR). UCLA's Sustainable LA Grand Challenge (SLAGC) is supporting the ongoing collaboration between the Luskin Center for Innovation and UCANR as part of SLAGC's water supply + wildfire research and policy coordination network.

The recent updates to the Atlas also include information on water quality in 663 water systems that serve about 40% of California's population living across six counties.

Read coverage in the LA Times and see the full Atlas at the Luskin Center for Innovation website.