The increase in the costs of water and water services is due to several factors. First, the increase in bottled water consumption has led to a general increase in water prices. Although it would be expected that with increased demand and competition in the market, prices would drop, this has not happened. Instead, the bottled water business has become very lucrative and more and more money is being poured into this industry. Additionally, fear that tap water is contaminated or dirty has led to increased use of bottled water and filtration systems, further increasing water-related expenses. Finally, the increasing privatization of water supply companies has also influenced the increase in costs. In summary, the high costs of water and water services are the result of the widespread adoption of bottled water, fear of contamination of tap water and  ...