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New research finds drinking water costs are increasing faster than many other essentials

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Household drinking water bills rose an average of 62% from 2015 to 2025 among utilities studied by Food & Water Watch, outpacing inflation and grocery prices.

• Privately-owned water systems charged households 67% more than public systems on average in 2025, according to the report.

• Low-income households faced unaffordable water costs in 93% of the systems analyzed, based on the groups affordability threshold.

Consumers watching their grocery and electricity bills climb have another unlikely expense squeezing their budgets: water.

A report released by Food & Water Watch, an environmental advocacy organization, found that household drinking water bills increased at 1.6 times the overall inflation rate and more than twice the rate of grocery prices over the past decade.

A water affordability crisis is rapidly expanding throughout America, said Mary Grant, the organizations water policy director. Grant attributed rising bills to corporate ownership and insufficient federal investment in aging infrastructure.

The analysis examined the nations 500 largest community water systems, serving approximately 155 million people. Researchers calculated annual bills for a household using 60,000 gallons, allowing comparisons at a consistent consumption level.

Average charges

The average system charged $531 in 2025, or about $44 a month. Those figures exclude wastewater and stormwater charges, which can substantially increase a households total utility bill.

Costs varied sharply. Annual bills ranged from $133 at a public system in Hempstead, New York, to $1,416 at San Jose Water Company in California.

For-profit systems charged an average of $823 annually, compared with $494 at publicly-owned systems. Food & Water Watch advocates public ownership; the comparison describes average charges across different systems and does not isolate ownership from every other factor affecting costs.

The burden was particularly pronounced for poorer households. Researchers classified drinking water bills exceeding 1.5% of income for the poorest fifth of households in each state as unaffordable. By that measure, nearly all surveyed systems exceeded the threshold.

Declining access

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) separately estimated in its 2024 affordability assessment that between 12.1 million and 19.2 million U.S. households lacked affordable access to water services. The agency says affordability means paying essential water bills without sacrificing other household needs.

Further increases may lie ahead. The American Water Works Association estimates that drinking water infrastructure and other critical needs will require $2.1 trillion to $2.4 trillion through 2050. Its assessment identifies aging equipment, treatment requirements, climate resilience, and cybersecurity as mounting expenses.

The association warns that relying entirely on household bills to close the infrastructure funding gap could more than double average drinking water bills by 2050, even after accounting for inflation.

Consumers struggling to pay should contact their utility about available customer assistance programs. The EPA identifies such programs as one approach to reducing the burden. However, the temporary federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program has exhausted its funding and is no longer providing benefits.

Malwarebytes warns that an apparent case of impersonation may be bait to start a conversation

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Malwarebytes warns that scammers are sending fake Facebook Marketplace listings bearing recipients names to lure them into responding.

• Even a reply correcting the supposed mistake can confirm that a phone number is active.

• Consumers should check Facebook directly and avoid engaging with unexpected messages.

An unexpected message asking about something you supposedly listed on Facebook Marketplace could be a scam designed to get your attentionand a response.

In an October 6 blog post, Malwarebytes researcher Pieter Arntz described messages containing fabricated Marketplace listings that identify the recipient as the seller. One example arrived via iMessage, asking whether an item was still available. The listing used the recipients name but a photo of another Facebook user with the same name.

The apparent impersonation creates an incentive to correct the sender. Arntz suggests attackers could use names and phone numbers obtained through data breaches, although the source of the information and the campaigns ultimate objective remain unconfirmed.

A reply can have consequences even when it contains no sensitive information. The Federal Trade Commission warns that answering an unfamiliar sender confirms a working telephone number, potentially inviting additional scam calls and texts.

Avoid conversations with strangers

The FTC has also described conversation-starting in which strangers build trust before pitching fraudulent cryptocurrency investments. That is a broader warning about unsolicited texts, rather than an established outcome of this Marketplace scheme.

Consumers concerned about their Facebook accounts should open Facebook independently to review listings, logins and account settings. Malwarebytes advises reporting genuine impersonation profiles and withholding verification codes.

For unexpected texts, the FTC recommends avoiding replies and links, reporting the message through the phones junk-reporting feature or forwarding it to 7726, and deleting it. Consumers who lose money to a scam can report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

These getaways offer very different experiences

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Fall travelers don't have to limit themselves to New England: Some of the country's best autumn scenery stretches from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Pacific Northwest.

• Timing matters: Peak foliage can arrive in September at higher elevations and linger into late October or even November in some parts of the country.

• Fall can offer more than leaves: Apple orchards, hiking, scenic drives, festivals, historic towns and cooler temperatures can turn a foliage trip into a full vacation.

For travelers who consider autumn the best time to hit the road, the United States offers an unusually wide range of choices.

The classic image may be a winding New England highway surrounded by brilliant red and orange maples. But head west and the colors, landscapes and experiences change dramatically. In New Mexico, mountainsides turn gold with aspens. In Oregon, autumn colors frame waterfalls and the Columbia River.

Here are five destinations spread across the country that offer distinctive fall getaways.

Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor, Maine

It's difficult to make a list of American fall destinations without including New England, and Acadia National Park offers something many inland foliage destinations can't: brilliant autumn colors set against a rugged Atlantic coastline.

The National Park Service says leaves generally begin changing in September, with peak color usually occurring sometime during the first three weeks of October.

Travelers can explore the park on the 27-mile Park Loop Road, which provides access to mountains, lakes and coastal attractions including Sand Beach, Otter Point and Jordan Pond.

Acadia also has 45 miles of historic carriage roads that can be explored on foot or bicycle.

Bar Harbor provides restaurants, shopping and lodging just outside the park, making it possible to combine outdoor activities with a traditional New England coastal vacation.

One consideration is popularity. Fall is hardly a secret at Acadia, and the Park Service warns that parking areas at some of its most popular locations can fill. Travelers should have backup plans and consider visiting busy attractions early or late in the day.

Best time to consider: Early to mid-October, although foliage timing varies with weather.

Asheville and the Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina

For travelers who want a longer window in which to chase fall colors, Asheville has an advantage: elevation.

Fall colors begin at the highest elevations in the mountains surrounding Asheville and gradually move downhill. The local tourism office says that in 2026 color is expected to be visible somewhere in the region from late September into early November.

That makes Asheville a good base for travelers willing to drive to find the best colors.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is the obvious attraction, with overlooks and mountain scenery stretching in both directions from the city. Travelers can also hike, visit nearby mountain communities or spend part of the trip exploring Asheville's restaurants, breweries, galleries and shops.

The area's varied elevations also reduce the pressure to pick one supposedly perfect weekend. Visitors arriving earlier in the season can head to higher elevations, while later visitors can look for color closer to Asheville and in lower valleys.

Best time to consider: October, with opportunities extending from late September into early November.

Door County, Wisconsin

For a Midwestern version of the classic fall getaway, Door County combines colorful forests, small towns, Lake Michigan views and an agricultural harvest season.

The Wisconsin peninsula has roughly 300 miles of shoreline and five state parks, giving visitors plenty of opportunities to see the colors by hiking, driving, bicycling or even from the water.

Fall color generally begins in the northern part of the peninsula before progressing south, with peak viewing typically arriving by mid-October.

But foliage isn't the only attraction. Autumn is apple season in Door County, and roadside orchards and farm markets add cider, pies and fresh fruit to the experience. Fall festivals are also common in communities scattered along the peninsula.

For travelers who like road trips, the combination of shoreline, winding roads and small communities such as Fish Creek, Egg Harbor and Sister Bay makes it easy to turn leaf-peeping into a multi-day trip.

Best time to consider: Late September through mid-October, with mid-October often near peak.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Fall in the Southwest looks very different from autumn in Maine or Wisconsin.

Around Santa Fe, the signature fall color comes from aspen trees, whose leaves turn brilliant yellow and gold against mountain slopes and New Mexico's famously blue skies.

One of the most accessible places to see them is the mountain corridor leading toward Hyde Memorial State Park and Ski Santa Fe. Santa Fe's tourism office recommends the area for viewing golden aspens, and Ski Santa Fe is offering fall chairlift rides on selected weekends in early October 2026.

The city itself gives travelers another reason to make the trip. Cooler October weather can make walking around Santa Fe's historic center more comfortable than during the summer, while visitors can explore its museums, galleries, restaurants and distinctive adobe architecture.

Santa Fe's tourism organization calls October one of the city's best months, noting cooler temperatures and smaller crowds.

It's a particularly good choice for travelers who want fall scenery but aren't necessarily looking for the traditional red-and-orange New England experience.

Best time to consider: Late September through early to mid-October for mountain aspens.

Columbia River Gorge, Oregon

For a West Coast fall trip, the Columbia River Gorge provides a combination that's difficult to duplicate: autumn foliage, towering cliffs, waterfalls and the Columbia River.

The Gorge stretches east from the Portland area, making it relatively easy to combine an outdoor trip with a city stay. The Historic Columbia River Highway and Interstate 84 corridor provide access to waterfalls, trails and communities along the river.

Oregon's fall colors generally reach their best from mid- to late October, although timing varies considerably by region. Travel Oregon says the Mt. Hood and Columbia Gorge region can peak somewhat later than parts of the Willamette Valley and Central Oregon.

The scenery also changes as travelers head east. The wetter forests and waterfalls closer to Portland gradually give way to a drier landscape, allowing a relatively short road trip to cover dramatically different terrain.

And unlike destinations where foliage is the main event, the Gorge's waterfalls and enormous basalt cliffs remain attractions even if the leaves aren't cooperating.

Best time to consider: Mid- to late October.

Don't plan around an exact "peak" date

There's one important warning for anyone planning a fall-color vacation: trees don't follow a travel calendar.

Temperature, rainfall, elevation and latitude all affect when leaves change, and forecasts made weeks in advance can easily be off by several days.

A better strategy is to choose a destination that offers plenty to do even if the foliage is early or late. Acadia has its coastline, Asheville its mountain drives and food scene, Door County its shoreline and orchards, Santa Fe its arts and culture, and the Columbia River Gorge its waterfalls.

That way, spectacular foliage becomes the highlight of the trip rather than the requirement for enjoying it.

Real names and official-looking phone numbers can give consumers false reassurance

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The FBI warns that scammers are impersonating federal agents using real employees names and spoofed government phone numbers.

• One criminal staged a video call to look like it came from an FBI office.

• Consumers should independently contact the agency and verify the actual contactnot simply whether an agent with that name exists.

The FBIs Newark field office has issued a warning about criminals posing as FBI, DEA and Secret Service agents to steal money from victims. The tactics can undermine consumers efforts to check a callers identity.

Scammers manipulate caller ID to display genuine agency phone numbers and introduce themselves using actual federal agents names. When a potential victim calls the agency, an employee may confirm that the named agent works there.

That answer establishes that the employee exists. It does not establish that the employee made the original call.

In another reported tactic, a scammer arranged a virtual meeting with a suited man, desk and FBI seal to create the appearance of a government office.

How to verify the contact

The FBI recommends finding an agencys official telephone number independently. When calling, explain that you suspect fraud and ask whether a real agent is contacting you. If the local office cannot be reached, try the agencys Washington headquarters.

Consumers can report suspicious contacts at tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI. The warning also recommends preserving photos or recordings of fraudulent video meetings.

Requests to move money are a warning sign

The FBIs broader scam guidance says it will never call or email private citizens requesting that they move money through wire transfers, cryptocurrency, gift cards or prepaid cards.

Anyone who has experienced an internet-enabled scam should promptly file a report with the Internet Crime Complaint Center. The bureau says rapid reporting can help support efforts to recover lost funds.

For consumers, the practical lesson is to verify the conversation itself. A familiar agency name, a matching phone number or a realistic video background cannot establish who is asking for your money.