安永会计师事务所（Ernst&Young）两年一次的全国水和废水费率调查收集了美国100个最大大都市统计区公用事业的账单、费率结构、计费周期和特殊费用信息。本文介绍了自1986年以来进行的这些调查中观察到的趋势和模式，并对调查结果支持的国家和地区定价趋势进行了讨论。从调查中可以看出，最显著的趋势是向节约率结构的转变，节约率结构通过使用统一和倒置的分段费率、季节性和超额使用附加费，以及在某些情况下的边际成本定价，促进水资源的更有效利用。包括3个参考文献、图表。

Ernst & Young's biennial national water and wastewater rate surveys collect information on bills, rate structures, billing cycles, and special charges for utilities serving the 100 largest metropolitan statistical areas in the United States. This article presents trends and patterns observed in these surveys, which have been conducted since 1986, and provides a discussion of national and regional pricing trends supported by the survey results. The most significant trend evidenced from the surveys is a shift toward conservation rate structures, which promote more efficient use of water resources through use of uniform and inverted-block rates, seasonal and excess-use surcharges, and, in some cases, marginal cost pricing. Includes 3 references, figures.