成本上涨和水费上涨是不可避免的。对于客户来说，水的可承受性问题可能会导致欠费增加、延迟付款、断开连接通知和服务终止。公用事业公司在应对负担能力和脱节问题的压力越来越大的情况下，通常更喜欢与社会机构合作的以援助为导向的项目，而不是调整费率结构。在本文中，作者回顾了可用的选项，包括财务咨询、欠费减免、付款折扣、基于收入的付款、生命线费率、有针对性的保护、中断连接暂停和流量限制。包括31个参考文献和表格。

Rising costs and rising water bills are inevitable. For customers, the problem of water affordability may result in increased arrearages, late payments, disconnection notices, and service terminations. Utilities, under increasing pressure to respond to affordabilty and disconnection problems, generally prefer assistance-oriented programs in cooperation with social agencies over rate structure modifications. In this article the author reviews available options including financial counseling, arrearage forgiveness, payment discounts, income-based payments, lifeline rates, targeted conservation, disconnection moratoria, and flow restrictions. Includes 31 references, tables.