United States

Water supply and wastewater systems are regulated by state and federal governments, and most Americans are served by publicly, owned water and wastewater utilities. Only 11 per cent of the population receive water from private utilities. In rural areas, co-operatives often provide drinking water, while up to 15 per cent of Americans are served by their own wells.

At the state level, health and environmental regulation is overseen by the corresponding state-level departments. Public utilities commissions or public service commissions regulate tariffs charged by private utilities and in some states regulate tariffs by public utilities.

At the federal level, drinking water quality and wastewater discharges are regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, which also provides funding to utilities through State Revolving Funds.

Utilities in charge of public water supply and sanitation systems can be owned and operated by a public entity or a private company. In 2007, there were about 52,000 community water systems in the US which served a total of approximately 242 million people.

The Southeast

In the US, American Water is the largest water utility company with a service base of approximately 15 million people across 30 states. In the Southeast, American Water has locally-managed utility subsidiaries within the states of Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Alabama, Louisianna, Tennesse, West Virginia, Virginia, and Kentucky.

Another of the largest players in the Southeast is Aqua America utility services, which services 2.8 million customers across the US, including Virginia, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Florida

The Florida Public Service Commission regulates water and wastewater utility companies in 36 of Florida’s 67 counties. In non-jurisdictional counties, the Board of County Commissioners usually has the responsibility of regulating the water utilities.

The primary state agency charged with managing Florida’s water resources is the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The 1972 Florida Resources Act established five district areas, which have a governing board that improves and maintains the region’s water supplies.

North Carolina

The North Carolina Utilities Commission regulates all utility companies, except for municipal or county systems, sanitary districts, homes where water/wastewater is included in rent (e.g., mobile home parks), homeowners’ associations and non-profit and consumer-owned corporations.

Alabama

The Alabama Public Service Commission Water Section (APSCWS) regulates eight investor-owned utilities, including four located out of state systems, that have authority to operate in Alabama. APSCWS’ duties include inspecting the facilities, working with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, and conducting compliance and accounting audits.

Tennessee

The Tennessee Regulatory Authority Utilities Division regulates eleven wastewater utilities, and seven water utilities. The division assists the authority in establishing and implementing policy regarding Tennessee's water, sewer, and wastewater companies to result in fair and responsible regulation for all utility companies and consumers in the state.

The division provides research for companies wanting to provide utility services in Tennessee and companies already serving the state are routinely investigated as to the rates, terms, and conditions of services provided to consumers.

Georgia

The premier water and wastewater management company for Georgia is Water Utility Management, which operates 112 community water systems and three community wastewater systems over eleven counties.

Arkansas

The Arkansas Public Service Commission regulates three water utilities: Riviera Utilities of Arkansas, Shumaker Public Service Corporation and United Water Arkansas. Currently it does not regulate any wastewater utilities.

West Virginia

The Public Service Commission of West Virginia provides advice and assistance to water and wastewater public districts, municipalities and associations. They also respond to water and wastewater utility inquiries for technical, operational, financial and regulatory assistance.

In a November 2011 utility cost ranking, there were 399 utilities listed as operating in West Virginia.

Canada

In Canada, water supply and sanitation is a municipal responsibility under the regulation of the provincial governments.

Water and wastewater service provision in Canada is the responsibility of about 4,000 municipalities. In total, there are approximately 9,000 public water and sanitation systems in the country, which includes 2,500 municipally-owned water and sewer utilities and approximately 6,500 small, privately-owned and operated systems providing public services in or at trailer parks and recreational facilities.

While most municipalities provide water and wastewater services directly, a few municipalities have delegated service provision to private companies or to public companies owned by Provinces.

For example, the Ontario Clean Water Agency, an agency of the Province of Ontario, provides operation, maintenance and management services for more than 450 water and wastewater treatment facilities in the province on behalf of about 200 Ontario municipalities.

Metro Vancouver provides treated bulk water to its constituent municipalities in Greater Vancouver, and collects and treats their wastewater.

The governing of drinking water and sanitation in Canada falls under provincial and territorial jurisdiction. The provinces and territories are responsible for developing and enforcing all legislation pertaining to municipal and public water supplies, including their construction and operation.

Each province also has a public utility commission or board for the economic regulation of utilities. In many, but not all provinces, these bodies also regulate tariffs and service quality of water and wastewater utilities.

The federal government also has important responsibilities related to the setting of standards, research, economic regulation and water resources management. The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment plays an important role in the development of national strategies, norms and guidelines for water supply and sanitation.

The Canadian Water and Wastewater Association, established in 1986, is a non-profit national body representing the common interests of Canada’s public sector municipal water and wastewater services and their private sector suppliers and partners.