## Reading layer `States_shapefile' from data source 
##   `/Users/Shared/PC/Internship/Water&/Water_Affordability_Interactive_Map/States_shapefile/States_shapefile.shp' 
##   using driver `ESRI Shapefile'
## Simple feature collection with 51 features and 6 fields
## Geometry type: MULTIPOLYGON
## Dimension:     XY
## Bounding box:  xmin: -178.2176 ymin: 18.92179 xmax: -66.96927 ymax: 71.40624
## Geodetic CRS:  WGS 84

Water Price on Map

The water price map displays the 2022 average water prices for each state, with data sourced from utility bills. Higher values on the map indicate correspondingly higher water prices (in US Dollars).

The map indicates that West Virginia has the highest average water price, while Vermont and Wisconsin have the lowest average water prices.

The interactive map offers several features, including zooming in and out, hovering over each state to reveal water prices, clicking on states for in-depth information, and modifying map layers by selecting the layer icon on the left. These layers include options like dark mode, street map, satellite map, and open topo map.

Water Price Rank on Map

The water price ranking is determined by the cost of water, with the top-ranked state having the highest water expenses.

Ranking water prices by state facilitates a more straightforward comparison with water quality because it aligns the scale of both indicators.

Water Quality Rank on Map

Water quality is influenced by numerous indicators, making it challenging to achieve a comprehensive evaluation. In response, US News has offered a comprehensive ranking for each state in the year 2022, simplifying the process of visualizing water quality, where the top-ranked state has the best water quality.

Water Affordability

Water affordability is comprehensively assessed by considering both price and quality. When a state has a combination of high water prices and low water quality, it indicates lower water affordability. To account for both variables, we introduce the water price/quality rank ratio. A ratio greater than 1 suggests that the state has relatively lower water prices and better water quality. Conversely, a ratio less than 1 indicates higher water prices coupled with worse water quality.

The tables below display states categorized by their high and low price/quality ratios respectively.

p/q > 1

state Price_Rank Quality_Rank pqratio
Alabama 33 2 16.500000
Hawaii 9 1 9.000000
South Carolina 25 4 6.250000
Georgia 36 7 5.142857
Tennessee 14 3 4.666667
Massachusetts 23 5 4.600000
Mississippi 46 13 3.538461
Ohio 39 12 3.250000
Florida 25 8 3.125000
North Carolina 48 16 3.000000
Minnesota 36 14 2.571429
Nevada 43 18 2.388889
Illinois 43 22 1.954546
New York 33 17 1.941177
Wisconsin 50 26 1.923077
Nebraska 46 24 1.916667
Kentucky 11 6 1.833333
Arkansas 43 27 1.592593
North Dakota 30 19 1.578947
South Dakota 43 30 1.433333
Virginia 21 15 1.400000
Louisiana 47 35 1.342857
Rhode Island 28 21 1.333333
Delaware 13 10 1.300000
Maryland 13 11 1.181818
Kansas 39 34 1.147059
Vermont 50 46 1.086957

p/q < 1

state Price_Rank Quality_Rank pqratio
West Virginia 1 47 0.0212766
Oregon 3 39 0.0769231
Alaska 7 50 0.1400000
Connecticut 6 37 0.1621622
Washington 4 23 0.1739130
New Jersey 5 25 0.2000000
California 2 9 0.2222222
Wyoming 10 44 0.2272727
Arizona 9 32 0.2812500
Montana 19 48 0.3958333
Idaho 19 42 0.4523810
Colorado 16 33 0.4848485
Oklahoma 22 45 0.4888889
Texas 20 31 0.6451613
New Mexico 28 43 0.6511628
Utah 19 29 0.6551724
Pennsylvania 30 40 0.7500000
Missouri 16 20 0.8000000
Indiana 33 38 0.8684211
Maine 44 49 0.8979592
Michigan 34 36 0.9444444
New Hampshire 39 41 0.9512195

Correlations between Water Price and Water Quality

Following a preliminary examination of the relationship between water price and water quality, a pertinent query arises: Is there a correlation between these two factors? To explore this correlation, we utilized the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (Spearman rho). The outcome reveals a lack of significant correlation. For a visual representation of this, we charted the price rank and quality rank of each state, incorporating a 45-degree reference line.

## 
##  Spearman's rank correlation rho
## 
## data:  water$Price_Rank and water$Quality_Rank
## S = 20799, p-value = 0.9931
## alternative hypothesis: true rho is not equal to 0
## sample estimates:
##        rho 
## 0.00124952

In the graph below, states situated above the 45-degree line are shaded in purple, while those below are shaded in teal. Iowa holds the same rank for both water price and quality, denoted by the green color. States in the bottom left corner of the graph exhibit a pattern of relatively high prices and good water quality. Among states with similar prices, those in teal generally feature superior water quality. Conversely, among states with similar water quality, teal-labeled states typically offer lower water prices. The purple-labeled states appear to present a less affordable water scenario.

Water Affordability on Map

Examining the spatial distribution of the p/q ratio reveals notable patterns in water affordability. In many western states, the p/q ratio is below 1, suggesting that water tends to be less affordable in these areas. In contrast, in some eastern states, the p/q ratio exceeds 1, indicating a higher level of affordability, often associated with relatively lower costs and improved water quality.

Enhancing overall water affordability necessitates a concerted effort to simultaneously enhance water quality and reduce water prices. These two facets are intrinsically linked, and addressing them in tandem can lead to more equitable access to clean and reasonably priced water resources.

By using the map, we can identify areas where there are specific issues related to water quality and pricing. This helps policymakers, water management authorities, and community groups target their efforts more effectively. It allows them to create strategies that are tailored to the unique challenges each state faces, ultimately making water more accessible and ensuring it meets high-quality standards. This way, we can protect the health and well-being of people all across the country.

Reference

https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/water-prices-by-state

https://www.infoworld.com/article/3644848/astonishingly-easy-mapping-in-r-with-mapview.html

https://r-graph-gallery.com/183-choropleth-map-with-leaflet.html

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/natural-environment/air-water-quality/drinking-water-quality