Water Use in the United States Active
Water use estimates for 2000 through 2020 are now available for the three largest categories of use in the United States: self-supplied thermoelectric power generation, self-supplied irrigation, and public supply. Five additional categories of use (self-supplied industrial, domestic, mining, livestock, and aquaculture) will be available in 2025.
The USGS collaborates with local, state, and federal partners to gather and incorporate water-use data with other datasets covering climate, population, geography, system characteristics, land use, social factors, and economics. This information is then integrated into a modeling framework to generate national estimates of water withdrawal and consumption (evapotranspiration of withdrawn water) from both groundwater and surface-water sources. These estimates are crucial for understanding how water is used and for assessing the balance between water supply and demand. Models also enable more frequent availability of water use estimates, quicker identification of data errors, and a consistent approach to evaluating uncertainty. This improved understanding of the factors influencing water use supports the forecasting of water use under varying climate and socio-economic scenarios.
Withdrawals for public supply water use, and withdrawals and consumptive use for irrigation water use are estimated for each month of the period 2000-2020 for all watersheds at the 12-digit hydrologic unit code level (HUC-12) in the conterminous United States. The withdrawal and consumptive use estimates for thermoelectric power water use are available for each month of the period from 2008-2020, by power plant.
The models provide estimates at finer temporal and spatial resolution than previous annual, county-level estimates published by the USGS.
Five additional categories of use (self-supplied industrial, domestic, mining, livestock, and aquaculture) will be available in 2025, as the development of those models began in 2023. Models will be expanded to include golf irrigation and Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands during a future phase of model development.
This water-use reanalysis supports the Water Availability and Use Science Program goals of determining the quantity and quality of water that is available for human and ecological uses, now and in the future and helps to identify where and when the Nation may have challenges meeting its demand for water because of insufficient water quantity or quality.
Estimated use of water in the United States (2020)
Data are available from the USGS ScienceBase Catalog.
Public Supply
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Luukkonen, C.L., Alzraiee, A.H., Larsen, J.D., Martin, D.J., Herbert, D.M., Buchwald, C.A., Houston, N.A., Valseth, K.J., Paulinski, S., Miller, L.D., Niswonger, R.G., Stewart, J.S., and Dieter, C.A., 2023, Public supply water use reanalysis for the 2000-2020 period by HUC12, month, and year for the conterminous United States: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9FUL880.
Self-supplied irrigation
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Martin, D.J., Regan, R.S., Haynes, J.V., Read, A.L., Henson, W.R., Stewart, J.S., Brandt, J.T., and Niswonger, R.G., 2023, Irrigation water use reanalysis for the 2000-20 period by HUC12, month, and year for the conterminous United States: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9YWR0OJ.
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Haynes, J.V., Read, A.L, Chan, A.Y., Martin, D.J., Regan, R.S., Henson, W.R., Niswonger, R.G., and Stewart, J.S., 2023, Monthly crop irrigation withdrawals and efficiencies by HUC12 watershed for years 2000-2020 within the conterminous United States: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9LGISUM.
Self-supplied thermoelectric
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Galanter, A.E., Gorman Sanisaca, L.E., Skinner, K.D., Harris, M.A., Diehl, T.H., Chamberlin, C.A., McCarthy, B.A., Halper, A.S., Niswonger, R.G., Stewart, J.S., Markstrom, S.L., Embry, I., and Worland, S., 2023, Thermoelectric-power water use reanalysis for the 2008-2020 period by power plant, month, and year for the conterminous United States: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9ZE2FVM.
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Gorman Sanisaca, L.E., Galanter, A.E., Skinner, K.D., Harris, M.A., Diehl, T.H., Halper, A.S., Mohs, T.G., Roland, V.L., Stewart, J.S., and Niswonger, R., 2023, Thermoelectric-power condenser duty estimates by month and cooling type for use to calculate water use by power plant for the 2008-2020 reanalysis period for the conterminous United States: U.S. Geological Survey, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9XG876W.
Estimated use of water in the United States (2015)
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Estimated total water use for all categories and sources by State
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Water-use estimates for groundwater and surface water by State.
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Trends: How water use is changing over time, starting with the initial USGS estimates for 1950.
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Categories:
Additional information: Water-use category changes over time • Water-use terminology
Below are other water-use topics.
National Modeled Water Atlas
Total Water Use
Trends in Water Use
Surface-Water Use
Groundwater Use
Water-Use Terminology
State Contacts for Water-Use Data
The National Water-Use Science Project
Below are data associated with water use in the United States.
Public supply water use reanalysis for the 2000-2020 period by HUC12, month, and year for the conterminous United States
Thermoelectric-power condenser duty estimates by month and cooling type for use to calculate water use by power plant for the 2008-2020 reanalysis period for the conterminous United States
Thermoelectric-power water use reanalysis for the 2008-2020 period by power plant, month, and year for the conterminous United States
Monthly crop irrigation withdrawals and efficiencies by HUC12 watershed for years 2000-2020 within the conterminous United States
Irrigation water use reanalysis for the 2000-20 period by HUC12, month, and year for the conterminous United States
Estimated Use of Water in the United States County-Level Data for 2015
Below are publications associated with water use in the United States.
Estimated use of water in the United States in 2015
Summary of estimated water use in the United States in 2015
Estimated use of water in the United States in 2010
Summary of estimated water use in the United States in 2010
Withdrawal and consumption of water by thermoelectric power plants in the United States, 2010
Summary of estimated water use in the United States in 2005
Estimated use of water in the United States in 2005
Estimated use of water in the United States in 2000
Estimated withdrawals from principal aquifers in the United States, 2000
Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 2000
Estimated use of water in the United States in 1995
Estimated use of water in the United States in 1990
Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 1985
Geonarrative: Water-Use Data-Gap Analysis
This water-use data-gap analysis analyzed the differences between the current state of the Nation's water-use data and the data needed to achieve the long-term goals of the USGS Water Availability and Use Science Program.
- Overview
Water use estimates for 2000 through 2020 are now available for the three largest categories of use in the United States: self-supplied thermoelectric power generation, self-supplied irrigation, and public supply. Five additional categories of use (self-supplied industrial, domestic, mining, livestock, and aquaculture) will be available in 2025.
The USGS collaborates with local, state, and federal partners to gather and incorporate water-use data with other datasets covering climate, population, geography, system characteristics, land use, social factors, and economics. This information is then integrated into a modeling framework to generate national estimates of water withdrawal and consumption (evapotranspiration of withdrawn water) from both groundwater and surface-water sources. These estimates are crucial for understanding how water is used and for assessing the balance between water supply and demand. Models also enable more frequent availability of water use estimates, quicker identification of data errors, and a consistent approach to evaluating uncertainty. This improved understanding of the factors influencing water use supports the forecasting of water use under varying climate and socio-economic scenarios.
Withdrawals for public supply water use, and withdrawals and consumptive use for irrigation water use are estimated for each month of the period 2000-2020 for all watersheds at the 12-digit hydrologic unit code level (HUC-12) in the conterminous United States. The withdrawal and consumptive use estimates for thermoelectric power water use are available for each month of the period from 2008-2020, by power plant.
The models provide estimates at finer temporal and spatial resolution than previous annual, county-level estimates published by the USGS.
Five additional categories of use (self-supplied industrial, domestic, mining, livestock, and aquaculture) will be available in 2025, as the development of those models began in 2023. Models will be expanded to include golf irrigation and Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands during a future phase of model development.
This water-use reanalysis supports the Water Availability and Use Science Program goals of determining the quantity and quality of water that is available for human and ecological uses, now and in the future and helps to identify where and when the Nation may have challenges meeting its demand for water because of insufficient water quantity or quality.
Estimated use of water in the United States (2020)
Data are available from the USGS ScienceBase Catalog.
Public Supply
-
Luukkonen, C.L., Alzraiee, A.H., Larsen, J.D., Martin, D.J., Herbert, D.M., Buchwald, C.A., Houston, N.A., Valseth, K.J., Paulinski, S., Miller, L.D., Niswonger, R.G., Stewart, J.S., and Dieter, C.A., 2023, Public supply water use reanalysis for the 2000-2020 period by HUC12, month, and year for the conterminous United States: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9FUL880.
Self-supplied irrigation
-
Martin, D.J., Regan, R.S., Haynes, J.V., Read, A.L., Henson, W.R., Stewart, J.S., Brandt, J.T., and Niswonger, R.G., 2023, Irrigation water use reanalysis for the 2000-20 period by HUC12, month, and year for the conterminous United States: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9YWR0OJ.
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Haynes, J.V., Read, A.L, Chan, A.Y., Martin, D.J., Regan, R.S., Henson, W.R., Niswonger, R.G., and Stewart, J.S., 2023, Monthly crop irrigation withdrawals and efficiencies by HUC12 watershed for years 2000-2020 within the conterminous United States: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9LGISUM.
Self-supplied thermoelectric
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Galanter, A.E., Gorman Sanisaca, L.E., Skinner, K.D., Harris, M.A., Diehl, T.H., Chamberlin, C.A., McCarthy, B.A., Halper, A.S., Niswonger, R.G., Stewart, J.S., Markstrom, S.L., Embry, I., and Worland, S., 2023, Thermoelectric-power water use reanalysis for the 2008-2020 period by power plant, month, and year for the conterminous United States: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9ZE2FVM.
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Gorman Sanisaca, L.E., Galanter, A.E., Skinner, K.D., Harris, M.A., Diehl, T.H., Halper, A.S., Mohs, T.G., Roland, V.L., Stewart, J.S., and Niswonger, R., 2023, Thermoelectric-power condenser duty estimates by month and cooling type for use to calculate water use by power plant for the 2008-2020 reanalysis period for the conterminous United States: U.S. Geological Survey, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9XG876W.
Estimated use of water in the United States (2015)
-
Estimated total water use for all categories and sources by State
-
Water-use estimates for groundwater and surface water by State.
-
Trends: How water use is changing over time, starting with the initial USGS estimates for 1950.
-
Categories:
Additional information: Water-use category changes over time • Water-use terminology
-
- Science
Below are other water-use topics.
National Modeled Water Atlas
The National Modeled Water Atlas will deliver routinely updated water availability information in the United States.Total Water Use
The USGS has estimated water use for the United States every 5 years since 1950. Estimates are provided for groundwater and surface-water sources, for fresh and saline water quality, and by sector or category of use. Estimates have been made at the State level since 1950, and at the county level since 1985. Water-use estimates by watershed were made from 1950 through 1995, first at the water...Trends in Water Use
Total withdrawals for all categories of use in 2015 were estimated to be 322 billion gallons per day (Bgal/d), a level of withdrawal not reported since before 1970. Total withdrawals in 2015 were 9 percent less than in 2010, continuing a sharp but steady downward trend since 2005. Freshwater withdrawals were also 9 percent less than in 2015.Surface-Water Use
Surface-water sources include streams and rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and oceans. For the purposes of the USGS water-use reports, surface water with less than 1,000 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of dissolved solids is considered freshwater, and the remainder is considered saline. Surface-water resources are often evaluated by watershed. The most recent USGS water-use estimates by watershed are in...Groundwater Use
Groundwater refers to all subsurface water, specifically that part of groundwater which is in the saturated zone. Groundwater sources are called aquifers: geologic formations that contain sufficient saturated permeable material to yield significant quantities of water to wells and springs. For the purposes of the USGS water-use reports, groundwater with less than 1,000 milligrams per liter (mg/L)...Water-Use Terminology
The following terms have been used in one or more of the water-use publications. The comparison of water-use categories over the history of these reports may also help clarify the use of some of the terms.State Contacts for Water-Use Data
Water-use data is compiled for each of the United States as well as for the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The list below contains a link to the USGS water-use site for each entity, if one exists, as well as the point of contact for State-level information.The National Water-Use Science Project
The U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Use Science Project (formerly the National Water-Use Information Program) is responsible for compiling and disseminating the nation's water-use data. Established by USGS in 1978, the USGS National Water-Use Science Project built on the legacy of the Estimated Use of Water in the United States report series, begun in 1950 and produced every 5 years. - Data
Below are data associated with water use in the United States.
Public supply water use reanalysis for the 2000-2020 period by HUC12, month, and year for the conterminous United States
The U.S. Geological Survey is developing national water-use models to support water resources management in the United States. Model benefits include a nationally consistent estimation approach, greater temporal and spatial resolution of estimates, efficient and automated updates of results, and capabilities to forecast water use into the future and assess model uncertainty. This data release contThermoelectric-power condenser duty estimates by month and cooling type for use to calculate water use by power plant for the 2008-2020 reanalysis period for the conterminous United States
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed models to estimate the amount of water that is withdrawn and consumed by thermoelectric power plants (Diehl and others, 2013; Diehl and Harris, 2014; Harris and Diehl, 2019). The thermoelectric water use models are based on linked heat-and-water budgets that are constrained by power plant generation and cooling system technologies, the amount of fuels coThermoelectric-power water use reanalysis for the 2008-2020 period by power plant, month, and year for the conterminous United States
Previous work by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed models to estimate the amount of water that is withdrawn and consumed by thermoelectric power plants (Diehl and others, 2013; Diehl and Harris, 2014; Harris and Diehl, 2019 [full citations listed in srcinfo of the metadata file]). This data release presents a historical reanalysis of thermoelectric water use from 2008 to 2020 and includeMonthly crop irrigation withdrawals and efficiencies by HUC12 watershed for years 2000-2020 within the conterminous United States
The USGS has published United States water-use data every five years since 1950. To increase the temporal and spatial availability of water use estimates using nationally consistent methods, the USGS is developing national water-use models for each major water-use category. This data release publishes crop irrigation withdrawals for the conterminous United States (CONUS) that are calculated usingIrrigation water use reanalysis for the 2000-20 period by HUC12, month, and year for the conterminous United States
This data release provides a monthly irrigation water use reanalysis for the period 2000-20 for all USGS Watershed Boundary Dataset of Subwatersheds (HUC12) in the conterminous United States (CONUS). Results include reference evapotranspiration (ETo), actual evapotranspiration (ETa), irrigated areas, consumptive use, and effective precipitation for each HUC12. ETo and ETa were estimated using theEstimated Use of Water in the United States County-Level Data for 2015
This dataset contains water-use estimates for 2015 that are aggregated to the county level in the United States. The U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS's) National Water Use Science Project is responsible for compiling and disseminating the Nation's water-use data. Working in cooperation with local, State, and Federal agencies, the USGS has published an estimate of water use in the United States every - Publications
Below are publications associated with water use in the United States.
Estimated use of water in the United States in 2015
Water use in the United States in 2015 was estimated to be about 322 billion gallons per day (Bgal/d), which was 9 percent less than in 2010. The 2015 estimates put total withdrawals at the lowest level since before 1970, following the same overall trend of decreasing total withdrawals observed from 2005 to 2010. Freshwater withdrawals were 281 Bgal/d, or 87 percent of total withdrawals, and salinAuthorsCheryl A. Dieter, Molly A. Maupin, Rodney R. Caldwell, Melissa A. Harris, Tamara I. Ivahnenko, John K. Lovelace, Nancy L. Barber, Kristin S. LinseyFilter Total Items: 20Summary of estimated water use in the United States in 2015
A total of 322 Bgal/d of water withdrawals was reported for eight categories of use in the United States in 2015, which was 9 percent less than in 2010 (354 Bgal/d), and continued a declining trend since 2005. The decline in total withdrawals in 2015 primarily was caused by significant decreases (28.8 Bgal/d) in thermoelectric power, which accounted for 89 percent of the decrease in total withdrawAuthorsMolly A. MaupinEstimated use of water in the United States in 2010
Water use in the United States in 2010 was estimated to be about 355 billion gallons per day (Bgal/d), which was 13 percent less than in 2005. The 2010 estimates put total withdrawals at the lowest level since before 1970. Freshwater withdrawals were 306 Bgal/d, or 86 percent of total withdrawals, and saline-water withdrawals were 48.3 Bgal/d, or 14 percent of total withdrawals. Fresh surface-wateAuthorsMolly A. Maupin, Joan F. Kenny, Susan S. Hutson, John K. Lovelace, Nancy L. Barber, Kristin S. LinseySummary of estimated water use in the United States in 2010
About 355,000 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) of water was withdrawn for use in the United States during 2010, a decline of 13 percent from 2005 and a substantial change from the level of about 400,000 Mgal/d reported from 1985 to 2005. Withdrawals for 2010 were lower than withdrawals estimated for 1970. Fresh surface-water withdrawals (230,000 Mgal/d) were almost 15 percent less than in 2005, anAuthorsNancy L. BarberWithdrawal and consumption of water by thermoelectric power plants in the United States, 2010
Estimates of water use at thermoelectric plants were developed by the U.S. Geological Survey based on linked heat and water budgets, and complement reported thermoelectric water withdrawals and consumption. The heat- and water-budget models produced withdrawal and consumption estimates, including thermodynamically plausible ranges of minimum and maximum withdrawal and consumption, for 1,290 water-AuthorsTimothy H. Diehl, Melissa A. HarrisSummary of estimated water use in the United States in 2005
About 410,000 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) of water was withdrawn for use in the United States during 2005. About 80 percent of the total (328,000 Mgal/d) withdrawal was from surface water, and about 82 percent of the surface water withdrawn was freshwater. The remaining 20 percent (82,600 Mgal/d) was withdrawn from groundwater, of which about 96 percent was freshwater. If withdrawals for therAuthorsNancy L. BarberEstimated use of water in the United States in 2005
Estimates of water use in the United States indicate that about 410 billion gallons per day (Bgal/d) were withdrawn in 2005 for all categories summarized in this report. This total is slightly less than the estimate for 2000, and about 5 percent less than total withdrawals in the peak year of 1980. Freshwater withdrawals in 2005 were 349 Bgal/d, or 85 percent of the total freshwater and saline-watAuthorsJoan F. Kenny, Nancy L. Barber, Susan S. Hutson, Kristin S. Linsey, John K. Lovelace, Molly A. MaupinEstimated use of water in the United States in 2000
No abstract available.AuthorsDeborah S. Lumia, Kristin S. Linsey, Nancy L. BarberEstimated withdrawals from principal aquifers in the United States, 2000
Fresh ground-water withdrawals from 66 principal aquifers in the United States were estimated for irrigation, public-supply, and self-supplied industrial water uses for the year 2000. Total ground-water withdrawals were 76,500 million gallons per day, or 85,800 thousand acre-feet per year for these three uses. Irrigation used the largest amount of ground water, 56,900 million gallons per day, follAuthorsMolly A. Maupin, Nancy L. BarberEstimated Use of Water in the United States in 2000
Estimates of water use in the United States indicate that about 408 billion gallons per day (one thousand million gallons per day, abbreviated Bgal/d) were withdrawn for all uses during 2000. This total has varied less than 3 percent since 1985 as withdrawals have stabilized for the two largest uses?thermoelectric power and irrigation. Fresh ground-water withdrawals (83.3 Bgal/d) during 2000 wereAuthorsSusan S. Hutson, Nancy L. Barber, Joan F. Kenny, Kristin S. Linsey, Deborah S. Lumia, Molly A. MaupinEstimated use of water in the United States in 1995
The purpose of this report is to present consistent and current water-use estimates by state and water-resources region for the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia. Estimates of water withdrawn from surface- and ground-water sources, estimates of consumptive use, and estimates of instream use and wastewater releases during 1995 are presented in this reAuthorsWayne B. Solley, Robert R. Pierce, Howard A. PerlmanEstimated use of water in the United States in 1990
Water withdrawals in the United States during 1990 were estimated to average 408,000 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) of freshwater and saline water for offstream uses--2 percent more than the 1985 estimate. Total freshwater withdrawals were an estimated 339,000 Mgal/d during 1990, about the same as during 1985. Average per-capita use for all offstream uses was 1,620 gallons per day (gal/d) of freAuthorsWayne B. Solley, Robert R. Pierce, Howard A. PerlmanEstimated Use of Water in the United States in 1985
Water withdrawals in the United States during 1985 were estimated to average 399,000 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) of freshwater and saline water for offstream uses--10 percent less than the 1980 estimate. Average per-capita use for all offstream uses was 1,650 gallons per day (gal/d) of freshwater and saline water combined and 1,400 gal/d of freshwater alone. Offstream water-use categoriesAuthorsWayne B. Solley, Charles F. Merk, Robert R. Pierce - Web Tools
Geonarrative: Water-Use Data-Gap Analysis
This water-use data-gap analysis analyzed the differences between the current state of the Nation's water-use data and the data needed to achieve the long-term goals of the USGS Water Availability and Use Science Program.