no. 2004-5230 

c.2 

-

Estimated Water Use In Arkansas, 2000 

Prepared in cooperation with the 

ARKANSAS SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION COMMISSION 

Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5230 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Estimated Water Use In Arkansas, 2000 

By Terrance W. Holland 

Prepared in cooperation with the 

ARKANSAS SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION COMMISSION 

Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5230 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

U.S. Geological Survey 
U.S. Department of the Interior 

Gale A. Norton, Secretary 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Charles G. Groat, Director 

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2004 

For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services 

Box 25286. Denver Federal Center 

Denver. CO 80225 

For more information about the USGS and its products: 

Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS 

World Wide Web: http:/ /www.usgs.gov/ 

Any use of trade. product. or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply 

endorsement by the U.S. Government. 

Although this report is in the public domain. permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. 
ill 

Contents 

Abstract. ............................................................................................................................................................................... I 

Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................... 1 

Purpose and Scope ............................................................................................................................................................... 1 

Data-Collection Methods ..................................................................................................................................................... I 

Estimated Water Use by Category and Withdrawals by Source ......................................................................................... 3 

Public Supply ............................................................................................................................................................. 9 

Domestic (self-supplied) .......................................................................................................................................... 12 

Commercial (self-supplied ...................................................................................................................................... 13 

Industrial (self-supplied) .......................................................................................................................................... 14 

Mining ..................................................................................................................................................................... 15 

Livestock .................................................................................................................................................................. 16 

Aquaculture ............................................................................................................................................................. 18 

Irrigation .................................................................................................................................................................. 19 

Thermoelectric Power Generation .......................................................................................................................... ~ 21 

Changes in Water Use, 1965-2000 .................................................................................................................................... 22 

Sources of Ground-Water Withdrawals ............................................................................................................................ 25 

Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................ 30 

Selected References ........................................................................................................................................................... 30 

Glossary ............................................................................................................................................................................. 31 

Figures 

1-5. Maps showing: 

1. Major surface-water sources ................................................................................................................................. 2 

2. Counties where selected water-use data are reported at Conservation District offices ........................................ 3 

3. Total water use by county for Arkansas, 2000 ...................................................................................................... 5 

4. Ground-water use by county for Arkansas, 2000 ................................................................................................. 6 

5. Surface-water use by county for Arkansas, 2000 ................................................................................................. 7 

6. Bar chart showing total water use in Arkansas, by category, for 2000 ..................................................................... 8 

7. Bar chart showing ground-water use in Arkansas, by category, for 2000 ................................................................. 8 

8. Bar chart showing surface-water use in Arkansas, by category, for 2000 ................................................................ 9 

9. Graph showing total ground- and surface-water use compared to irrigation water use in Arkansas, 

1965-2000 ······························································································································································· 23 

10. Graph showing ground- and surface-water use and population served for public supply systems in 

Arkansas, 1965-2000 ............................................................................................................................................... 24 

11. Map showing physiographic provinces in Arkansas .............................................................................................. 25 

12. Maps showing major aquifers in Arkansas ............................................................................................................. 26 
iv 

Tables 

1. Ground water, surface water, and total water use by county for Arkansas, 2000 .................................................... 4 

2. Public supply and per capita water use in Arkansas, 2000 .................................................................................... 10 

3. Domestic (self-supplied) water use in Arkansas, 2000 ......................................................................................... 12 

4. Commercial (self-supplied) water use in Arkansas, 2000 ..................................................................................... 13 

5. Industrial (self-supplied) water use in Arkansas, 2000 ......................................................................................... 14 

6. Mining water use in Arkansas, 2000 ..................................................................................................................... 15 

7. Livestock water requirements ................................................................................................................................ 16 

8. Livestock water use in Arkansas, 2000 ................................................................................................................. 16 

9. Aquaculture water use in Arkansas, 2000 ............................................................................................................. 18 

10. Irrigation water use in Arkansas, 2000 ................................................................................................................. 19 

11. Thermoelectric power generation water use in Arkansas, 2000 ........................................................................... 21 

12. Changes in water use for selected categories, 1965-2000 ..................................................................................... 23 

13. Ground-water use by major aquifer in Arkansas, 2000 ......................................................................................... 27 
Conversion Factors and Datum 

Multiply 

acre 

gallon per day (gal/d) 

million gallons per day (Mgal/d) 

billion gallons per day (Bgalld) 

thousand acre-feet day per year 

By 

Area 

43,560 

4,047 

0.001562 

Flow rate 

3.785 

1.121 

0.001547 

0.6944 

0.003785 

1.3815 

1.3815 

0.8921 

0.001380 

0.6195 

0.003377 

To obtain 

square foot (f2) 

square meter (m2) 

square mile (mi2

) 

liter per day (Ud) 

thousand acre-feet per year 

thousand cubic feet per second 

thousand gallons per minute 

million cubic meters per day 

million cubic meters per year 

million cubic meters per year 

million gallons per day 

thousand cubic feet per second 

thousand gallons per minute 

million cubic meters per day 

Some water relations in inch-pound units are shown below 

1 gallon (gal) 

1 million gallons (Mgal) 

1 cubic foot (ft3) 

1 acre-foot (acre-ft) 

1 inch of rain 

8.34 pounds 

3.07 acre-feet 

62.4 pounds 

7.48 gallons 

325,851 gallons 

43,450 cubic feet 

17.4 million gallons per square mile 

27,200 gallons per acre 

100 tons per acre 

v 

Estimated Water Use in Arkansas, 2000 

By Terrance W. Holland 

Abstract 

The water-use program in Arkansas is a cooperative effort 

between Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission 

and the U.S. Geological Survey. During 2000, the amount of 

water withdrawn from ground- and surface-water sources in 

Arkansas was estimated to be 10,963 million gallons per day 

(Mgalld). Of this amount, about 6,952 Mgal/d (63 percent) were 

from ground water and about 4,011 Mgalld (37 percent) were 

from surface-water sources. 

Approximately 87 percent of the population (2.3 million 

people) in Arkansas were served by public supply systems during 2000. These systems withdrew approximately 427 Mgal/d. 

Most of the water, 69 percent, was from surface-water sources. 

The statewide average for per-capita residential use from public 

supply systems was 181 gallons per day and increased about 57 

percent between 1965 and 2000. 

Introduction 

Water is one of Arkansas' most valuable natural resources. 

Much of the State's agriculture and industry is dependent upon 

having an adequate supply of quality water. The Arkansas Soil 

and Water Conservation Commission (ASWCC) conducts an 

annual inventory of the ground- and surface-water withdrawals 

in Arkansas in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey 

(USGS). Data collected during this inventory are shared by 

State and Federal agencies to document the State's total water 

use and to facilitate planning the most effective use of Arkansas' water resources for the economic and social well being of 

the people of Arkansas and the Nation. 

Every 5 years since 1950, the USGS has conducted an 

inventory of water use in the United States (Mac.Kichan, 1951, 

1957; Mac.Kichan and Kammerer, 1961; Murray, 1968; Murray 

and Reeves, 1972, 1977; Solley and others, 1983, 1988, 1993, 

1998; Hutson and others, 2004). In 1978, the USGS initiated the 

National Water-Use Inf01mation Program to establish a nationwide water-use database. In 1985, the ASWCC and the USGS 

began a water-use program that provides for the collection, storage, and dissemination of accurate water-use information for 

Arkansas within a consistent national framework. The Arkansas 

data for 2000 have been aggregated with data for the rest of the 

United States and has been included in a rep01t on water use for 

the Nation (Hutson and others, 2004). 

Ground- and surface-water sources are important in 

Arkansas. The major aquifers include the aquifers in the deposits of Quaternary age, Sparta and Memphis Sands, Cane River 

Formation, Wilcox Group, undifferentiated, Nacatoch Sand, 

Tokio Formation, Trinity Formation, and the rocks of Paleozoic 

age, undifferentiated (Petersen and others, 1985). Hereafter, in 

the text, these aquifers are referred to as the alluvial, Sparta and 

Memphis, Cockfield, Cane River, Wilcox, Nacatoch, Tokio, 

Trinity, and Paleozoic aquifers. Major surface-water sources 

include the Arkansas, Saline, Ouachita Rivers, and Beaver, Bull 

Shoals, Maumelle, and Winona Lakes (fig. 1). 

Purpose and Scope 

The purpose of this report is to describe the total withdrawals from ground- and surface-water resources in Arkansas for 

2000. This report compiles withdrawals by county (fig. 2). Nine 

categories of water use are described in this report-public supply, domestic (self-supplied), commercial (self-supplied), 

industrial (self-supplied), mining, livestock, aquaculture, irrigation, and thermoelectric power generation. Water-use trends in 

Arkansas from 1965 to 2000 also are described. 

Data-Collection Methods 

Site-specific water-use data for several categories are collected and compiled annually by the ASWCC in cooperation 

with the USGS. Water users that withdraw 1 acre-foot or more 

of surface water per year or wells with the capability of pumping 50,000 gallons per day (gal/d) or more of ground water 

report their withdrawals. Data for the irrigation, livestock, and 

aquaculture categories are reported through the Conservation 

District offices in selected counties (fig. 2). Water-use data for 

each of the other categories are reported directly to the 

ASWCC. Site-specific water-use data for irrigation, livestock, 
2 Estimated Water Use in Arkansas, 2000 

1 .. 

Base from U.S. Geological Survey 

digital dala. t ·100,000 

Figure 1. Major surface-water sources. 

20 

I 

I I 

20 40 KILOMETERS 
Estimated Water Use by Category and Withdrawals by Source 3 

EXPLANATION 

II Counties with wateruse data reported at 

Conservation District 

offices 

Figure 2. Counties where selected water-use data are reported at Conservation District offices. 

public supply, commercial, indu trial, mining, and power generation are stored in the Arkan a Water- se Data Ba e 

(W DBS) maintained by USGS. Information about amounts f 

water withdrawn, source of water, how the water wa u ed, and 

how much water wa returned i available to water-re ources 

manager and policy makers through WUDBS. 

Because of incomplete reporting, in ome ca e it is necesary to supplement these data with data from other ources . 

The. e. ource include public agencie , indu trie , public utilitie , other organi zati n , and individual . Principal contributors 

include the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Arkansas Department of Environmental Quali ty, Arkansa Department of Health, Arkan. a Department of Park and T uri m, 

Arkansa Electric Cooperati ve, Arkansas Geologica l Commi -

ion, Arkansa l ndu trial Development ommission, Arkan a 

Power and Light Company. rkan a tate Highway and 

Transportation Department, the Co perati ve Ex ten ion Service, 

ational Agricultural tati tic Service, atural Resource 

onservati n Service, Southwe t Power dmini tration, U . . 

Army orp of Engineers, . . Department f Energy. and the 

. . Fi h and Wildlife ervi ce, 

timate are made by the U G ba ed on p pulation 

.. Bureau of cnsu. ) and averag c n umptive-use rates 

(Holland, 1987) for water-u e ategorie f r which data arc not 

available or arc incomplete. After uffic ient data are collected 

from all available urce , the data are aggregated by county 

for each water-u e cat gory and by aquifer for each county. 

Estimated Water Use by Category and 

Withdrawals by Source 

During 2000, total withdrawals from ground-water and 

urface-water urces in rkansas were 10,963 M gal/d (tabk 

I). Thi i an increase of abou t 25 percent fr m the total of ,767 

M gal/d withdrawn in 1995 and about a 28 percent increase from 

that used in 1990 (Holland, 1999). Of the total withdrawn in 

2000, about 63 percent (6,952 M gal/d) wa. from uround water, 

and the remaining 37 percent (4,0 I I M gal/d) was from surface 

water. The large. t total withdrawals generally occurred in eastern A rkan a and in counties along major rivers (fi . _). T he 

five countie wi th the largest total water u e are Arkansas, Pope, 

Po in ett, Jefferson, and Lonoke in order of de rea. ing use (table 

I). The largest ground-water u er were in ea tern Arkansa 

(fi g. 4 ). The highest ground-water use (63 1 M gal/d) occurred in 

Arkansas Count primarily for irrigation (table I). The highe t 

·urface- water u eo curred near the rkan a Ri ver in Pope 

ounty primarily for thermoelectric power generation (998 

M gal/d) (fi g. 5). 

The di tri bution of total (both ground and urfacc) water 

use by ategory (fig. 6) illu trate the dominance of irrigation in 

Arkansas. Irrigation al o i the dom inant category of groundwater u:c in Arkansas (fig. 7). Thermoel ctric power generation 

followed by irrigation are th dominant catcgorie. of ·urfacewater use in rkan as (fig. ). 
4 Estimated Water Use in Arkansas, 2000 

Table 1. Ground water, surface water, and total withdrawals by county Table 1. Ground water, surface water, and total withdrawals by county 

for Arkansas, 2000 for Arkansas, 2000. 

[Units in million gallons per day (Mgalld)] [Units in million gallons per day (Mgalld)] 

County Ground water Surface water Total County Ground water Surface water Total 

Arkansas 631.30 513.32 1,144.62 Lincoln 169.17 20.74 189.91 

Ashley 109.36 42.93 152.29 Little River 1.76 3.36 5.12 

Baxter 1.95 4.35 6.30 Logan 1.54 4.51 6.05 

Benton 2.49 375.02 377.51 Lonoke 397.14 89.12 486.26 

Boone 1.88 3.49 5.37 Madison 1.58 2.20 3.78 

Bradley 1.76 1.20 2.96 Marion 0.26 3.29 3.55 

Calhoun 0.61 0.11 0.72 Miller 6.96 84.96 91.92 

Carroll 2.19 5.41 7.60 Mississippi 188.37 5.26 193.63 

Chicot 174.26 48.02 222.28 Monroe 235.86 20.09 255.95 

Clark 0.54 3.50 4.04 Montgomery 0.96 0.81 1.77 

Clay 264.93 5.58 270.51 Nevada 0.78 1.11 1.89 

Cleburne 1.03 9.53 10.56 Newton 0.91 0.37 1.28 

Cleveland 1.44 0.26 1.70 Ouachita 2.60 65.76 68.36 

Columbia 2.90 1.77 4.67 Perry 0.81 6.11 6.92 

Conway 1.94 15.13 17.07 Phillips 205.90 263.19 469.09 

Craighead 352.65 39.48 392.13 Pike 0.70 2.20 2.90 

Crawford 0.38 19.27 19.65 Poinsett 585.71 80.72 666.43 

Crittenden 136.88 2.64 139.52 Polk 1.03 2.65 3.60 

Cross 410.70 27.49 438.19 Pope 2.63 997.95 1,000.58 

Dallas 1.15 0.09 1.24 Prairie 270.38 84.42 354.80 

Desha 328.93 85.75 414.68 Pulaski 26.78 80.79 107.57 

Drew 55.58 17.37 72.95 Randolph 86.12 30.62 116.74 

Faulkner 1.80 12.39 14.19 Saline 3.35 10.94 14.29 

Franklin 0.39 3.72 4.11 Scott 0.95 2.44 3.39 

Fulton 0.99 1.54 2.53 Searcy 0.84 0.90 1.74 

Garland 1.21 16.53 17.74 Sebastian 0.31 30.61 30.92 

Grant 1.92 0.19 2.11 Sevier 2.36 3.58 5.94 

Greene 159.57 5.81 165.38 Sharp 1.63 1.24 2.87 

Hempstead 5.29 6.80 12.09 St. Francis 252.99 11.22 264.21 

Hot Spring 0.66 414.68 415.34 Stone 0.68 1.08 1.76 

Howard 0.72 7.25 7.97 Union 17.98 0.42 18.40 

Independence 35.74 44.35 80.09 Van Buren 0.23 2.56 2.79 

Izard 2.29 0.56 2.85 Washington 2.52 29.16 31.68 

Jackson 364.56 21.75 386.31 White 49.75 81.05 130.80 

Jefferson 471.79 99.80 571.59 Woodruff 352.94 79.72 432.66 

Johnson 1.33 5.51 6.84 Yell 1.16 4.74 5.90 

Lafayette 11.37 1.73 13.10 Total 6,952.25 4,010.82 10,963.07 

Lawrence 296.72 30.06 326.78 

Lee 235.41 6.55 241.96 
Figure 3. Total water use by county for Arkansas. 2000. 

Estimated Water Use by Category and Withdrawals by Source 5 

Water-use totals, in million 

gallons per day 

0.7- 1 

.. 2-10 

.. 11 - 100 

.. 101-1000 

.. 1001 - 2000 
6 Estimated Water Use in Arkansas, 2000 

35-

Figure 4. Ground-water use by county for Arkansas. 2000. 

EXPLANATION 

Ground-water total , in 

million gallons per day 

0.22 - 1 

2- 10 

.. 11-100 

.. 101-1000 
Figure 5. Surface-water use by county for Arkansas, 2000. 

Estimated Water Use by Category and Withdrawals by Source 7 

I 

20 

EXPLANATION 

Surface-water total, in 

mi llion gallons per day 

0 09 - 1 

10 

11 - 100 

.. 101 - 1000 
8 Estimated Water Use in Arkansas, 2000 

8,500 

8,000 <Ill!' 

7,500 

>- 7,000 

~ 6,500 c 

0:: 6,000 w 

0.. 5,500 

U) 

z 5,000 

0 4,500 ..J 

..J 

~ 4,000 

~ 3,500 z 

0 3,000 

:J 

..J 2,500 

:!: 2,000 ~~ 

1,500 

1,000 

T .... .... • A 

"" .... ~ • ~- • 

Figure 6. Total water use in Arkansas. by category, for 2000. 

7,000 

v 

6,000 

>-

~ 5,000 c 

0:: 

w 

0.. 4,000 U) 

z 

0 

..J 

..J 3,000 ~ 

~ 

z 

0 2,000 :J 

..J 

:!: 

1,000 

0 

u~~\.. ~~c\P..: ~€-s~ s~~\P..: c~~,c ~'~'~ €,S~oc u\..~u~€. \G~~,o~ f>\..,c s co~ll' QO '~t'>u ~o€.\..€ \..,~ "'o.u~c ,~~ ~\} ~~€.~ r 

• - w "f 

~ J.. ,c \.. ~ rG ~ 

Figure 7. Ground-water use in Arkansas. by category, for 2000. 
Estimated Water Use by Category and Withdrawals by Source 9 

2,500 

2,000 

>- <( 

c 

o:= 

w 

0.. 1,500 

(/) 

z 

0 

..J 

..J 

<( 1,000 (!) 

z 

0 

::J 

..J 

:E 500 

~. 

A. A 

Figure 8. Surface-water use in Arkansas. by category, for 2000. 

Public Supply 

Public supply refers to water withdrawn by public and private water suppliers and delivered to multiple users for domestic, commercial, industiial, and thetmoelectric power generation uses. Public supply includes public and private systems that 

furnish water to at least 25 people or have a minimum of 15 service connections. 

Data on public-supply withdrawals are obtained from 

ASWCC water-use registration reports. ASWCC requires all 

public and private suppliers in Arkansas to submit their annual 

and monthly withdrawals and deliveries. Site-specific data for 

about 800 public- water suppliers are stored in the WUDBS 

maintained by USGS. Data reporting deficiencies are supplemented with information from monthly operation reports 

reported to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). Population served, source of water, facilities sold to, and purchased 

from other public suppliers are available on the ADH web site 

(Arkansas Department of Health, 2004). 

Public supply systems served about 2.3 million people or 

about 87 percent of Arkansas' population in 2000. Public-supply withdrawals in 2000 in Arkansas were about 427 Mgal/d 

(table 2; fig. 6), about 69 percent are from surface-water 

sources. Public supply withdrawals account for about 4 percent 

of the total withdrawals of water in the State for all purposes. 

Ground-water withdrawals for public supply were about 2 per-

~~ 

~~ 

+ A ... A. 

cent of the State's total ground-water withdrawals for 2000. 

Public supply surface-water withdrawals were about 7 percent 

of the State's total surface-water withdrawals. 

Pulaski County (Little Rock, North Little Rock and surrounding areas) had the largest total withdrawals for public supply at 73.17 Mgal/d during 2000. Jefferson County (Pine Bluff) 

had the largest ground-water withdrawals for public supply 

with 15.98 Mgalfd, Pulaski County had the largest surfacewater withdrawals for public supply (from Lakes Maumelle and 

Winona) with 68.20 Mgal/d during 2000. The statewide average for per capita residential use from public supply systems 

was about 181 gallons per day (gal/d). Scott County (in western 

Arkansas) had the highest per capita use at 487 gal/d. 
10 Estimated Water Use in Arkansas, 2000 

Table 2. Public supply and per capita water use in Arkansas, 2000. 

[Mgalld, miWon gallons per day; gal/d, gallons per day] 

Population served Water withdrawals 

(thousands) (Mgal/d) 

Per capita 

Ground Surface Ground Surface water use 

County water water Total water water Total (gal/d) 

Arkansas 18.84 0.00 18.84 4.86 0.00 4.86 257.96 

Ashley 17.76 0.00 17.76 2.18 0.00 2.18 122.75 

Baxter 5.13 22.82 27.95 0.81 4.01 4.82 172.45 

Benton 10.80 138.10 148.99 0.88 16.85 17.73 119.07 

Boone 3.28 24.20 27.48 0.83 2.33 3.16 114.99 

Bradley 10.06 0.00 10.06 1.11 1.06 2.17 215.71 

Calhoun 3.60 0.00 3.60 0.32 0.00 0.32 88.89 

Carroll 2.72 11.47 14.19 0.55 3.97 4.52 318.53 

Chi cot 14.12 0.00 14.12 1.74 0.00 1.74 123.23 

Clark 4.46 17.73 22.19 0.06 2.56 2.62 118.07 

Clay 17.61 0.00 17.61 1.83 0.00 1.83 103.92 

Cleburne 0.52 23.41 23.93 0.06 6.71 6.77 282.91 

Cleveland 8.57 0.00 8.57 1.33 0.00 1.33 155.19 

Columbia 8.65 15.17 23.82 0.63 1.39 2.02 84.80 

Conway 0.00 17.03 17.03 0.00 1.74 1.74 102.17 

Craighead 76.91 0.00 76.91 13.76 0.00 13.76 178.91 

Crawford 0.00 52.87 52.87 0.00 17.14 17.14 324.19 

Crittenden 50.07 0.00 50.07 16.28 0.00 16.28 325.14 

Cross 19.40 0.00 19.40 1.79 0.00 1.79 92.27 

Dallas 6.18 0.00 6.18 0.84 0.00 0.84 135.92 

Desha 11.91 0.00 11.91 1.88 0.00 1.88 157.85 

Drew 17.91 0.00 17.91 3.03 0.00 3.03 169.18 

Faulkner 1.80 78.12 79.92 0.16 8.45 8.61 107.73 

Franklin 0.00 17.70 17.70 0.00 2.71 2.71 153.11 

Fulton 3.92 0.00 3.92 0.03 0.81 0.84 214.29 

Garland 0.85 77.30 78.15 0.19 13.40 13.59 173.90 

Grant 11.83 0.00 11.83 1.20 0.00 1.20 101.44 

Greene 36.81 0.00 36.81 4.17 0.00 4.17 113.28 

Hempstead 13.48 0.00 13.48 4.01 1.04 5.05 374.63 

Hot Spring 0.00 24.52 24.52 0.00 2.19 2.19 89.31 

Howard 4.88 6.62 11.50 0.13 4.94 5.07 440.87 

Independence 18.12 10.37 28.49 0.82 5.50 6.32 221.83 

Izard 10.62 0.00 10.62 1.84 0.00 1.84 173.26 

Jackson 15.28 0.00 15.28 1.96 0.00 1.96 128.27 

Jefferson 84.00 0.00 84.00 15.98 0.00 15.98 190.24 

Johnson 0.00 17.04 17.04 0.00 4.85 4.85 284.62 

Lafayette 5.74 0.00 5.74 0.85 0.00 0.85 148.08 

Lawrence 17.70 0.00 17.70 1.94 0.00 1.94 109.60 
Estimated Water Use by Category and Withdrawals by Source 11 

Table 2. Public supply and per capita water use in Arkansas. 2000.-Continued 

[Mgalfd, million gallons per day; gal/d. gallons per day] 

Population served Water withdrawals 

(thousands) (Mgal/d) 

Per capita 

Ground Surface Ground Surface water use 

County water water Total water water Total (gal/d) 

Lee 10.00 0.00 10.00 1.27 0.00 1.27 127.00 

Lincoln 14.41 0.00 14.41 1.71 0.00 1.71 118.67 

Little River 6.98 0.00 6.98 0.65 0.82 1.47 210.60 

Logan 0.00 12.57 12.57 0.00 3.33 3.33 264.92 

Lonoke 12.00 25.29 37.29 3.14 1.00 4.14 111.02 

Madison 0.18 2.50 2.68 0.01 0.81 0.82 305.97 

Marion 0.20 15.77 15.97 0.02 2.83 2.85 178.46 

Miller 1.38 37.54 38.92 0.22 4.25 4.47 114.85 

Mississippi 51.07 0.00 51.07 7.49 0.00 7.49 146.66 

Monroe 9.81 0.00 9.81 1.74 0.00 1.74 177.37 

Montgomery 0.31 3.63 3.94 0.30 0.34 0.64 162.44 

Nevada 1.70 4.00 5.70 0.24 0.76 1.00 175.44 

Newton 3.08 0.00 3.08 0.27 0.00 0.27 87.66 

Ouachita 7.88 15.50 23.38 1.24 3.03 4.27 182.63 

Perry 1.51 1.30 2.81 0.00 0.72 0.72 256.23 

Phillips 25.91 0.00 25.91 4.46 0.00 4.46 172.13 

Pike 1.71 4.49 6.20 0.05 1.64 1.69 272.58 

Poinsett 21.74 0.00 21.74 2.80 0.00 2.80 128.79 

Polk 0.00 11.87 11.87 0.01 1.71 1.72 144.90 

Pope 3.97 35.34 39.31 0.00 12.21 12.21 310.61 

Prairie 8.06 0.00 8.06 0.82 0.00 0.82 101.74 

Pulaski 37.26 311.78 349.09 4.97 68.20 73.17 209.63 

Randolph 7.88 6.80 14.68 0.15 1.16 1.31 89.24 

St. Francis 27.84 0.00 27.84 4.10 0.00 4.10 147.27 

Saline 18.55 47.11 65.66 1.65 9.39 11.04 168.14 

Scott 0.00 3.57 3.57 0.00 1.74 1.74 487.39 

Searcy 3.74 2.74 6.48 0.45 0.36 0.81 125.00 

Sebastian 0.00 113.96 113.96 0.00 29.90 29.90 262.37 

Sevier 2.25 5.86 8.11 1.30 2.63 3.93 484.59 

Sharp 17.12 0.00 17.12 0.79 0.75 1.54 89.95 

Stone 0.45 6.01 6.46 0.02 0.56 0.58 89.78 

Union 38.50 0.00 38.50 8.00 0.00 8.00 207.79 

Van Buren 0.00 16.10 16.10 0.00 2.00 2.00 124.22 

Washington 0.00 142.04 142.04 0.00 24.65 24.65 173.54 

White 2.54 47.04 49.58 0.88 9.27 10.15 204.72 

Woodruff 8.41 0.00 8.41 1.02 0.00 1.02 121.28 

Yell 3.97 11.30 15.27 0.20 2.91 3.11 203.67 

Total 883.94 1,438.58 2,322.52 138.02 288.62 426.64 181.17 
12 Estimated Water Use in Arkansas, 2000 

Domestic (seH-supplied) Table 3. Domestic (self-supplied) water use in Arkansas, 

Domestic water use includes water for household pur-

[MgaJ/d, million gallons per day; gaJ/d, gallons per day] 

poses, such as drinking, food preparation, bathing, washing Population Per capita use Ground water 

clothes and dishes, flushing toilets, and watering lawns and gar- County (in thousands) (gal/d) (Mgal/d) 

dens. Most water used for domestic purposes in Arkansas is Franklin 0.07 89.00 0.01 

provided by public supply. However, about 351,000 people in 

Arkansas (or about 13 percent of the State's population) (U.S. Fulton 7.72 89.00 0.69 

Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, 2000, Census Garland 9.92 89.00 0.88 

2000 summary files (SFl)) furnish their own water supplies Grant 4.63 89.00 0.41 

obtained from individual wells; these users are considered self Greene 0.52 89.00 0.05 supplied. All self-supplied withdrawals were assumed to be 

obtained from ground-water sources. Hempstead 10.11 89.00 0.90 

The (self-supplied) domestic water use in each county was Hot Spring 5.83 89.00 0.52 

computed by multiplying the population (not served by a pub- Howard 2.80 89.00 0.25 

lie-supply system) by a per-capita-use factor (89 gal/d per per- Independence 5.74 89.00 0.51 son) (U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, 

2000, Census 2000 summary files (SF1)). Domestic use in Izard 2.63 89.00 0.23 

Arkansas for 2000 (table 3) was 31.23 Mgal/d. Jackson 3.14 89.00 0.28 

Jefferson 0.28 89.00 0.02 

Table 3. Domestic (self-supplied) water use in Arkansas, Johnson 5.74 89.00 0.51 

Lafayette 2.82 89.00 0.25 

[MgaUd, million gallons per day; gaUd, gallons per day] Lawrence 0.07 89.00 0.01 

Population Per capita use Ground water Lee 2.58 89.00 0.23 

County (in thousands) (gal/d) (Mgal/d) Lincoln 0.08 89.00 0.01 

Arkansas 1.91 89.00 0.17 Little River 6.65 89.00 0.59 

Ashley 6.45 89.00 0.57 Logan 9.92 89.00 0.88 

Baxter 10.44 89.00 0.93 Lonoke 15.54 89.00 1.38 

Benton 4.51 89.00 0.40 Madison 11.56 89.00 1.03 

Boone 6.47 89.00 0.58 Marion 0.17 89.00 0.02 

Bradley 2.54 89.00 0.23 Miller 1.52 89.00 0.14 

Calhoun 2.14 89.00 0.19 Mississippi 0.91 89.00 0.08 

Carroll 11.17 89.00 0.99 Monroe 0.44 89.00 0.04 

Chi cot 0.00 0.00 0.00 Montgomery 5.31 89.00 0.47 

Clark 1.36 89.00 0.12 Nevada 4.26 89.00 0.38 

Clay 0.00 0.00 0.00 Newton 5.53 89.00 0.49 

Cleburne 0.12 89.00 0.01 Ouachita 5.41 89.00 0.48 

Cleveland 0.00 0.00 0.00 Perry 7.40 89.00 0.66 

Columbia 1.78 89.00 0.16 Phillips 0.54 89.00 0.05 

Conway 3.31 89.00 0.29 Pike 5.10 89.00 0.45 

Craighead 5.24 89.00 0.47 Poinsett 3.87 89.00 0.34 

Crawford 0.38 89.00 0.03 Polk 8.36 89.00 0.74 

Crittenden 0.80 89.00 0.07 Pope 15.16 89.00 1.35 

Cross 0.13 89.00 0.01 Prairie 1.48 89.00 0.13 

Dallas 3.03 89.00 0.27 Pulaski 12.43 89.00 1.11 

Desha 3.43 89.00 0.31 Randolph 3.52 89.00 0.31 

Drew 0.81 89.00 0.07 St. Francis 1.49 89.00 0.13 

Faulkner 6.09 89.00 0.54 Saline 17.87 89.00 1.59 
Estimated Water Use by Category and Withdrawals by Source 13 

Table 3. Domestic (self-supplied) water use in Arkansas, Table 4. Commercial self-supplied withdrawals in Arkansas, 

2000.-Continued 

[Mgal/d, million gallons per day; gal/d, gallons per day) 

Population Per capita use Ground water Ground water Surface water Total 

County (in thousands) (gal/d) (Mgal/d) County (Mgal/d) (Mgal/d) (Mgal/d) 

Scott 7.43 89.00 0.66 Clark 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Searcy 1.78 89.00 0.16 Clay 0.00 0.43 0.43 

Sebastian 1.11 89.00 0.10 Cleburne 0.01 0.04 0.05 

Sevier 7.65 89.00 0.68 Cleveland 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Sharp 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Columbia 0.02 0.00 0.02 

Conway 0.00 0.04 0.04 

Stone 5.04 89.00 0.45 

Craighead 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Union 7.13 89.00 0.63 Crawford 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Van Buren 0.09 89.00 0.01 Crittenden 1.07 0.00 1.07 

Washington 15.68 89.00 1.40 Cross 0.05 0.00 0.05 

White 17.59 89.00 1.57 Dallas 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Woodruff 0.33 89.00 0.03 Desha 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Yell 5.87 89.00 0.52 Drew 0.00 8.66 8.66 

Total 350.93 89.00 31.23 Faulkner 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Franklin 0.00 0.11 0.11 

Commercial (seH-supplied) Fulton 0.02 0.00 0.02 

Garland 0.01 0.00 0.01 

Commercial water use includes water for motels, hotels, Grant 0.00 0.00 0.00 

restaurants, office buildings, schools, and civilian and military Greene 0.07 0.00 0.07 

institutions. Estimates of water supplied by public supply facilHempstead 0.00 4.82 4.82 

ities to commercial users were obtained from data reported to 

~he ASWCC by the public supply facilities. Hot Spring 0.01 0.04 0.05 

Total (self-supplied) commercial water use in Arkansas for Howard 0.01 0.00 0.01 

2000 was 28.34 Mgal/d, of which about 86 percent Independence 0.01 0.00 0.01 

(24.49 Mgalld) was from surface-water and about 14 percent Izard 0.00 0.00 0.00 

(3.85 Mgalld) was from ground-water sources (table 4). The Jackson 0.00 0.00 0.00 

largest self-supplied commercial use of water occurred in Drew Jefferson 0.00 2.19 2.19 

County at 8.66 Mgalld of which 100 percent was from surfaceJohnson 0.01 0.00 0.01 water sources (Bayou Meto and Cut-Off Creek). The largest 

commercial use of ground water (alluvial aquifer) was in Crit- Lafayette 0.00 0.00 0.00 

tenden County ( 1.07 Mgalld). Lawrence 0.00 0.89 0.89 

Lee 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Lincoln 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Table 4. Commercial self-supplied withdrawals in Arkansas, 2000. Little River 0.04 0.00 0.04 

[Mgalld, million gallons per day) Logan 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Lonoke 0.30 0.00 0.30 

Ground water Surface water Total 

0.02 0.00 0.02 County (Mgal/d) (Mgal/d) (Mgal/d) Madison 

Marion 0.04 0.00 0.04 

Arkansas 0.91 5.15 6.06 

Miller 0.00 0.80 0.80 

Ashley 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Mississippi 0.00 0.39 0.39 

Baxter 0.07 0.00 0.07 

Monroe 0.33 0.07 0.40 

Benton 0.02 0.00 0.02 

Montgomery 0.02 0.00 0.02 

Boone 0.01 0.00 0.01 

Nevada 0.01 0.00 0.01 

Bradley 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Newton 0.01 0.00 0.01 

Calhoun 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Ouachita 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Carroll 0.07 0.00 0.07 

Perry 0.00 0.26 0.26 

Chi cot 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Phillips 0.08 0.00 0.08 
14 Estimated Water Use in Arkansas, 2000 

Table 4. Commercial self-supplied withdrawals in Arkansas, Table 5. Industrial self-supplied water use in Arkansas, 2000. 2000.-Continued 

[Mgal/d, million gallons per day] 

Ground water Surface water Total 

County (Mgal/d) (Mgal/d) (Mgal/d) Ground water Surface water Total 

County (Mgal/d) (Mgal/d) (Mgal/d) 

Pike 0.00 0.02 0.02 

Arkansas 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Poinsett 0.51 0.00 0.51 

Ashley 8.73 33.93 42.66 

Polk 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Baxter 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Pope 0.04 0.07 0.11 

Benton 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Prairie 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Boone 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Pulaski 0.01 0.00 0.01 

Bradley 0.37 0.01 0.38 

Randolph 0.01 0.00 0.01 

Calhoun 0.06 0.00 0.06 

St. Francis 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Carroll 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Saline 0.00 0.22 0.22 

Chi cot 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Scott 0.01 0.00 0.01 

Clark 0.23 0.01 0.24 

Searcy 0.01 0.00 0.01 

Clay 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Sebastian 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Sevier 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Cleburne 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Cleveland 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Sharp 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Columbia 2.05 0.08 2.13 

Stone 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Union 0.00 0.12 0.12 Conway 0.00 7.82 7.82 

Van Buren 0.00 0.00 0.00 Craighead 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Washington 0.03 0.17 0.20 

Crawford 0.00 0.45 0.45 

Crittenden 0.19 0.00 0.19 

White 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Woodruff 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Cross 0.17 0.00 0.17 

Yell 0.01 0.00 0.01 

Dallas 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Total 3.85 24.49 28.34 Desha 2.92 12.34 15.26 

Drew 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Industrial (seH-supplied) 

Faulkner 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Franklin 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Industrial water use includes water for such purposes as Fulton 0.00 0.00 0.00 

fabrication, processing, washing, and cooling in facilities that Garland 0.03 2.28 2.31 

manufacture products. Estimates of water supplied by public Grant 0.23 0.00 0.23 

supply systems to industrial users were obtained from data Greene 0.29 0.00 0.29 

reported to the ASWCC by the public supply systems. Hempstead 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Total (self-supplied) industrial water use in Arkansas for Hot Spring 0.01 0.02 0.03 

2000 was 133.91 Mgal/d, of which about 50 percent (67.07 

Mgalld) was from ground-water and about 50 percent (66.84 Howard 0.00 1.00 1.00 

Mgal/d) was from surface-water sources (table 5). The largest Independence 0.00 0.04 0.04 

self-supplied use of water occurred in Ashley County at 42.66 Izard 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Mgal/d. The largest industrial use of ground water (Sparta aqui- Jackson 0.00 0.00 0.00 

fer) occurred in Jefferson County (37 .13 Mgal/d) and the largest Jefferson 37.13 0.00 37.13 

industrial use of surface water (Lake Georgia Pacific) occurred Johnson 0.00 0.01 0.01 

in Ashley County (33.93 Mgal/d). Lafayette 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Lawrence 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Lee 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Lincoln 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Little River 0.24 1.31 1.55 

Logan 0.00 0.00 0.00 
Estimated Water Use by Category and Withdrawals by Source 15 

Table 5. Industrial self-supplied water use in Arkansas, occurred in Washington County at 1.68 Mgal/d of which 100 

2000.-Continued percent was from surface-water sources. The largest mining use 

of ground water (sand and gravel operations) occurred in CraigGround water Surface water Total head and Poinsett Counties at 0.06 Mgal/d each. 

County (Mgal/d) (Mgal/d) (Mgal/d) 

Lonoke 0.81 0.00 0.81 

Table 6. Mining water use in Arkansas. 2000. 

Madison 0.00 0.00 0.00 [MgaVd, million gallons per day] 

Marion 0.00 0.00 0.00 Ground water Surface water Total 

Miller 0.00 0.00 0.00 County (Mgal/d) (Mgal/d) (Mgal/d) 

Mississippi 2.66 0.00 2.66 Arkansas 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Monroe 0.00 0.00 0.00 Ashley 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Montgomery 0.00 0.00 0.00 Baxter 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Nevada 0.01 0.00 0.01 Benton 0.04 0.03 0.07 

Newton 0.00 0.00 0.00 Boone 0.00 0.01 0.01 

Ouachita 0.81 6.98 7.79 Bradley 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Perry 0.00 0.00 0.00 Calhoun 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Phillips 0.00 0.00 0.00 Carroll 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Pike 0.00 0.00 0.00 Chi cot 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Poinsett 0.11 0.00 0.11 Clark 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Polk 0.00 0.00 0.00 Clay 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Pope 0.00 0.00 0.00 Cleburne 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Prairie 0.00 0.00 0.00 Cleveland 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Pulaski 0.00 0.00 0.00 Columbia 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Randolph 0.00 0.00 0.00 Conway 0.02 0.00 0.02 

St. Francis 0.07 0.00 0.07 Craighead 0.06 0.00 0.06 

Saline 0.00 0.52 0.52 Crawford 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Scott 0.00 0.00 0.00 Crittenden 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Searcy 0.00 0.00 0.00 Cross 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Sebastian 0.00 0.00 0.00 Dallas 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Sevier 0.00 0.03 0.03 Desha 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Sharp 0.66 0.01 0.67 Drew 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Stone 0.00 0.00 0.00 Faulkner 0.00 0.02 0.02 

Union 9.23 0.00 9.23 Franklin 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Van Buren 0.00 0.00 0.00 Fulton 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Washington 0.00 0.00 0.00 Garland 0.00 0.00 0.00 

White 0.04 0.00 0.04 Grant 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Woodruff 0.00 0.00 0.00 Greene 0.02 0.00 0.02 

Yell 0.02 0.00 0.02 Hempstead 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Total 67.07 66.84 133.91 Hot Spring 0.00 0.02 0.02 

Howard 0.00 0.47 0.47 

Mining Independence 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Izard 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Mining water use includes, in part, water used for coal, Jackson 0.00 0.00 0.00 

sand and gravel washing operations, and saline withdrawals Jefferson 0.00 0.05 0.05 

from oil and natural gas production wells. Total mining water 

Johnson 0.00 0.00 0.00 use in Arkansas for 2000 was 2.78 Mgalfd, of which about 8 

percent (0.21 Mgalld) was from ground-water and about 92 per- Lafayette 0.00 0.00 0.00 

cent (2.57 Mgal/d) was from surface-water sources (table 6). Lawrence 0.00 0.00 0.00 

The largest use of mining water (sand and gravel operations) Lee 0.00 0.00 0.00 
16 Estimated Water Use in Arkansas, 2000 

Table 6. Mining water use in Arkansas. 2000.-Continued Livestock 

[Mgalld, million gallons per day] Livestock water use includes water used for stock waterGround water Surface water Total ing, feed lots, dairy farming, and other farm needs. Water users 

County (Mgal/d) (Mgal/d) (Mgal/d) that report their usage of water for livestock represent a small 

Lincoln 0.00 0.00 0.00 portion of the livestock water users in the State. Many livestock 

Little River 0.00 0.00 0.00 

water users fall below the ASWCC threshold for reporting 

either ground water or surface water. Therefore, the majority of 

Logan 0.00 0.00 0.00 the water volumes reported (table 8) for livestock water use 

Lonoke 0.00 0.13 0.13 were estimated based on water requirements (table 7). The data 

Madison 0.00 0.00 0.00 components required for estimation of water use for livestock 

Marion 0.00 0.00 0.00 include county livestock population and the appropriate water 

Miller 0.00 0.00 0.00 requirement, or water-use coefficient, for each type of livestock 

Mississippi 0.00 0.00 0.00 produced. Livestock population values for Arkansas were published by county by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Crop 

Monroe 0.00 0.00 0.00 Reporting Service web site (for the year 2000) Water requireMontgomery 0.00 0.00 0.00 ments are listed below (Holland, 1987). Livestock population 

Nevada 0.00 0.00 0.00 was multiplied by the water requirement to obtain the water-use 

Newton 0.00 0.00 0.00 estimate. 

Ouachita 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Perry 0.00 0.00 0.00 Table 7. Livestock water requirements. 

Phillips 0.00 0.00 0.00 Water required Livestock 

Pike 0.00 0.03 0.03 (gallons per day) 

Poinsett 0.06 0.00 0.06 Dairy cattle 30 

Polk 0.00 0.00 0.00 Other cattle 15 

Pope 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Prairie 0.00 0.00 0.00 Hogs 2 

Pulaski 0.00 0.13 0.13 Poultry 

Randolph 0.01 0.00 0.01 100 broilers 4 

St. Francis 0.00 0.00 0.00 

lOO hens 6 

Saline 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Scott 0.00 0.00 0.00 100 turkeys 8 

Searcy 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Sebastian 0.00 0.00 0.06 Total livestock water use in Arkansas for 2000 was 54.04 

Sevier 0.00 0.00 0.00 Mgal/d, of which about 29 percent (15.46 Mgal/d) was from 

Sharp 0.00 0.00 0.00 ground-water and about 71 percent (38.58 Mgal/d) was from 

Stone 0.00 0.00 0.00 surface-water sources (table 8). Consumptive use for livestock 

Union 0.00 0.00 0.00 

is considered to be 100 percent of withdrawals. The largest use 

of livestock water was in Washington County at 3.64 Mgal/d. 

Van Buren 0.00 0.00 0.00 Washington County also was the largest user of ground water 

Washington 0.00 1.68 1.68 and surface water at 1.04 Mgal/d and 2.60 Mgalld, respectively. 

White 0.00 0.00 0.00 Other counties with notable livestock water use (greater than 2 

Woodruff 0.00 0.00 0.00 Mgal/d) were Benton, Cleburne, and Carroll in order of 

Yell 0.00 0.00 0.00 decreasing use. 

Total 0.21 2.57 2.78 
Table 8. Livestock water use in Arkansas, 2000. 

[Mgal/d, million gallons per day] 

County 

Arkansas 

Ashley 

Baxter 

Benton 

Boone 

Bradley 

Calhoun 

Carroll 

Chi cot 

Clark 

Clay 

Cleburne 

Cleveland 

Columbia 

Conway 

Craighead 

Crawford 

Crittenden 

Cross 

Dallas 

Desha 

Drew 

Faulkner 

Franklin 

Fulton 

Garland 

Grant 

Greene 

Hempstead 

Hot Spring 

Howard 

Independence 

Izard 

Jackson 

Jefferson 

Johnson 

Lafayette 

Lawrence 

Lee 

Lincoln 

Little River 

Water withdrawals (Mgal/d) 

Ground Surface 

water water Total 

0.03 0.08 0.11 

0.04 0.09 0.13 

0.14 0.34 0.48 

1.03 2.57 3.60 

0.46 1.15 1.61 

0.05 0.13 0.18 

0.04 0.11 0.15 

0.58 1.44 2.02 

0.06 0.15 0.21 

0.13 0.33 0.46 

0.04 0.11 0.15 

0.95 2.37 3.32 

0.11 0.26 0.37 

0.12 0.30 0.42 

0.33 0.82 1.15 

0.05 0.13 0.18 

0.25 0.62 0.87 

0.01 0.03 0.04 

0.04 0.09 0.13 

0.04 0.09 0.13 

0.04 0.09 0.13 

0.08 0.19 0.27 

0.37 0.93 1.30 

0.36 0.89 1.25 

0.25 0.62 0.87 

0.10 0.25 0.35 

0.08 0.19 0.27 

0.06 0.15 0.21 

0.38 0.94 1.32 

0.12 0.30 0.42 

0.33 0.84 1.17 

0.31 0. 78 1.09 

0.22 0.56 0.78 

0.03 0.08 0.11 

0.04 0.09 0.13 

0.25 0.64 0.89 

0.23 0.57 0.80 

0.14 

0.02 

0.11 

0.23 

0.34 

0.05 

0.28 

0.58 

0.48 

0.07 

0.39 

0.81 

Consumptive 

use 

(Mgal/d) 

0.11 

0.13 

0.48 

3.60 

1.61 

0.18 

0.15 

2.02 

0.22 

0.46 

0.15 

3.31 

0.37 

0.42 

1.14 

0.19 

0.87 

0.04 

0.13 

0.13 

0.13 

0.27 

1.31 

1.25 

0.87 

0.34 

0.27 

0.21 

1.32 

0.42 

1.17 

1.09 

0.78 

0.11 

0.13 

0.89 

0.80 

0.48 

0.07 

0.39 

0.81 

Estimated Water Use by Category and Withdrawals by Source 17 

Table 8. Livestock water use in Arkansas, 2000. 

[Mgalld, million gallons per day] 

County 

Logan 

Lonoke 

Madison 

Marion 

Miller 

Mississippi 

Monroe 

Montgomery 

Nevada 

Newton 

Ouachita 

Perry 

Phillips 

Pike 

Poinsett 

Polk 

Pope 

Prairie 

Pulaski 

Randolph 

St. Francis 

Saline 

Scott 

Searcy 

Sebastian 

Sevier 

Sharp 

Stone 

Union 

Van Buren 

Washington 

White 

Woodruff 

Yell 

Total 

Water withdrawals (Mgal/d) 

Ground Surface 

water water 

0.43 1.07 

0.14 0.36 

0.52 1.30 

0.18 0.46 

0.22 0.54 

0.01 0.03 

0.01 0.02 

0.17 0.42 

0.14 0.35 

0.13 0.33 

0.07 0.17 

0.15 0.37 

0.02 0.05 

0.20 0.50 

0.02 0.05 

0.28 0.69 

0.37 0.92 

0.05 0.12 

0.09 0.23 

0.19 0.48 

0.02 0.05 

0.08 0.20 

0.28 0.70 

0.22 0.54 

0.21 0.52 

0.37 0.92 

0.18 0.46 

0.21 0.52 

0.12 0.30 

0.22 0.56 

1.04 2.60 

0.45 1.12 

0.01 0.04 

0.41 1.02 

15.46 38.58 

Total 

1.50 

0.50 

1.82 

0.64 

0.76 

0.04 

0.03 

0.59 

0.49 

0.46 

0.24 

0.52 

0.07 

0.70 

0.07 

0.97 

1.29 

0.17 

0.32 

0.67 

0.07 

0.28 

0.98 

0.76 

0.73 

1.29 

0.64 

0.73 

0.42 

0.78 

3.64 

1.57 

0.05 

1.43 

54.04 

Consumptive 

use 

(Mgal/d) 

1.50 

0.50 

1.82 

0.64 

0.76 

0.04 

0.03 

0.59 

0.48 

0.46 

0.24 

0.52 

0.06 

0.70 

0.07 

0.97 

1.29 

0.17 

0.32 

0.67 

0.07 

0.28 

0.98 

0.76 

0.73 

1.29 

0.64 

0.73 

0.42 

0.78 

3.64 

1.57 

0.05 

1.42 

"54.04 
18 Estimated Water Use in Arkansas, 2000 

Aquaculture Table 9. Aquaculture water use in Arkansas, 2000.-Continued 

Aquaculture water use includes water used for farming of [Mgal/d, million gallons per day] 

organisms that live in water, such as fish, shellfish, and algae. Ground water Surface water Total 

Total aquaculture water use in Arkansas for 2000 was 197.71 County (Mgal/d) (Mgal/d) (Mgal/d) 

Mgalld, of which about 95 percent ( 187.35 Mgalld) was from Izard 0.00 0.00 0.00 

ground water and about 5 percent(10.36 Mgalld) was from sur- Jackson 1.74 0.00 1.74 

face-water sources (table 9). The largest use of aquacultural Jefferson 4.65 0.00 4.65 water was in Lonoke County at 57.36 Mgal/d of which 100 percent was from ground-water sources. The largest aquaculture Johnson 0.00 0.00 0.00 

use of surface water was in Greene County at 3.50 Mgalld. Lafayette 0.02 0.00 0.02 

Other counties with notable aquaculture water use (greater than Lawrence 0.00 0.00 0.00 

40 Mgalld) were Chicot and Prairie in order of decreasing use. Lee 0.14 0.00 0.14 

Table 9. Aquaculture water use in Arkansas, 2000. Lincoln 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Little River 0.01 0.03 0.04 

[Mgal/d, mjlJjon gallons per day] Logan 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Ground water Surface water Total Lonoke 57.36 0.00 57.36 

County (Mgal/d) (Mgal/d) (Mgal/d) Madison 0.00 0.01 0.01 

Arkansas 8.88 0.00 8.88 Marion 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Ashley 0.00 0.00 0.00 Miller 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Baxter 0.00 0.00 0.00 Mississippi 0.08 0.27 0.35 

Benton 0.00 0.00 0.00 Monroe 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Boone 0.00 0.00 0.00 Montgomery 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Bradley 0.00 0.00 0.00 Nevada 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Calhoun 0.00 0.00 0.00 Newton 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Carroll 0.00 0.00 0.00 Ouachita 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Chi cot 44.67 2.16 46.83 Perry 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Clark 0.00 0.00 0.00 Phillips 2.80 0.00 2.80 

Clay 0.00 0.00 0.00 Pike 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Cleburne 0.00 0.00 0.00 Poinsett 0.17 1.24 1.41 

Cleveland 0.00 0.00 0.00 Polk 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Columbia 0.00 0.00 0.00 Pope 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Conway 0.00 0.00 0.00' Prairie 42.87 1.90 44.77 

Craighead 1.23 0.02 1.25 Pulaski 0.17 0.00 0.17 

Crawford 0.00 0.00 0.00 Randolph 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Crittenden 0.07 0.00 0.07 St. Francis 2.80 0.00 2.80 

Cross 0.00 0.00 0.00 Saline 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Dallas 0.00 0.00 0.00 Scott 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Desha 12.83 0.27 13.10 Searcy 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Drew 0.98 0.00 0.98 Sebastian 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Faulkner 0.00 0.00 0.00 Sevier 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Franklin 0.00 0.00 0.00 Sharp 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Fulton 0.00 0.00 0.00 Stone 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Garland 0.00 0.00 0.00 Union 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Grant 0.00 0.00 0.00 Van Buren 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Greene 0.02 3.50 3.52 Washington 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Hempstead 0.00 0.00 0.00 White 1.19 0.49 1.68 

Hot Spring 0.00 0.00 0.00 Woodruff 4.67 0.45 5.12 

Howard 0.00 0.00 0.00 Yell 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Independence 0.00 0.02 0.02 Total 187.35 10.36 197.71 
Estimated Water Use by Category and Withdrawals by Source 19 

Irrigation 

Irrigation water use includes water applied on lands to 

assist in the growing of crops and pastures or to maintain vegetative growth in recreational lands, such as parks and golf 

courses. The major crops irrigated in Arkansas (in descending 

order of water use) are rice, soybeans, beans, cotton, com, and 

milo. During 2000 there were over 4.5 million acres of irrigated 

land reported to ASWCC for Arkansas. The primary types of 

irrigation were flood, furrow, and to a lesser extent, sprinkler. 

Irrigation water use accounted for 94 percent (6,506 Mgal/d) of 

the ground water withdrawn in Arkansas. Rice totaled 1.66 million acres or about 37 percent of the total land irrigated in the 

State. 

Table 10. Irrigation water use in Arkansas, 2000. 

[MgaUd, million gallons per day] 

Irrigation water use totaled 7,913.37 Mgal/d, of which 

about 82 percent (6,506.46 Mgal/d) was from ground-water and 

about 18 percent (1 ,406.91 Mgal/d) was from surface-water 

sources (table 1 0). Water used for the growing of rice totaled 

4,709.23 

Mgal/d or about 43 percent of the total water used in Arkansas 

during 2000. The largest use of water for irrigation was Arkansas County with 1,124.54 Mgal/d, of which about 55 percent 

(616.45 Mgal/d) was from ground-water and about 45 percent 

(508.09 MgaVd) was from surface-water sources. Other counties with notable total irrigation water use (greater than 400 

Mgal/d) were Poinsett, Jefferson, Cross, and Lonoke in order of 

decreasing use. 

Irrigated land 

Water withdrawals (Mgal/d) (thousand acres) 

Ground Surface 

County water water Total Sprinkler Surface Total 

Arkansas 616.45 508.09 1,124.54 57.22 386.33 443.55 

Ashley 97.84 8.91 106.75 13.08 80.33 93.41 

Baxter 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Benton 0.12 0.07 0.19 0.19 0.03 0.22 

Boone 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Bradley 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Calhoun 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Carroll 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Chi cot 127.79 45.71 173.50 18.06 102.41 120.47 

Clark 0.00 0.60 0.60 0.13 0.72 0.85 

Clay 263.06 5.04 268.10 50.98 288.90 339.88 

Cleburne 0.00 0.41 0.41 0.14 0.76 0.90 

Cleveland 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Columbia 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Conway 1.30 4.71 6.01 1.01 6.73 7.74 

Craighead 337.08 39.33 376.41 34.60 212.53 247.13 

Crawford 0.10 1.06 1.16 1.28 0.21 1.49 

Crittenden 119.42 2.61 122.03 16.17 99.35 115.52 

Cross 408.64 27.40 436.04 32.56 200.36 232.92 

Dallas 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Desha 310.95 73.05 384.00 29.07 178.54 207.61 

Drew 51.42 8.52 59.94 7.15 43.93 51.08 

Faulkner 0.73 2.99 3.72 0.32 2.01 2.33 

Franklin 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.04 0.08 0.12 

Fulton 0.00 0.11 0.11 0.03 0.09 0.12 

Garland 0.00 0.60 0.60 0.02 0.10 0.12 

Grant 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Greene 154.89 2.16 157.05 18.05 110.90 128.95 
20 Estimated Water Use in Arkansas, 2000 

Table 10.1rrigation water use in Arkansas. 2000.-Continued 

[Mgal/d, million gallons per day] 

Irrigated land 

Water withdrawals (Mgal/d) (thousand acres) 

Ground Surface 

County water water Total Sprinkler Surface Total 

Hempstead 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Hot Spring 0.00 3.38 3.38 0.16 1.02 1.18 

Howard 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Independence 33.62 8.78 42.40 3.44 21.14 24.58 

Izard 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Jackson 360.55 21.67 382.22 24.99 153.51 178.50 

Jefferson 413.34 80.92 494.26 23.71 145.65 169.36 

Johnson 0.56 0.01 0.57 0.17 1.17 1.34 

Lafayette 9.12 1.16 10.28 1.05 6.44 7.49 

Lawrence 294.63 28.83 323.46 17.12 112.29 129.41 

Lee 233.75 6.50 240.25 20.32 124.80 145.12 

Lincoln 167.34 20.46 187.80 14.94 91.80 106.74 

Little River 0.00 0.62 0.62 0.02 0.10 0.12 

Logan 0.23 0.11 0.34 0.06 0.33 0.39 

Lonoke 334.01 87.63 421.64 32.70 200.85 233.55 

Madison 0.00 0.08 0.08 0.02 0.09 0.11 

Marion 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Miller 6.38 79.37 85.75 4.88 29.95 34.83 

Mississippi 178.05 4.57 182.62 21.75 133.61 155.36 

Monroe 233.74 20.00 253.74 21.50 132.08 153.58 

Montgomery 0.00 0.05 0.05 0.01 0.06 0.07 

Nevada 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Newton 0.01 0.04 0.05 0.01 0.04 0.05 

Ouachita 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Perry 0.00 4.76 4.76 0.34 2.10 2.44 

Phillips 198.07 0.86 198.93 22.26 136.72 158.98 

Pike 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.03 0.04 

Poinsett 581.70 79.43 661.13 48.39 297.25 345.64 

Polk 0.00 0.25 0.25 0.06 0.32 0.38 

Pope 0.87 0.15 1.02 0.14 0.85 0.99 

Prairie 226.51 82.40 308.91 27.57 169.38 196.95 

Pulaski 20.43 12.23 32.66 3.33 20.47 23.80 

Randolph 85.45 28.98 114.43 7.14 43.82 50.96 

St. Francis 245.51 11.17 256.68 21.44 133.74 155.18 

Saline 0.03 0.61 0.64 0.05 0.34 0.39 

Scott 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Searcy 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Sebastian 0.00 0.19 0.19 0.02 0.11 0.13 

Sevier 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.05 0.06 

Sharp 0.00 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.11 0.13 

Stone 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
Estimated Water Use by Category and Withdrawals by Source 21 

Table 10. Irrigation water use in Arkansas. 2000.-Continued 

[Mga1Jd, million gallons per day] 

Irrigated land 

Water withdrawals (Mgal/d) (thousand acres) 

Ground Surface 

County water water Total Sprinkler Surface Total 

Union 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Van Buren 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Washington 0.05 0.06 0.11 0.04 0.25 0.29 

White 45.62 70.17 115.79 7.83 48.08 55.91 

Woodruff 347.09 19.25 366.34 25.06 153.96 179.02 

Yell 0.00 0.81 0.81 0.10 0.59 0.69 

Total 6,506.46 1,406.91 7,913.37 630.76 3,877.41 4,508.17 

Thennoelectric Power Generation Table 11. Thermoelectric power water use in Arkansas, 

Thermoelectric power generation includes power generated using fossil fuel, geothermal, or nuclear and thermoelectric 

power water use include water used in the process of power 

generation, such as boiler makeup, cooling, and domestic purposes. Surface water generally is diverted for "once through" 

cooling and then returned to the stream. Total thermoelectric 

power water use in Arkansas for 2000 was 2, 175.37 Mgal/d of 

which over 99 percent (2, 172.45 Mgal/d) was from surface 

water and less than 1 percent (2.92 Mgal/d) was from groundwater sources (table 11). Water used for thermoelectric power 

generation was about 20 percent of the total water used in 

Arkansas during 2000 and 54 percent of the total surface water 

used. About 45 percent (984.60 Mgalld) of the water used in 

this category was used for cooling at a nuclear power plant in 

Pope County. About 92 percent (2,011.53 Mgal/d) of the water 

used in this category was used in Pope (Lake Dardanelle), Hot 

Spring (Lake Catherine and Ouachita River), Benton (Swepco 

Lake), and Phillips (L' Anguille River) Counties in order of 

decreasing use. 

Table 11. Thermoelectric power water use in Arkansas, 2000. 

[Mgal/d, million gallons per day] 

Ground water Surface water Total 

County (Mgal/d) (Mgal/d) (Mgal/d) 

Arkansas 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Ashley 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Baxter 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Benton 0.00 355.50 355.50 

Boone 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Bradley 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Calhoun 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Carroll 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Chi cot 0.00 0.00 0.00 

2000.-Continued 

County 

Clark 

Clay 

Cleburne 

Cleveland 

Columbia 

Conway 

Craighead 

Crawford 

Crittenden 

Cross 

Dallas 

Desha 

Drew 

Faulkner 

Franklin 

Fulton 

Garland 

Grant 

Greene 

Hempstead 

Hot Spring 

Howard 

Independence 

Izard 

Jackson 

Jefferson 

Johnson 

Lafayette 

Ground water Surface water Total 

(Mgal/d) (Mgal/d) (Mgal/d) 

0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.02 0.00 0.02 

0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.00 408.73 408.73 

0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.47 29.23 29.70 

0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.63 16.55 17.18 

0.00 0.00 0.00 

0.90 0.00 0.90 
22 Estimated Water Use in Arkansas, 2000 

Table 11. Thermoelectric power water use in Arkansas, Changes in Water Use, 1965-2000 

2000.-Continued 

Total water use in Arkansas has increased about 412 per- Ground water Surface water Total cent between 1965 and 2000 (table 12). Total ground-water use County (Mgal/d) (Mgal/d) (Mgal/d) in Arkansas between 1965 and 2000 has increased from 1 ,231 

Lawrence 0.00 0.00 0.00 to 6,952 Mgal/d, an increase of about 465 percent. Total surLee 0.00 0.00 0.00 face-water use in Arkansas between 1965 and 2000 increased 

Lincoln 0.00 0.00 0.00 from 911 to 4,011 Mgal/d, an increase of 340 percent. GroundLittle River 0.00 0.00 0.00 water irrigation use between 1965 and 2000 increased from 949 

Logan 0.00 0.00 0.00 

to 6,506 Mgal/d, an increase of about 586 percent. Surfacewater irrigation use between 1965 and 2000 increased from 211 

Lonoke 0.00 0.00 0.00 to 1,407 Mgal/d, an increase of about 567 percent (fig. 9). PubMadison 0.00 0.00 0.00 lie supply water use between 1965 and 2000 increased from 127 

Marion 0.00 0.00 0.00 to 427 Mgal/d, an increase of 236 percent between 1965 and 

Miller 0.00 0.00 0.00 2000 (fig. 10). As the population served by public supply 

Mississippi 0.00 0.00 0.00 (Arkansas Department of Health, 2004) between 1965 and 2000 

Monroe 0.00 0.00 0.00 

increased 109 percent from approximately 1.1 to 2.3 million 

people, the per capita domestic use of public supply water 

Montgomery 0.00 0.00 0.00 increased from approximately 116 to 181 gal/d. An increase in 

Nevada 0.00 0.00 0.00 public water supply usage for the 35-year period resulted from 

Newton 0.00 0.00 0.00 an increase in population combined with an increase in average 

Ouachita 0.00 55.58 55.58 per capita water use of 56 percent. 

Perry 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Phillips 0.42 262.28 262.70 

Pike 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Poinsett 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Polk 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Pope 0.00 984.60 984.60 

Prairie 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Pulaski 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Randolph 0.00 0.00 0.00 

St. Francis 0.36 0.00 0.36 

Saline 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Scott 0.00 0.00 O.Ob 

Searcy 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Sebastian 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Sevier 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Sharp 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Stone 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Union 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Van Buren 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Washington 0.00 0.00 0.00 

White 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Woodruff 0.12 59.98 60.10 

Yell 0.00 0.00 0.00 

Total 2.92 2,172.45 2,175.37 
Tab le 12. Changes in water use for selected categories for Arkansas. 1965-2000. 

Year 

1965 

1970 

1975 

1980 

1985 

1990 

1995 

2000 

Irrigation 

Ground Surface 

water water 

949 2 11 

1.064 229 

2.094 46 

3,4 4 597 

3,330 541 

4,296 949 

4,925 1.0 13 

6,506 I ,407 

8,000 

~ 6,000 

Cl 

Z o:: 

_UJ 

- a.. 

UJcn 

cnz 

::> 0 4,000 

O::...J 

UJ...J 1-<X: 

~~ 0 

j 2,000 

:E 

0 

Public supply 

Per capita use 

Population Ground Surface (gallon/ 

served water water day/person 

1,900.000 54 73 116 

1,920.000 7 1 95 1.)3 

2. 116.000 89 II 180 

2.283 .733 11 0 153 155 

2,358,000 10-1 156 153 

2.353.000 11 9 190 17 

2,4 4,000 135 246 19 1 

2,322,520 138 289 18 1 

- TOTAL GROUND WATER 

C:=J TOTAL SURFACE WATER 

GROUND WATER IRRIGATION 

C:=J SURFACE WATER IRRIGATION 

~ n In In In n 

1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 

Changes in Water Use, 1965-2000 

Total 

Ground Surface 

water water 

1.-31 911 

1.530 1.531 

2.596 2.46 

4.053 -. 166 

3,810 2,0-1 1 

-1 ,70) ,1_8 

5.456 .. 31 1 

6.952 4,0 I I 

. 

1990 1995 2000 

Figure 9. Total ground- and surface-water use compared to irrigation water use in Arkansas. 1965-2000. 

23 
24 Estimated Water Use in Arkansas, 2000 

> <t 

c 

zo:::: _w a.. 

wen 

enz 

=>o 

O:::...J 

W...J 1-<t <tCJ 

3:z 

0 

...J 

...J 

~ 

350 

300 

250 

200 

150 

100 

50 

~--~----~-----r----~----.-----.-----.----.----~2.5 

- GROUND-WATER 

C::=J SURFACE-WATER 

-POPULATION / r 

2.4 

2.2 

2.0 

1.8 

1.6 

1.4 

1.2 

1.0 

0 0.0 

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 

Figure 10. Ground- and surface-water use and population served for public supply systems in Arkansas. 1965-2000. 

-

en 

z 

0 

...J 

...J 

~ 

z 

-

z 

0 

~ :::> 

a.. 

0 

a.. 
Sources of Ground-Water Withdrawals 25 

Sources of Ground-Water Withdrawals The Sparta aquifer supplied much of the water used by 

industry and public-supply systems in south-central Arkansas. 

The counties with the highest use from the Sparta aquifer were 

Jefferson and Arkansas Counties using about 53 percent of the 

total water withdrawn from the aquifer. The alluvial aquifer in 

Poinsett and Arkansas Counties supplied about 95 percent of 

the water withdrawn from ground-water sources. 

Ground-water withdrawals comprised about 63 percent 

( 6,955 Mgal/d) of the total amount of water used in Arkansas in 

2000 (table 13). About 95 percent of the water was withdrawn 

from the Coastal Plain physiographic province, where most of 

the water was pumped from the alluvial and the Sparta (or 

Sparta-Memphis) aquifers (figs. 11 and 12). 

Missouri 

I 

1----~ l '-..! t-, ~-------' I t 

I----,-..,J .. I 1 t I J , 

I 't I L ' 1- __ ,- ,--------:- (_ ____ ...j -- '.., 

36° OZA~K PLATEAUS 1-~ ~-\.- /1---.-~ --,--~ 1 r 'r ( 1 

J ~ r---l ~ ,t' I oa- ..!_...J,- --;-- ., ____ --r __ J _ ,- _ ~ L- ______ -'"" r 

- ./ I I I I I ~ - r---- I I 1 -~- I 

-( I - -f----I- 1---·s I 

I !ARKANSAS ;VALLEY I 1

1 

~<;). r-.. .Y- • 1 ! 

1

r - - J-,.- - - -. J ::...._' ~ 

I ~-1 '-'\., I ( ! 0'~~~- ~ Loj- r I \. ~ S II • ~ <') •,1", 

- J ---,.l ·.: ., .. .,............. - ;__ "' ~ .d_ ..,......,--- '"7----.r·_.} ---t""'-~-"S-, r"T"~ 35° I ~-=-=----: _.... (

1 

I I I - I 

_, ...... ~ I J,J ~-"~~,,--J ·-~ .!.-1 .... ~-----

1 i r-----~.., .) tMISSrSSI!i>PI 

- .)-- - - ,- J. - - .:. -. 1- -~ ; ! I: ~-----r- OUACHITA ~- :-Pl~ -,AU:UVIAL'" ___ _ ! i ~~. <f}}~ ·- I I ;---L-._ I 

; MOUN~I_f'!_~ __ ,;~ o'?'_;- ~ --"----;~ PLAI'i\t<; 

1----,------ "T -'- / I I I .. 

• l I 1--1 I I I I ~ J I I_ -- I I I~---\ --:_-#\!Jr. Jdf'.J.§. - _..--,--.l--~-,_j ___ --,1 ---.:~ 

\ I \ _ ~ ~- r'• '> \ 

1 ,-----.__ ... , ... ~.. \ ' :- ,....__"'\, 

"'\_ \ , I \ 1... - I I 

"''- .1'-. \\ I ...J' '- ' ""'[ I ,.,_ - - - ..,... - - "'"'\ ~ - - - - J.- -I 

--q;--WESI· GU F / \.-----1 1 

~, I , r- I I I 

- ' I ' 1-

cr'/';, COASTAL' 1 

1 

-:.__, 

-,_.;--., I •- I -, -,---· "'~ / ----1 

l, p· liN •-,----~~"'-,_ I I 

LA '-"'-.......... Texas 

. \

Louisiana 20 40 MILES 

I I I I 

20 40 KILOMETERS 

Figure 11. Physiographic provinces in Arkansas. 
26 Estimated Water Use in Arkansas, 2000 

Figure 12. Major aquifers in Arkansas. 

QUATERNARY 

AGE 

SPARTA AND 

MEMPHIS 

SANDS 

FORMATION 

LEOZIC 

AGE, UNDIFFERENTIATED 

W P, 

UNDIFFERENTIATED 
Table 13. Ground-water use by major aquifer in Arkansas, 2000. 

[Units are in million gallons per day] 

Aquifer in 

Rock of 

Sparta Wilcox Paleozoic 

Deposits of and Group, age, 

Quaternary Cockfield Memphis Cane River undiffer- Nacatoch Tokio Trinity undiffer- County 

County age Formation Sands Formation entiated Sand Formation Formation entiated totals County 

Arkansas 567.33 0.57 63.40 631.30 Arkansas 

Ashley 105.78 3.40 0.18 109.36 Ashley 

Baxter 1.95 1.95 Baxter 

Benton 2.49 2.49 Benton 

Boone 1.88 1..88 Boone 

Bradley 1.76 1.76 Bradley 

Calhoun 0.61 0.61 Calhoun 

Carroll 2.19 2.19 Carroll 

Chi cot 172.84 1.26 0.16 174.26 Chi cot 

Clark 0.54 0.54 Clark 

Clay 260.94 2.97 0.41 0.61 264.93 Clay 

Cleburne 1.03 1.03 Cleburne 

Cleveland 1.44 0.00 1.44 Cleveland 

Columbia 2.90 2.90 Columbia 

Conway 1.94 1.94 Conway Cl) 

Q 

Craighead 329.12 22.74 0.79 352.65 Craighead c 

""" (') 

Crawford 0.38 0.38 Crawford CD 

(I) 

Q 

Crittenden 130.06 0.57 0.5 5.75 136.88 Crittenden -C') 

Cross """ 406.53 4.17 410.70 Cross Q 

c 

= Dallas 1.15 1.15 Dallas c. 

I 

Desha 324.84 0.24 3.85 328.93 Desha 

:e 

I» 

-

CD 

Drew 54.70 0.88 55.58 Drew """ :e 

Faulkner 1.80 1.80 Faulkner :::;.· 

c. =- Franklin 0.39 0.39 Franklin I» """ 

~ Fulton 0.99 0.99 Fulton I» 

c;; 

Garland 1.21 1.21 Garland N 

...... 
Table 13. Ground-water use by major aquifer in Arkansas. 2000.-Continued t6 

lUnits are in million gallons per day] 

m Aquifer in tl) 

.... 3' 

Rock of .... = m Sparta Wilcox Paleozoic CL. 

Deposits of and Group, :E age, 

Quaternary .... = Cockfield Memphis Cane River undiffer- Nacatoch Tokio Trinity undiffer- County m 

... County age Formation Sands Formation entiated Sand Formation Formation entiated totals Cow1ty c:: 

tl) 

Grant 1.92 1.92 m Grant :r 

Greene 152.45 7.12 159.57 Greene > ... 

:a:-

Hempstead 1.83 3.46 5.29 Hempstead ::s = 

tl) 

Hot Spring = 0.66 0.66 Hot Spring ~ 

N 

Howard 0.42 0.30 0.72 Howard 8 

Independence 35.74 35.74 Independence 

Izard 2.29 2.29 Izard 

Jackson 363.38 1.18 364.56 Jackson 

Jefferson 377.74 3.42 90.63 471.79 Jefferson 

Johnson 1.33 1.33 Johnson 

Lafayette 11.00 0.24 0.13 11.37 Lafayette 

Lawrence 290.65 5.99 0.08 296.72 Lawrence 

Lee 234.23 1.18 235.41 Lee 

Lincoln 167.16 2.01 169.17 Lincoln 

Little River 1.76 1.76 Little River 

Logan 1.54 1.54 Logan 

Lonoke 373.11 0.08 23.19 0.76 397.14 Lonoke 

Madison 1.58 1.58 Madison 

Marion 0.26 0.26 Marion 

Miller 6.92 0.01 0.03 6.96 Miller 

Mississippi 185.78 0.57 2.02 188.37 Mjssissippi 

Monroe 235.69 0.17 235.86 Monroe 

Montgomery 0.96 0.96 Montgomery 

Nevada 0.01 0.76 0.01 0.78 Nevada 

Newton 0.91 0.91 Newton 

Ouachita 2.60 2.60 Ouachita 
Table 13. Ground-water use by major aquifer in Arkansas, 2000.-Continued 

[Units are in million gallons per day] 

Aquifer in 

Rock of 

Sparta Wilcox Paleozoic 

Deposits of and Group, age, 

Quaternary Cockfield Memphis Cane River undiffer- Nacatoch Tokio Trinity undiffer- County 

County age Formation Sands Formation entiated Sand Formation Formation entiated totals County 

Perry 0.81 0.81 Perry 

Phillips 204.45 0.38 1.07 205.90 Phillips 

Pike 0.70 0.70 Pike 

Poinsett 583.84 1.28 0.59 585.71 Poinsett 

Polk 1.03 1.03 Polk 

Pope 2.32 0.31 2.63 Pope 

Prairie 242.73 27.65 270.38 Prairie 

Pulaski 26.35 0.43 26.78 Pulaski 

Randolph 85.88 0.24 86.12 Randolph 

St. Francis 252.22 0.77 252.99 St. Francis 

Saline 3.35 0.00 3.35 Saline 

Scott 0.95 0.95 Scott 

Searcy 0.84 0.84 Searcy 

Sebastian 0.31 0.31 Sebastian 

Sevier 0 2.36 2.36 Sevier 

Sharp 0 1.63 1.63 Sharp en 

Q 

c Stone 0.68 0.68 Stone '"" C') 

(I) 

Union 0.01 17.97 17.98 Union Cl) 

Q 

Van Buren 0.23 0.23 Van Buren -

C') 

'"" Q 

Washington 0.01 2.51 2.52 Washington c 

= c.. 

White 48.32 1.43 49.75 White I 

:e 

Woodruff 351.46 1.48 352.94 Woodruff = 

-(I) 

... Yell 1.16 1.16 Yell ~ 

Totals 6592.72 9.92 287.44 0.13 22.22 2.79 5.82 0.42 30.79 6,952.25 -

=- c.. 

ii1 

~ 

= 0 

~ 
30 Estimated Water Use in Arkansas, 2000 

Summary 

The water-use program is a cooperative effort between 

Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission and the 

U.S. Geological Survey. During 2000, the amount of water 

withdrawn from ground- and surfa~e-water sources in Arkansas 

was estimated to be 10,963 Mgal/d. Of this amount, about 6,952 

Mgal/d were from ground-water sources and about 4,011 Mgal/ 

d were from surface-water sources. Irrigation accounted for 94 

percent (6,506 Mgal/d) of the total ground water withdrawn 

while the largest surface-water users (thermoelectric power 

generation) accounted for 54 percent (2, 172 Mgal/d) of the total 

amount of surface water used. 

Approximately 87 percent of the population (2.3 million 

people) in Arkansas was served by public supply systems during 2000. These systems withdrew approximately 427 Mgalld 

(fig. 10, table 2). Most of the water, 69 percent was from surface-water sources. The statewide average for per-capita residential use from public supply systems was 181 gal/d. Average 

for per capita residential water use increased from 1965 to 2000 

by 57 percent. 

Total water use in Arkansas increased about 412 percent 

between 1965 and 2000. Total ground-water use increased 465 

percent and total surface-water use increased 340 percent 

between 1965 and 2000. 

About 95 percent of the water was withdrawn from the 

Coastal Plain physiographic province, where most of the water 

was pumped from the alluvial and the Sparta (or Sparta-Memphis) aquifers. The alluvial aquifer in Poinsett and Arkansas 

Counties supplied about 95 percent of the water withdrawn 

from ground-water sources. The counties with the highest use 

from the Sparta aquifer were Jefferson and Arkansas Counties 

using about 53 percent of the total water withdrawn from the 

aquifer. 

Selected References 

Arkansas Department of Health, 2004, "Drinking Water Information for Arkansas," accessed February 2, 2004 at URL 

http://www .healthyarkansas.com/eng/pwslistO.htm. 

Halberg, H.N., and Stephens, J.W., 1966, Use of water in 

Arkansas, 1965: Arkansas Geological Commission Water 

Resources Summary 5, 12 p. 

Halberg, H.N., 1972, Use of water in Arkansas, 1970: Arkansas 

Geological Commission Water Resources Summary 7, 15 p. 

Halberg, H.N ., 1977, Use of water in Arkansas, 1975: Arkansas 

Geological Commission Water Resources Summary 9, 28 p. 

Hall, A.P., and Holland, T.W., 1984, Water use in Arkansas, 

1981: U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigations Report 84-4070, 1 sheet. 

Holland, T.W., 1987, UseofwaterinArkansas, 1985: Arkansas 

Geological Commission Water Resources Summary 16, 27 p. 

Holland, T. W., 1993, Use of water in Arkansas, 1990: U.S. 

Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-48, 1 sheet. 

Holland, T.W., 1999, Water Use in Arkansas, 1995: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-188, 1 sheet. 

Holland, T.W., and Hall, A.P., 1986, Water use in Arkansas, 

1982: U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigations Report 85-4282, 1 sheet. 

Holland, T.W., and Ludwig, A.H., 1981, Use of water in Arkansas, 1980: Arkansas Geological Commission Water 

Resources Summary 14, 30 p. 

Hutson, S.A., and others, 2004, Estimated use of water in the 

United States in 2000: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1268, 

46p. 

MacKichan, K.A., 1951, Estimated water use in the United 

States-1950: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 115, 13 p. 

MacKichan, K.A., 1957, Estimated water use in the United 

States-1955: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 398, 18 p. 

MacKichan, K.A., and Kammerer, J.C., 1961, Estimated water 

use in the United States, 1960: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 456, 26 p. 

Murray, C.R., 1968, Estimated use of water in the United States, 

1965: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 556, 53 p. 

Murray, C.R., and Reeves, E.B ., 1972, Estimated use of water 

in the United States, 1970: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 

676,37 p. 

Murray, C.R., and Reeves, E.B., 1977, Estimated use of water 

in the United States, 1975: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 

765,37 p. 

Petersen, J.C., Broom, M.E., and Bush, W.V., 1985, Geohydrologic units of the Gulf Coastal Plain in Arkansas: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 85-

4116, 20 p. 

Solley, W.B., Chase, E.B., and Mann, W.B., 1983, Estimated 

use of water in the United States in 1980: U.S. Geological 

Survey Circular 1001, 56 p. 

Solley, W.B., Merk, C.F., and Pierce, R.R., 1988, Estimated use 

of water in the United States in 1985: U.S. Geological Survey 

Circular 1004, 82 p. 

Solley, W.B., Pierce, R.R., and Perlman, H.A., 1993, Estimated 

use of water in the United States in 1990: U.S. Geological 

Survey Circular 1081,76 p. 

Solley, W.B., Pierce, R.R., and Perlman, H.A., 1998, Estimated 

use of water in the United States in 1995: U.S. Geological 

Survey Circular 1200, 71 p. 

Stephens, J.W., and Halberg, H.N., 1961, Use of water in 

Arkansas, 1960: Arkansas Geological Commission Water 

Resources Special Report Series 294, 56 p. 

U.S. Bureau of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, 2000: Census 

2000 summary file (SF1) 1 00-percent data, accessed December I, 2003, at http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTGeoSearchB YListServ let?ds_name=Dec_2000 _SF!-U &lang= 

en&ts=90 1494657 59. 
Glossary 

Water-use terminology continues to evolve as the field 

grows and expands. The following is a list of definitions for 

terms, phrases, and various data collection components commonly used in the process of water-use data collection and compilation. 

Acre-foot of water (acre-ft)-The volume of water 

required to cover 1 acre of land (43,560 ft2) to a depth of 1 ft. 

Acres irrigated-The total number of acres of the crop 

that was irrigated during the year. 

Aquaculture-Farming of organisms that live in water, 

such as fish, shellfish, and algae. 

Aquifer-A geologic formation, group of formations, or 

part of a formation that contains sufficient saturated permeable 

material to yield significant quantities of water to wells and 

springs. 

Commercial water use-Water for motels, hotels, restaurants, office buildings, schools, and other commercial facilities 

and institutions, both civilian and military. The water may be 

obtained from a public-supply facility or may be self-supplied. 

See also public-supply and self-supplied water. 

Cooling water-Water used for cooling purposes, such as 

cooling of condensers and nuclear reactors. 

Domestic population served-The total number of people served by the public supplier during the calendar year. 

Domestic water use-Water used for household purposes, such as drinking, food preparation, bathing, washing 

clothes and dishes, flushing toilets, and watering lawns and gardens, also called residential water use. The water may be 

obtained from a public-supply facility or may be self-supplied. 

See also public supply and self-supplied water. 

Freshwater-Water that contains less that 1,000 mg/L 

(milligran1s per liter) (but generally between less than 500 and 

1 000 moiL in Arkansas) of dissolved solids and is desirable for ' ::> 

drinking and many industrial uses. 

Ground water-Generally all subsurface water and 

springs as distinct from surface water; specifically, that part of 

the subsurface water in the saturated zone (a zone in which all 

voids are filled with water) where the water is under pressure 

greater than atmospheric. 

Industrial water use-Water used for industrial purposes, such as fabrication, processing, washing, and cooling, 

and includes such industries as steel, chemical and allied products, paper and allied products, mining, and petroleum refining. 

The water may be obtained from a public-supply facility or may 

be self-supplied. See also public-supply and self-supplied 

water. 

Instream use-Water use taking place within the stream 

channel for such purposes as hydroelectric power generation, 

navigation, water-quality improvement, fish propagation, and 

recreation. Sometimes called nonwithdrawal use or in-channel 

use. 

Irrigation-Refers to the process of supplementing rainfall with water that is needed to produce a crop. 

Glossary 31 

Irrigation water use-Artificial application of water on 

lands to assist in the growing of crops and pastures or to maintain vegetative growth in recreational lands, such as parks and 

golf courses. 

Livestock water use-Water for stock watering, feed lots, 

dairy operations, fish farming, and other farm needs. Livestock 

as used here includes cattle, sheep, goats, hogs, and poultry. 

Also included are such animal specialties as horses, rabbits, 

bees, pets, and fur-bearing animals in captivity. 

Mining water use-Water use for the extraction of minerals occurring naturally, including solids, such as coal, clay, 

and ores; liquids, such as crude petroleum; and gases, such as 

natural gas. Also includes uses associated with sand, gravel, and 

quarrying for rock aggregates, well operations (dewatering), 

milling (crushing, screening, washing, floatation, and other), 

and other preparations customarily done at the mine site or as 

part of a mining activity. 

Per capita use-The average amount of water used per 

person during a standard time period, generally per day. 

Public supply-Water withdrawn by public and private 

water suppliers and delivered to groups of users. Public suppliers provide water for a variety of uses, such as domestic, commercial, thermoelectric power, industrial and public water use. 

See also commercial water use, domestic water use, industrial 

water use, and public water use. 

Public water use-Water supplied from a public water 

supply and used for such purposes as firefighting, street washing, and municipal parks and swimming pools. See also public 

supply. 

Self-supplied water-Water withdrawn from a groundor surface-water source by a user rather than being obtained 

from a public-supply facility. 

Sewage-Wastewater carried off by sewers and drains. 

Surface water-An open body of water, such as a stream, 

lake, or river. 

Thermoelectric power generation-Electrical power 

oenerated usino fossil-fuel (coal, oil, or natural gas), geother- e o 

mal, or nuclear energy. 

Thermoelectric power water use-Water used in the 

process of the generation of thermoelectric power. The water 

may be obtained from a public-supply facility or may be selfsupplied. See also public-supply and self-supplied water. 

Water consumed or consumptive use-Refers to that 

part of water withdrawn that is no longer available because it 

has evaporated, been incorporated into products and crops, consumed by man or livestock, or otherwise removed from the 

water environment. 

Water use-Describes how and where the water was used 

and in what amounts. 

Withdrawal-The amount of water withdrawn from a 

source (ground or surface, fresh or saline). This is equivalent to 

"intake," "water diversion," or "pumpage," terms commonly 

used by industry and for irrigation and public supply, respectively. 

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