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#           Water Use in the United States      

  Active

      By Water Resources Mission Area      November 1, 2023    

            -                Overview             
            -                Science             
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            -                Publications             
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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into a modeling framework to generate national estimates of water withdrawal and consumption (evapotranspiration of withdrawn water) from both groundwater and surface-water sources.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.

At this time, estimated water-use data are available at the following temporal and spatial resolutions and date range:

Where HUC-12 is the 12-digit hydrologic unit code level, and WSA is the public supply water service area.

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., Dieter, C.A., and Miller, O.L., 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, (ver. 2.0, August 2024): https://doi.org/10.5066/P9FUL880. 
                                -  Alzraiee, A., Niswonger, R., Luukkonen, C., Larsen, J., Martin, D., Herbert, D., et al. (2024). Next generation public supply water withdrawal estimation for the conterminous United States using machine learning and operational frameworks. *Water Resources Research*, 60, e2023WR036632. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023WR036632 
                                -  Alzraiee, A. H., & Niswonger, R. G. (2024). A probabilistic approach to training machine learning models using noisy data. *Environmental Modelling & Software*, 179, 106133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2024.106133 
                                -  Buchwald, C.A., Houston, N.A., Stewart, J.S., Alzraiee, A.H., Niswonger, R.G., and Larsen, J.D., 2024, Development and evaluation of public‐supply community water service area boundaries for the conterminous United States: JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources Association, https://doi.org/10.1111/1752-1688.13210. 

#### 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 .
                                - 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 

                                - 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 .
                                - 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 . 

 

### 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:                                   - Public Supply
                                  - Domestic
                                  - Irrigation
                                  - Thermoelectric Power
                                  - Industrial
                                  - Mining
                                  - Livestock
                                  - Aquaculture 

 

***Additional information:   ****Water-use category changes over time**  • **Water-use terminology*

 

### Study Area

### Contacts

#### National Water-Use Science 

wu-info@usgs.gov

### Explore Search

                      - Agriculture, Livestock, and Aquaculture
                      - Clouds, Precipitation, and Atmospheric Deposition
                      - Drinking and Household Use
                      - Energy Production
                      - Evapotranspiration
                      - Groundwater, Aquifers, Wells, and Springs
                      - Industry and Mining
                      - Lakes and Reservoirs
                      - National Water Census
                      - Oceans, Estuaries, Deltas, and Coasts
                      - Recreation and Tourism
                      - Soil Moisture and Permafrost
                      - Streams and Rivers
                      - Wastewater
                      - Water Availability and Use
                      - Water Supply and Demand
                      - Types of Water
                      - How We Use Water
                      - Measuring and Monitoring Water
                      - Common Water Issues
                      - Water
                      - water use
                      - United States
                      - withdrawals

View All **

Below are other water-use topics.

link

January 12, 2024

####                 National Modeled Water Atlas              

Water Resources Mission Area

link

January 12, 2024

####   National Modeled Water Atlas

Learn More

link

March 3, 2019

####                 Total Water Use              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program

link

March 3, 2019

####   Total Water Use

Learn More

link

March 3, 2019

####                 Trends in Water Use              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program

link

March 3, 2019

####   Trends in Water Use

Learn More

link

March 2, 2019

####                 Surface-Water Use              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program

link

March 2, 2019

####   Surface-Water Use

Learn More

link

March 2, 2019

####                 Groundwater Use              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program

link

March 2, 2019

####   Groundwater Use

Learn More

link

February 27, 2019

####                 Water-Use Terminology              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program, New Jersey Water Science Center

link

February 27, 2019

####   Water-Use Terminology

Learn More

link

February 22, 2019

####                 State Contacts for Water-Use Data              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program

link

February 22, 2019

####   State Contacts for Water-Use Data

Learn More

link

February 22, 2019

####                 The National Water-Use Science Project              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program

link

February 22, 2019

####   The National Water-Use Science Project

Learn More

Below are data associated with water use in the United States.

November 6, 2023

####                 Public supply water use reanalysis for the 2000-2020 period by HUC12, month, and year for the conterminous United States (ver. 2.0, August 2024)              

Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

November 2, 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              

Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

November 2, 2023

####                 Thermoelectric-power water use reanalysis for the 2008-2020 period by power plant, month, and year for the conterminous United States              

New England Water Science Center, New Mexico Water Science Center

November 1, 2023

####                 Monthly crop irrigation withdrawals and efficiencies by HUC12 watershed for years 2000-2020 within the conterminous United States              

Oregon Water Science Center

November 1, 2023

####                 Irrigation water use reanalysis for the 2000-20 period by HUC12, month, and year for the conterminous United States              

California Water Science Center

June 9, 2020

####                 Estimated Use of Water in the United States County-Level Data for 2015              

Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

Below are publications associated with water use in the United States.

June 19, 2018

####                 Estimated use of water in the United States in 2015              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, Water Science School

July 9, 2024

####                 Next generation public supply water withdrawal estimation for the conterminous United States using machine learning and operational frameworks              

Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center, Colorado Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

July 8, 2024

####                 A probabilistic approach to training machine learning models using noisy data              

Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center

June 19, 2018

####                 Summary of estimated water use in the United States in 2015              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Idaho Water Science Center

November 5, 2014

####                 Estimated use of water in the United States in 2010              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Idaho Water Science Center

November 5, 2014

####                 Summary of estimated water use in the United States in 2010              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

September 24, 2014

####                 Withdrawal and consumption of water by thermoelectric power plants in the United States, 2010              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program

October 14, 2010

####                 Summary of estimated water use in the United States in 2005              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program

December 17, 2009

####                 Estimated use of water in the United States in 2005              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, Kansas Water Science Center

October 5, 2005

####                 Estimated use of water in the United States in 2000              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program

July 25, 2005

####                 Estimated withdrawals from principal aquifers in the United States, 2000              

Water Resources Mission Area

August 1, 2004

####                 Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 2000              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program

September 1, 1998

####                 Estimated use of water in the United States in 1995              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program

#### Pagination

-                Current page            1 
-                Page            2 
-  Next page›› 
-  Last pageLast » 

May 3, 2023

####                 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.

Water Resources Mission Area

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.

At this time, estimated water-use data are available at the following temporal and spatial resolutions and date range:

Where HUC-12 is the 12-digit hydrologic unit code level, and WSA is the public supply water service area.

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., Dieter, C.A., and Miller, O.L., 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, (ver. 2.0, August 2024): https://doi.org/10.5066/P9FUL880. 
                                -  Alzraiee, A., Niswonger, R., Luukkonen, C., Larsen, J., Martin, D., Herbert, D., et al. (2024). Next generation public supply water withdrawal estimation for the conterminous United States using machine learning and operational frameworks. *Water Resources Research*, 60, e2023WR036632. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023WR036632 
                                -  Alzraiee, A. H., & Niswonger, R. G. (2024). A probabilistic approach to training machine learning models using noisy data. *Environmental Modelling & Software*, 179, 106133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2024.106133 
                                -  Buchwald, C.A., Houston, N.A., Stewart, J.S., Alzraiee, A.H., Niswonger, R.G., and Larsen, J.D., 2024, Development and evaluation of public‐supply community water service area boundaries for the conterminous United States: JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources Association, https://doi.org/10.1111/1752-1688.13210. 

#### 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 .
                                - 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 

                                - 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 .
                                - 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 . 

 

### 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:                                   - Public Supply
                                  - Domestic
                                  - Irrigation
                                  - Thermoelectric Power
                                  - Industrial
                                  - Mining
                                  - Livestock
                                  - Aquaculture 

 

***Additional information:   ****Water-use category changes over time**  • **Water-use terminology*

 

### Study Area

### Contacts

#### National Water-Use Science 

wu-info@usgs.gov

### Explore Search

                      - Agriculture, Livestock, and Aquaculture
                      - Clouds, Precipitation, and Atmospheric Deposition
                      - Drinking and Household Use
                      - Energy Production
                      - Evapotranspiration
                      - Groundwater, Aquifers, Wells, and Springs
                      - Industry and Mining
                      - Lakes and Reservoirs
                      - National Water Census
                      - Oceans, Estuaries, Deltas, and Coasts
                      - Recreation and Tourism
                      - Soil Moisture and Permafrost
                      - Streams and Rivers
                      - Wastewater
                      - Water Availability and Use
                      - Water Supply and Demand
                      - Types of Water
                      - How We Use Water
                      - Measuring and Monitoring Water
                      - Common Water Issues
                      - Water
                      - water use
                      - United States
                      - withdrawals

View All **

Below are other water-use topics.

link

January 12, 2024

####                 National Modeled Water Atlas              

Water Resources Mission Area

link

January 12, 2024

####   National Modeled Water Atlas

Learn More

link

March 3, 2019

####                 Total Water Use              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program

link

March 3, 2019

####   Total Water Use

Learn More

link

March 3, 2019

####                 Trends in Water Use              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program

link

March 3, 2019

####   Trends in Water Use

Learn More

link

March 2, 2019

####                 Surface-Water Use              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program

link

March 2, 2019

####   Surface-Water Use

Learn More

link

March 2, 2019

####                 Groundwater Use              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program

link

March 2, 2019

####   Groundwater Use

Learn More

link

February 27, 2019

####                 Water-Use Terminology              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program, New Jersey Water Science Center

link

February 27, 2019

####   Water-Use Terminology

Learn More

link

February 22, 2019

####                 State Contacts for Water-Use Data              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program

link

February 22, 2019

####   State Contacts for Water-Use Data

Learn More

link

February 22, 2019

####                 The National Water-Use Science Project              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program

link

February 22, 2019

####   The National Water-Use Science Project

Learn More

Below are data associated with water use in the United States.

November 6, 2023

####                 Public supply water use reanalysis for the 2000-2020 period by HUC12, month, and year for the conterminous United States (ver. 2.0, August 2024)              

Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center

November 2, 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              

Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

November 2, 2023

####                 Thermoelectric-power water use reanalysis for the 2008-2020 period by power plant, month, and year for the conterminous United States              

New England Water Science Center, New Mexico Water Science Center

November 1, 2023

####                 Monthly crop irrigation withdrawals and efficiencies by HUC12 watershed for years 2000-2020 within the conterminous United States              

Oregon Water Science Center

November 1, 2023

####                 Irrigation water use reanalysis for the 2000-20 period by HUC12, month, and year for the conterminous United States              

California Water Science Center

June 9, 2020

####                 Estimated Use of Water in the United States County-Level Data for 2015              

Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

Below are publications associated with water use in the United States.

June 19, 2018

####                 Estimated use of water in the United States in 2015              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, Water Science School

July 9, 2024

####                 Next generation public supply water withdrawal estimation for the conterminous United States using machine learning and operational frameworks              

Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center, Colorado Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

July 8, 2024

####                 A probabilistic approach to training machine learning models using noisy data              

Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center

June 19, 2018

####                 Summary of estimated water use in the United States in 2015              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Idaho Water Science Center

November 5, 2014

####                 Estimated use of water in the United States in 2010              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Idaho Water Science Center

November 5, 2014

####                 Summary of estimated water use in the United States in 2010              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

September 24, 2014

####                 Withdrawal and consumption of water by thermoelectric power plants in the United States, 2010              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program

October 14, 2010

####                 Summary of estimated water use in the United States in 2005              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program

December 17, 2009

####                 Estimated use of water in the United States in 2005              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, Kansas Water Science Center

October 5, 2005

####                 Estimated use of water in the United States in 2000              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program

July 25, 2005

####                 Estimated withdrawals from principal aquifers in the United States, 2000              

Water Resources Mission Area

August 1, 2004

####                 Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 2000              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program

September 1, 1998

####                 Estimated use of water in the United States in 1995              

Water Resources Mission Area, Water Availability and Use Science Program

#### Pagination

-                Current page            1 
-                Page            2 
-  Next page›› 
-  Last pageLast » 

May 3, 2023

####                 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.

Water Resources Mission Area