GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 257

THE USE OF WATER IN 

PENNSYLVANIA, 1951

Based on data collected in cooperation with the 

Pennsylvania Departments of Internal 

Affairs and Forests and Waters
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Douglas McKay, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

W. E. Wrather, Director

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 257

THE USE OF WATER IN PENNSYLVANIA, 1951

By John W. Mangan and Jack B. Graham

Based on data collected in cooperation with the

Pennsylvania Departments of Internal Affairs

and Forests and Waters

Washington, D. C., 1953

Free on application to the Geological Survey, Washington 25, D. C.
CONTENTS

Introduction...................................

Types of water use..........................

Withdrawal uses.............................

Municipal use.............................

Industrial use.............................

Rural domestic and livestock use....

Air-conditioning use....................

Summary of withdrawal uses...... ...

Q uan tity..................................

Source....................................

Page

1

2

2

2

2

3 3' 

6 

6 

6

Nonwithdrawal uses..........

Water power................

Navigation...................

Waste disposal.............

Rec reation..................

Commercial fisheries... 

Future demands for water. 

Outlook for the future.......

Page 

7

7

8

ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure 1. Withdrawal use of water in Pennsylvania, by counties, 1951........*.....................

2. Quantities of water withdrawn in five largest water-using counties, 1951.............

3. Source of water used..................................................................................

4. Rural, municipal, industrial and water-power use of water in Pennsylvania, 1951.

5. Population of Pennsylvania, 1860-1950 with estimate for 1960.

Page 

3 

6

10

TABLES

Table 1. Summary of withdrawal use of water in Pennsylvania, 1951.........

2. Average daily withdrawal uses and sources of water, by counties.

Page 

2

4
THE USE OF WATER IN PENNSYLVANIA, 1951

By John W. Mangan and Jack B. Graham

INTRODUCTION

Pennsylvania is endowed with abundant supplies of 

iresh water. Indeed, water has been one of the key 

factors in the development of the Commonwealth into 

one of the great centers of commerce and industry of 

the world. Only recently, however, has there been any 

attempt to inventory accurately the uses of water in 

Pennsylvania; it being generally assumed in the past 

that the supplies were unlimited for practical purposes.

It is now apparent that careful, periodic analyses of 

the utilization of water, even in areas of plentiful supply, are required in view of the present trend in water 

use to double or triple within a generation, particularly 

in industrial areas. Water shortages, due largely to 

inadequate facilities, have been experienced in only a 

few places in Pennsylvania; however, anticipated 

growth of industry may be expected to result in many 

new problems in water supply. The successful solution 

to the water problems of the future will depend in large 

measure on a reliable background of hydrologic data, 

including a knowledge of water requirements and use.

During 1951, almost 11,000 million gallons of water 

were withdrawn on an average each day to satisfy the 

water demands of Pennsylvania. It would take a railroad train composed entirely of tank cars, about 9, 000 

miles in length (equivalent to the distance from New 

York to New Zealand), to hold the amount of water 

withdrawn in Pennsylvania in only one day.

The water used was taken from more than 10, 000 

miles of streams, from many lakes and ponds, and 

from the underground reservoirs found in the State. 

Assuming that the total water used could be evenly'distributed among Pennsylvania's 10, 500,000 inhabitants, 

it would amount to slightly more than 1,000 gallons per 

person per day. As is to be expected, the highly industrialized areas used most of the water. Sixty-one percent of all water "withdrawn was used in five counties, 

namely: Allegheny, Philadelphia, Delaware, Westmoreland, and Beaver.

Few States have undertaken water-use inventories, 

so precise comparisons are not possible. On the basis 

of water-use estimates for the United States in 1950, 

as'published by the Geological Survey, ij Pennsylvania ranked fourth among the-States in the withdrawal 

uses of water exclusive of irrigation. The present

j_/ MacKichan, K. A., 1951, Estimated use of water in tHe U. S.-1950, U. S. Geol. Survey Circ. 115.

study in Pennsylvania constitutes a far more accurate 

appraisal than previously available and it is probable 

that, disregarding irrigation, only New York State 

exceeds Pennsylvania in the use of water and, on the 

basis of fresh-water withdrawal, Pennsylvania may 

lead all States. This report represents the combined 

efforts of the United States Geological Survey and the 

Pennsylvania Departments of Internal Affairs and 

Forests and Waters to obtain an inventory of water 

use in Pennsylvania. It is the first comprehensive 

survey of the utilization of water from all sources 

ever made in Pennsylvania.

The municipal and industrial records presented in 

this report give quantities delivered into public and 

private supply systems. Public systems are those 

that supply water for purchase, whether publicly or 

privately owned. Private supply systems are those 

that serve private needs and supply only the private 

owner.

The records as a whole are reliable but in some 

places it has been difficult to divide water use between 

counties. Some water-supply agencies operate in two 

or more counties and have little information on the apportionment between counties. Studies were made to 

apportion this water but the lack of data upon which to 

base the apportionment makes questionable the totals 

for some counties.

The records of quantities as presented in this report 

are in units of million gallons per day (mgd).

The information on water used by industry was obtained by the Pennsylvania Department of Internal Affairs from questionnaires sent to 21,000 productive 

enterprises engaged in 322 kinds of industry. Public 

and private supply agencies, public utilities, agricultural agencies, and individuals have all cooperated by 

furnishing data for other phases of the inventory.

The report was prepared by John W. Mangan, district engineer, Surface Water Branch, and Jack B. 

Graham, chief, Water Utilization Section, Technical 

Coordination Branch, under the general direction of 

Carl G. Paulsen, chief, Water Resources Division, 

U. S. Geological Survey. The Ground Water Branch 

of the Geological Survey (Paul H. Jones, district 

geologist) and the Pennsylvania Department of Forests 

and Waters (T. H. Mathews, chief engineer) were responsible for the compilation of a part of the statistical 

data contained in the report.
USE OF WATER IN PENNSYLVANIA, 1951

TYPES OF WATER USE

For the purposes of this report, uses of water are 

classified as withdrawal and nonwithdrawal. The principal withdrawal uses in Pennsylvania are (1) municipal, which includes water obtained from public supplies 

to satisfy the needs of the urban population, (2) industrial, from both public and private sources, and (3) 

rural, for the rural domestic population and Livestock.

Nonwithdrawal uses of water are those which do no,t 

involve withdrawal from sources of supply, such as hydroelectric power generation, navigation, waste disposal, and recreation. Except for.hydroelectric power 

generation, nonwithdrawal usage cannot be evaluated 

in terms of quantities used.

WITHDRAWAL USES 

Municipal use

In 1951, public water-supply systems furnished an 

average of 1, 319 mgd, of which 879 mgd served the urban needs of 8, 600, 000 people, 82 percent of the population of Pennsylvania (table 1). Urban needs include 

water for residential use, fire protection, office buildings, commercial establishments, churches, schools,

and street flushing. Pennsylvania has 12 urbanized 

areas having a population in excess of 50, 000. These 

are:

Urbanized Areas in Pennsylvania, 1950

[Key cities of 50, 000 or more population including 

urbanized fringe areas]

Urbanized areas Population

Allentown-Bethlehem............................ 225, 962

Altoona.............................................. 86, 614

Erie.................................................. 151,710

Harrisburg.............. ........................... 169, 646

Johnstown........................................... 93,354

Lancaster........................................... 76,280

Philadelphia........................................ 2, 922, 470

Pittsburgh.......................................... 1, 532, 953

Reading.............................................. 154, 931

Scranton............................................. 236, 076

Wilkes-Barre...................................... 271, 589

York................................................. 78, 796

The urban use in Pennsylvania averaged Iu2 gpcl per 

person. On the average, residential use may account 

for about half the total.

Table 1. Summary of withdrawal use of water in Pennsylvania, 1951 

(million gallons per day)

Use

Rural...............

Total

Surface 

water

797.3

409.5

1, 206.8

Public supply

Ground 

water

81.2

30.8

112.0

Total

878.5

440.3

1,318.8

Surface 

water

8,995.5

b/1-6.5

9,012.0

Private suppl;

Ground 

water

288.7

c/109. 1

397.8

f

Total

__

9,284.2

125.6

9,409.8

Grand 

total

878.5

9,724.5

125.6

10,728.6

a/ Residential, fire protection, commercial establishments, office buildings, schools, and street flushing.

b/ Livestock.

c/ Rural domestic and livestock.

In addition to handling the urban needs, public-supply 

systems furnished 440 mgd to industry.

Of the total of 1,319 mgd delivered into publicsupply systems, 1, 207 mgd or 92 percent was obtained 

from streams, lakes, and ponds, and 112 mgd was 

taken from underground sources.

Philadelphia County is the largest user of water 

from public supplies, followed by "Allegheny and Cambria Counties. (See table 2.) Cambria County, although more sparsely populated than several other 

counties, uses more water from public supplies for 

industrial uses than any other county.

Industrial use

Water for industrial purposes includes water taken 

from both publicly and privately owned supply systems. 

(See table 1.) It also includes the water used by public 

utilities in the generation of steam to produce electrical energy, for central steam heating, and in the

manufacture of artificial gas. It does not include a 

record of the water used for flooding in the extraction 

of oil in the oil fields, roughly estimated to be i'n excess of 10 mgd. Industries using less than 10, 000 gpd 

(0.01 mgd) were inventoried but not included in this 

report.

Of water withdrawn for all purposes in Pennsylvania, 

more than 90 percent is used by industry. Industry 

used an average of 9, 724 mgd during 1951. Of the total, 97 percent was obtained from surface-water 

sources and more than 95 percent was obtained from 

industries' private sources of supply.

Industrial plants use water for a variety of purposes, 

including processing (water used in contact with the 

products manufactured), cooling, boiler feed, and sanitation and service purposes. Large plants often require water naving certain quality characteristics and 

unless municipal water is used, private treatment is 

usually necessary. Of all industrial water used probably more than three-fourths is used in cooling and in 

processing.
WITHDRAWAL USES

Allegheny County leads in the industrial use of water 

and requires 2,888 mgd to support its great industrialization. This is 30 percent of all water used in Pennsylvania for industrial purposes.

Rural domestic and livestock use

The rural population of Pennsylvania in 1951 was 

about 1, 900,000. An estimated average of 92 mgd of 

ground water, taken from private sources of supply, 

was used daily for rural domestic purposes. This is 

an average of 48 gpd per capita.

Livestock use for 1951 was estimated to average 33 

mgd. The amount of water used by livestock was estimated from the livestock population, as taken from the 

1950 agricultural census, by applying a generally accepted per capita livestock water-use factor.

All domestic water used by the rural population was 

assumed to be ground water. There is little information as to the sources of the supply used by livestock 

but the amount was assumed to be divided equally between surface and ground water.

Air-conditioning use

Air-conditioning is a relatively new but important 

use of water. There has been a steady increase in commercial air-conditioning installations since this practice was initiated a little over a quarter of a century 

ago. In both large and .small communities, many theaters, commercial establishments, and office and industrial buildings are now air-conditioned for comfort 

during summer. Some industries also use airconditioning in their processing.

The records given in this report probably include 

most of the water used for air-conditioning purposes 

except where establishments other than those classified 

as industries use a private source of-supply. Except 

in Allegheny County, Uttle information is available as 

to the amount of water withdrawn from private supply 

by these nonindustrial establishments for airconditioning. Studies made by the Geological Survey in 

1950 indicate that about 500 million gallons of ground 

water was used annually in the Pittsburgh area by these 

establishments during the 100- to 120-day airconditioning season.^/ In general, ground water is 

preferred to surface water for air-conditioning use, 

owing to the relatively uniform temperature of ground 

water, which in summer is cooler than surface water.

2/ Van Tuyl, D. W., 1951, Ground water for airconditioning in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Topog. and Geol. Survey Bull.- W-10.

IlAMLPHiA

EXP LANATION

Less than 10 mgd 10 to 100 mgd 101 to 500 mgd 501 to 1000 mgd 

Figure 1. Withdrawal use of water in Pennsylvania, by counties, 1951.

More than 1000 mgd
Table 2. Average daily withdrawal use of water by counties in Pennsylvania, 1951

(million gallons per day)

Counties

Adams .......

Armstrong..

Beaver.......

Bedford......

Berks.... ....

Blair....... ..

Butler........

Cambria.....

Carbon.......

Centre..... ..

Chester......

Clarion.... ..

Clearfield...

Clinton.......

Columbia....

Crawford....

Cumberland 

Duphin. ......

Delaware....

Elk............

Erie..... .....

Franklin.....

Fulton........

Greene.......

Indiana.......

Jefferson....

Juniata.......

Lawrence....

Lebanon......

Lehigh........

Mifflin.......

Population 

(1950 census)

........ 44,197

........ 1,515,237

........ 80,842

........ 175,192

........ 40,775

........ 255,740

........ 139,514

........ 51,722

........ 144,620

....... 97,320

........ 209,541

........ 7,023

........ 57,558

........ 65,922

........ 159, 141

........ 38,344

........ 85,957

........ 36,532

........ 53,460

........ 78,948

....... 94,457

....... 197,784

........ 414,234

........ 34,503

........ 219,388

........ 189,899

....... 4,944

........ 75,927

........ 10,387

........ 45,394

....... 40.872

........ 77,106

........ 49,147

........ 15,243

....... 257,396

....... 234,717

....... 105,120

....... 81,683

....... 198,207

....... 392,241

....... 101,249

....... 56,607

....... 111,954

....... 43,691

Public supply

Municipal use a/

Surface

0.5 

134.2 

3.3 

4.6 

.2 

12.3 

6.9 

.8 

2.6 

2.6 

20.1

(e) 

2.2

1.8 

7.8 

.2 

3.7 

1.1 

2.0 

(e) 

5.6 

18.8 

28.8 

1.3 

20.7 

10.6 

0 

1.6 

0 

.6 

2.0 

5.0 

1.1 

0 

25.4 

8.8 

6.4 

3.0 

3.6 

39.2 

5.5 

2.6 

5.8 

2.3

Ground

0.5 

12.5 

.4 

2.8 

1.2 

3.6 

1.6 

.7 

3.5 

.7 

.6 

.4 

1.3 

2.8 

1.1 

.5 

(e) 

(e) 

.2 

4.1 

1.0 

1.1 

0 

1.6 

.6 

(e) 

(e) 

.5 

.1 

0 

.2 

.5 

. 1 

.3 

.4 

1.8 

.3 

.6 

8.4 

1.0 

2.0 

1.0 

1.1 

(e)

Industrial use b/

Surface

0.1 

39. 1 

.2 

3.8 

(e) 

6.3 

2.6 

.3 

.8 

1.6 

124.6 

0 

1.5 

.1 

1.2 

0 

1.2 

1.2 

2.0 

(e) 

.1 

6.4 

5.2 

.2 

18.1 

8.5 

0 

2.2 

0

(e) 

.8 

1.2 

.9 

0 

11.5 

4.6 

3.0 

3.5 

2.7 

16.5 

1.8 

1.9 

2.2 

2.3

Ground

(e) 

3.0 

.1 

3.5 

(e) 

.4 

(e) 

.1 

2.3 

(e) 

(e) 

(e) 

0 

.2 

(e) 

.1 

0 

.1 

0 

.9 

(e) 

(e) 

0 

.7 

1.8 

0 

0

(e) 

.0 

0 

7.3 

(e) 

0

(e) 

0 

.3 

(e) 

.1 

6.1 

0 

.2 

(e) 

.1 

0

Total

Surface

0.6 

173.3 

3.5 

8.4 

.2 

18.6 

9.5 

1.1 

3.4 

4.2 

144.7 

(e) 

- 3.7 

1.9 

9.0 

.2 

4.9 

2.3 

4.0 

(e) 

5.7 

25.2 

34.0 

1.5 

38.8 

19.1 

0 

3.8 

0 

.6 

2.8 

6.2 

2.0 

0 

36.9 

13.4 

9.4 

6.5 

6.3 

55.7 

7.3 

4.5 

8.0 

4.6'

Ground

0.5 

15.5 

.5 

6.3 

1.2 

4.0- 

1.6 

.8 

5.8 

.7 

.6 

.4 

1.3 

3.0 

1.1 

.6 

(e) 

. 1 

.2 

5.0 

1.0 

1.1 

0 

2.3 

2.4 

(e) 

(e) 

.5 

.1 

0 

7.5 

.5 

.1 

.3 

.4 

2.1 

.3 

.7 

14.5 

1.0 

2.2 

1.0 

1.2 

(e)

Private supply

Industrial use

Surface

0.2 

2,799.4 

97.6 

504.3 

97.7 

156.4 

65.3 

.9 

58.2 

4.0 

23.1 

.4 

123.2 

46.1 

34.6 

.6 

1.1 

61.0 

.4 

.5 

.2 

211.9 

591.4 

26.9 

121.2 

91.7

(e)

1.4

(e) 

2.0 

14.6 

168.5 

. 1 

.7 

12.8 

152.0 

146.3 

28.7 

14.1 

188.5 

6.1 

10.6 

3.3 

32.4

Ground

5.9 

46.4 

1.5 

17.6 

..1 

5.3 

18.8 

.2 

3.9 

3.3 

.4

(e) 

5.0 

4.3 

1.8 

(e) 

25.4 

.6 

.3 

6.2 

.1 

21.2 

.1 

.7 

.3 

(e) 

.3 

.4 

(e) 

.1 

.1 

.9 

.1 

(e) 

3.0 

2.2 

1.0 

3.5 

3.7 

6.8 

.5 

1.0 

2.1 

.2

Rural use

Surface c/

0.3 

.1 

.2 

. 1 

.4 

.5 

.2 

.7 

.4 

.3 

. 1 

(e) 

(e) 

.3 

.7 

.2 

. 1 

(c) 

.2 

.6 

.3 

.2 

(e) 

(e) 

.4 

.2

(e) 

.5 

.1 

.4 

.2 

.3 

.2 

. 1 

,2 

1.2 

.2 

.3 

.1 

.1 

.2 

(e) 

.4 

.2

Ground 

1

1

2.

1

1

2.

2.

1

4.

2.

3.

.

.

1-

4.

1.

1.

.

1.

2.

1.

1.

.

.

2.

1.

.

2.

.

1.

1.

1.

1.

.

1.

4.

.

.

3.

2.

1.

.

1.

1.
Monroe........ ...... 33,773

Montgomery........ 353,068

Montour....... ...... 16,001

Northampton... .... 185, 243

Northumberland... 117,115 

Perry................ 24,782

Philadelphia........ 2,071,605

Pike.................. 8,425

-Potter................ 16,810

Schuylkill..... ...... 200,577

Snyder. .............. 22,912

Somerset............ 81,813

Sullivan.............. 6,745

Susquehanna.. ...... 31, 970

Tioga.. ............... 35,474

Union................. 23,150

Venango...... ....... 65,328

Warren.............. 42,698

Washington......... 209,628

Wayne....... ......... 28,478

Westmoreland.. ... 313, 179 

Wyoming............ 16,766

York.................. 202,737

Total 10,498,012

2.4

18.0

1.0

12.5

2.4 

.2

312.4

(e)

.1

12.2

.2

.8

.1

1.0

(e)

.6

1.2

.4

8.5

.6

10.8 

.3

6.0

797.3

.4

3.8

0

2.1

.9 

.3

0

.3

.4

2.9

.5

.9

(e)

.2

1.7

(e)

3.2

1.2

.1

.2

.5 

.2

.3

81.2

.3

3.2

.5

14.7

8.4 

0

66.4

0

(e)

4.7

(e)

.3

(e)

(e)

0

.7

.2

. 1

6.3

.2

12.0 

0

11.3

409.5

(e)

.5

0.

.9

.3 

(e)

0

0

(e)

0

0

(e)

0

0

.4

(e)

.5

.2

0

0

.5 

0

.2

30.8

2.7

21.2

1.5

27.2

10.8

.2

378.8

(e)

.1

16.9

.2

1.1

.1

1.0

(e)

1.3

1.4

.5

14.8

.8

22.8 

.3

17.3

1,206.8

.4

4.3

0

3.0

1.2 

.3

0

.3

.4

2.9

.5

.9

(e)

.2

2.1

(e)

3.7

1.4

.1

.2

1.0

.2

.5

112.0

4.2

157.5

8.0

226.0

5.2 

(e)

1,379.5

(e)

(e)

139.1

205.1

.1

1.0

1.2

2.8

(e)

44.4

81.8

310.3

(e)

509.6 

1.0

18.3

8,995.5

(e)

18.3

.1

11.7

3.3 

.2

20.5

(e)

(e)

21.5

(e)

.8

.1

.6

.6

.3

.7

8.8

.4

(e)

3.5 

.3

1.7

288.7

(e)

.3

(e)

.2

.2 

.2

0

(e)

.2

. 1

.2

.4

(e)

.5

.4

.1

.1

.2

.6

.4

.4 

.2

.6

16.5

1 

4

0

2

3

1

1

1

1

1

1

7

3

109

a/ Includes water for residential purposes, business establishments, office buildings, schools, street flushing, and fire pr

b/ Includes water used by public utilities for steam-power generation, steam heating, and gas manufacture.

£/ Livestock.

d/ Rural domestic and livestock.

e/ Less than 0.1 mgd.
USE OF WATER IN PENNSYLVANIA, 1951

Summary of withdrawal uses

Quantity. A comparison of the quantity of water 

withdrawn in each county in Pennsylvania during 1951 is 

presented in figure 1. The areas of greatest water use 

correspond closely to the industrial areas. Development of water supplies has not reached the stage where 

the water-use pattern reflects the availability of water. 

Counties bordering the Susquehanna River, the largest 

stream in Pennsylvania, are, for the most part, small 

water users. Some of the largest ground-water reservoirs, those in the glaciated areas of northwest and 

northeast Pennsylvania, and in the central and eastern 

limestone valleys, have undergone little development.

The five counties having the largest withdrawal uses 

(fig. 2) contain a large proportion of Pennsylvania's 

manufacturing industries. A single manufacturing plant 

using water as a coolant, as in the making of steel, 

may have a larger water withdrawal than most of the 

individual county totals. Water serving such industrial 

use is generally pumped untreated through heatexchange systems and discharged immediately to the 

streams without change except for an increase in temperature and without significant losses. Water used by 

the rural and urban population, although generally polluted during use, is mostly returned to water sources, 

and becomes available for use again. Therefore, the

quantities given in this report for withdrawal uses are 

not indicative of consumptive use, that is, water that 

becomes unavailable for re-use. Of the nearly 11 billion 

gallons of water withdrawn daily in Pennsylvania, probably less than one billion gallons is consumed by evaporation or incorporated in manufactured products.

A part of the water withdrawn may be lost before being used. The larger part of this loss no doubt could 

be prevented. Water is wasted through leakage from 

old or poorly constructed supply lines. When supplies 

are unmetered, consumers are prone to use water excessively. Industries which have developed their own 

private source of supply are often indifferent to water 

economy unless it is known that the supply is limited. 

This may be true of that part of the rural population 

having modern plumbing and using water electrically 

pumped into individual homes and farm buildings. Evaporation from the surface of storage reservoirs is a 

water loss that probably can never be economically 

controlled.

Source. In an industrial area, such as Pennsylvania, 

the larger cities and great manufacturing plants depend 

almost entirely upon surface-water supplies wherever 

available. Generally, requirements of several million 

gallons a day or more can be more economically obtained from streams and lakes than from well fields.

COUNTY

Total per capita use, 

in gallons per day

Allegheny

Philadelphia

Delaware

Westmoreland

Beaver

2004

859

1512

1740

3069

500 1000 I50O 20OO

USE, IN MILLION GALLONS PER DAY

250O 3OOO

Figure 2. Quantities of water withdrawn in five largest water-using counties, 1951.
NONWITHDRAWAL USES

100

RURAL 

(126 mgd)

MUNICIPAL 

(878 mgd)

INDUSTRIAL 

(9724 mgd)

WATER POWER 

(45,892 mgd)

80

60

UJ

o 

or

UJQL

40

20

Ground Water Surface Water

Figure 3. Source of water used.

unless expensive pipelines or reservoirs are required. 

In Pennsylvania, most communities and the larger industries are near surface-water sources.

The smaller communities and industries rely on 

ground water to a much greater degree, where small 

supplies are sufficient and the ground-water reservoirs 

can yield a dependable supply, because the cost of 

surface-water intakes, filter plants, and other necessary facilities is often greater than that of wells. 

Thus, most of the smaller communities in Pennsylvania utilize ground water, or a combination of ground 

and surface water, but although these communities outnumber those using surface-water supplies, they furnish less than 10 percent of the total public water supply in the State.

Adequate watei for farm and rural residential use 

can be obtained almost without fail from wells and 

springs, and there has been little need for rural users

to resort to development of more costly surface-water 

supplies for their needs. Many stock ponds have been 

developed recently in rural areas, but more as a part 

of broad conservation programs than for water supply.

The relative use of surface water and ground water 

as sources for municipal, industrial and rural needs 

is shown in figure 3.

NONWITHDRAWAL USES 

Water power

Water required for water power to generate electricity averaged 45,892 mgd during 1951, more than four 

times the combined requirements for all other uses 

(fig. 4). Of the total, 43,.063 mgd was used at hydroelectric plants along the lower Susquehanna River.
USE OF WATER IN PENNSYLVANIA, 1951

MUNICIFftL 

878 mgd

RURAL 

126 mgd

Figure 4. Rural, municipal, industrial and water-power use of water in Pennsylvania, 1951.

The water was used by hydroelectric plants in only 

ten counties; the county named is the county in which 

the plant is located.

Million gallons per day

Berks..........

Clarion........

Cumberland.. 

Huntingdon..., 

Lancaster....,

Monroe........

Northampton. 

Pike............

Snyder.........

York...........

Total 45,892

There are a few small hydroelectric plants that do 

not keep records of water used and accordingly they 

are not included in the above table. No records are 

available as to the water used to develop mechanical 

power to turn machinery in small factories or at grist 

mills along many of Pennsylvania's smaller streams.

Navigation

Water transportation at Philadelphia and through inland waterways continues to be an important factor in 

the prosperity of Pennsylvania. The port of Philadelphia ranked second in importance only to New York in 

1950, handling 68, 358, 388 tons. Pittsburgh Harbor is 

the most important inland river port in the United 

States. The total shipping handled on the Allegheny, 

the Monongahela, and the Ohio Riverl in the Pittsburgh 

area in 1950 was 38, 188, 192 tons. Erie is noted principally for its Great Lakes commerce. Erie Harbor 

handled 6, 390, 612 tons of lake shipping during 1949.

Waste disposal

Streams have long been used for the disposal of 

wastes. For many years, the volume of waste discharged was so small that there were few pollution 

problems. Most streams had sufficient flow and water 

quality to assimilate sewage and processing wastes 

discharged into their waterways, generally without 

treatment. This condition no longer is true for the 

quantities of sewage and processing wastes discharged 

into streams have become too large to be assimilated 

adequately. Water pollution, both surface and underground.is now a major problem which in some areas 

is increasing in seriousness.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania now requires 

that all communities and industries provide some degree of treatment of all wastes before returning the 

effluent to the waterways. The clean up of the waterways in Pennsylvania is being pursued actively by the 

Commonwealth at the present time (1953). However, 

the streams will remain important for the dilution of 

wastes.

Recreation

Pennsylvania's rivers, lakes, and ponds provide 

water recreational facilities to an increasing number 

of people in Pennsylvania each year. The 672, 466 licenses issued in Pennsylvania in 1951 indicate the popularity of fishing as a sport. Although no estimate can 

be made of the total number who participate in swimming and boating, records at the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters show that in 1951 almost
OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE

4 million persons visited its State parks where watersport facilities were available.

Water is needed by the wildlife that furnishes sport 

for 855, 000 people who hunt on Pennsylvania's lands 

each year.

Commercial fisheries

Although fishing is very closely related to sports and 

recreation in Pennsylvania, it is also of importance to 

industry. The commercial fisheries (including shellfish) in Pennsylvania in 1947 obtained 1, 357,000 pounds 

valued at $354, 780.

FUTURE DEMANDS FOR WATER

The industrial production of Pennsylvania's industries reached the remarkable total of $23, 097, 663, 200 

in 1951, according to the Pennsylvania Department of 

Internal Affairs. This was three times the value of the 

products of industry in 1941. Although no complete 

statistics on water use prior to 1951 are available, 

studies made elsewhere in industrial areas indicate 

that recent increases in water use have been generally 

proportional to industrial growth. It is not unlikely 

that there has been at least a twofold increase in total 

water use in Pennsylvania during the last decade, and 

that most of this increase has been due to industry, 

notwithstanding an increase in population of 600, 000 

during the same period. There is no question, of 

course, that present-day trends in greater use of such 

automatic home appliances as dishwashers, washing 

machines, and garbage-disposal units will increase the 

domestic per-capita rate in the future.

Figure 5 is a graph showing the increase in population in Pennsylvania since 1860, the population for 

1960 having been estimated by the Pennsylvania State 

Planning Board. The municipal use of water will undoubtedly keep pace with the population trend, but will 

probably not be commensurate with industrial increases in water use.

At the present time, Pennsylvania is a highly industrialized State supporting heavy industry which requires tremendous amounts of water. Even a small 

expansion in industrial activities on a state-wide scale 

will reflect greatly upon water usage. Nowhere can the 

immediate need for increased water supply be anticipated more clearly than in southeastern Pennsylvania 

centering in southeastern Bucks County. The Fairless 

Works of the United States Steel Corp. is now under 

construction near Morrisvilie, Pa. When completed it 

will be the largest integrated steel plant in the world. 

Several large companies making derivative products 

are also building industrial plants in the same area. 

The population of Bucks County is expected to double 

within the next 2 years. Although little information is 

available as to the industrial water needs of the affiliated companies, it is anticipated that the Fairless 

Works alone will draw 15 mgd from its own wells and 

235 mgd from the Delaware River. In the future interests of nagivation in this region, consideration is being given to the widening and deepening of the channel 

of the Delaware River to permit ocean-going vessels 

to reach as far as Trenton Falls.

At present, the use of water for irrigation appears 

relatively unimportant in Pennsylvania. According to 

the U. S. Department of Agriculture 1950 census, only 

7, 302 acres of farm land was under supplemental irrigation. Of this total, 4, 570 acres was in Bucks County 

where only about 2, 000 gallons a day was used during 

the growing season. Although Pennsylvania with its irregular topography and humid climate cannot be expected to irrigate on as large a scale as is done in Western 

States, it is believed that, within only a few years, 

Pennsylvania and other Eastern States will adopt supplementary irrigation on an increasing scale. Droughts 

causing heavy crop losses have been experienced in 

Eastern States at all-too-frequent intervals in the past.

OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE

With proper planning, Pennsylvania appears to be 

adequately supplied with water to take care of its future 

needs. Its average rainfall of 42 inches is the equivalent of 90,230 mgd. Pennsylvania's rainfall exceeds 

the average for the United States by 13 inches or more 

than 40 percent. And, although approximately half the 

water that falls on Pennsylvania is lost through evaporation or use by vegetation, the remainder is many 

times the estimated consumption of water by man and 

his activities in Pennsylvania.

Although the total amount of water available appears 

adequate to ,meet the water needs of Pennsylvania for 

many years to come, there are many problems of unequal distribution, abuses in use, and unwise development practices that face present users. These problems will become more acute as water use increases. 

One of the most serious problems is that of adequately 

planning and constructing facilities for water supplies 

during drought.

In 1930, Pennsylvania experienced its most devastating drought in history when 29 inches of precipitation 

fell on Pennsylvania as compared with a normal of 42 

inches. This water deficiency caused tremendous losses and inconveniences to population, agriculture, and 

industry. Another drought of like proportions occurring 

today would be far more seriously felt in most parts of 

Pennsylvania that it was in 1930,.

As the result of the water shortages experienced in 

1930, some municipal water systems have increased 

their storage facilities. Low-water conditions in the 

Pittsburgh area have been improved with the completion 

of eight flood-control and navigation reservoirs on the 

Allegheny and the Monongahela Rivers. The release 

of water from these reservoirs during low flow will be 

of great aid in maintaining municipal and industrial 

water supplies in case of another drought. They will 

also provide low-water regulation for water supply in 

the interests of pollution abatement and navigation. 

In 1933, the State-owned Pymatuning Dam and Reservoir were placed in operation. This reservoir, with 

a usable capacity of 51, 000 million gallons, provides 

flood protection for the lower Shenango River basin. 

It is also regulated so as to insure a flow of not less 

than 130 mgd in the Shenango River during low-flow 

periods in summer and fall. The large Sharon and 

Newcastle industrial areas no longer worry about the 

shortages of water supply that retarded their growth
10 USE OF WATER IN PENNSYLVANIA, 1951

10

Estimated

8

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O

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Figure 5. Population of Pennsylvania, 1860-1950 with estimate for 1960.
OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE 11

for many years. There are other places where storage facilities have been increased in recent years but 

they are far too few.

It has not yet been demonstrated that precipitation 

can be increased or controlled effectively by man, but 

the topography of Pennsylvania affords abundant opportunities to construct impounding reservoirs which will 

permit the storage of water in times of plenty in order 

that it may be available to meet water demands during 

prolonged periods of deficiency.

Another serious problem facing the future is the pollution of water supplies. However, great progress has 

been made in the reduction of stream pollution, and the 

quality of surface water is improving in many areas 

throughout Pennsylvania. Some streams heretofore unsuitable for use or usable only after exorbitant treatment costs are again becoming available as economic 

sources of supply. However, acid mine waste is still 

a serious pollution problem in some areas and probably can never be economically controlled. Because mine 

waste pollution of streams limits the use of that water 

it will continue to retard growth in some sections of 

the State.

The pollution of Pennsylvania's ground-water respurces is a no less serious threat, particularly since the 

degree of pollution and its causes are not readily apparent nor easily controlled.

Much remains to be done in effectively regulating 

the development and use of ground water in Pennsylvania so as to insure that it will be continuously available 

and of satisfactory quality. During the past few years, 

the use of ground water has been increasing at a rapid 

rate in Pennsylvania. Ground water has certain advantages over surface water and it is often preferred 

where the supply is adequate to suit the demand and 

where economical treatment is a factor. Its greatest 

advantage is its widespread availability, at least in 

moderate supply. Ground water is generally free from 

disease-producing bacteria and suspended matter; it 

has more uniform chemical composition, and a more 

uniform temperature making it more desirable for 

cooling purposes than surface water. The added impetus given to the use of ground water in recent years is 

due in part to the improvement of well-construction 

methods and the development of better pumping 

equipment.

There is a widespread opinion that ground-water 

levels are progressively decreasing and that soon the

supply may be exhausted. There is nothing to substantiate such a claim. There are a few areas in Pennsylvania where ground-water levels are declining, and 

probably are reaching the critical condition of overdevelopment, but these are the result of heavy localized 

pumpage.

In downtown Pittsburgh, the large withdrawals of 

ground water, particularly for air-conditioning purposes, cause a marked seasonal decline in water levels', and little additional development in this area can 

be anticipated. However, large undeveloped supplies 

are available in nearby valley sediments along the Allegheny and the Ohio Rivers.

Ground-water problems are present in the Philadelphia area. Heavy ground-water pumping in south Philadelphia has induced movement of waters of inferior 

quality into the principal aquifers in the area. This 

contamination has increased rapidly in recent years 

and is of grave concern to the many industries in south 

Philadelphia that are using this source of supply.

The quantity of ground water used will always be far 

less than surface water because the large supplies required by the larger cities and industries generally 

cannot be obtained locally. Nevertheless, Pennsylvania's over-all supply of ground water is large and if 

proper measures are taken for its conservation it 

should satisfy Pennsylvania's needs for many years to 

come. Far too little is known at present as to the 

availability of unexploited ground water, but it is likely 

that supplies in quantities and of a quality attractive to 

industries are available in many parts of the State. At 

present there are no legal controls to protect aquifers 

against overdevelopment nor safeguards against contamination. No doubt, legislation will be enacted in 

the near future so that there will be assurance that this 

important resource can be mare effectively utilized.

Pennsylvania's water resources are abundant and, 

with few exceptions, they should be ample to care for 

future needs. All that is required is that they be conserved for use at the proper time, that they be properly 

and fairly allocated and distributed, in accordance with 

sound State laws and interstate compacts, and that they 

be protected against misuse and abuse. As the use of 

water increases to keep pace with Pennsylvania's progress in ever-greater industrialization, hydro logic 

data not the least of which is the continuing appraisal 

of all uses of water are becoming more and more essential for sound planning.

IHT.-DUP. SBC.. IASH., D.C. M182S