Appendix B: 

Graphics

Freshwater Use by U.S. Power Plants: 

Electricity’s Thirst for a Precious Resource

Energy and Water in a Warming World Initiative (EW3), 2011
Figure 1: Freshwater intensity of power

Withdrawal Consumption

Min Min

Max Max

(2008 data; calculated from EW3 database using minimum and maximum NREL values)

Energy and Water in a Warming World Initiative (EW3), 2011
Figure 2: Power Generation by Fuel

1%

49%

0%

6%

21%

20%

2% 0% 1%

Total Generation by Fuel Biomass

Coal

Geothermal

Hydropower

Natural Gas

Nuclear

Oil

Solar

Wind

1%

59%

0%

18%

21%

1% 0%

Total Generation by Fuel that Uses 

Freshwater

(2008 data; calculated from EW3 database)

Energy and Water in a Warming World Initiative (EW3), 2011
Figure 3: Water withdrawn and consumed by fuels

Biomass

0%

Coal

67%

Geothermal

0%

Natural Gas

4%

Nuclear

27%

Oil

2%

Solar

0%

Wind

0%

Hydropower

0%

Fresh Water Withdrawal by Fuel

Biomass

1%

Coal

65%

Geothermal

0%

Natural Gas

9%

Nuclear

24%

Oil

1%

Solar

Wind 0%

0%

Fresh Water Consumed by Fuel

(2008 data; calculated from EW3 database)

Energy and Water in a Warming World Initiative (EW3), 2011
Figure 4: Water Withdrawals in the US

(2005 data, source: USGS 2009)

Energy and Water in a Warming World Initiative (EW3), 2011
Figure 5: Water Consumption in the US

(1995 data, source: USGS 1998)

Energy and Water in a Warming World Initiative (EW3), 2011

irrigation

81%

drinking water

7%

industrial

4%

thermoelectric

3% other

5%

(Total freshwater consumption = 99,962 MGD) 
Table 1: Once-through cooling systems

Cooling Type Generation (MWh)

Number of 

Generators

Percent of Total 

Generation

East of the Mississippi 2,222,163,874 1,911

Cooling Pond 254,301,157 117 7%

Dry Cooled 36,679,706 63 1%

Once-Through 940,452,713 851 26%

Recirculating 990,730,297 880 27%

West of the Mississippi 1,386,527,385 1,838

Cooling Pond 206,724,049 115 6%

Dry Cooled 48,696,308 73 1%

Once-Through 263,443,981 289 7%

Recirculating 867,663,047 1,361 24%

Grand Total 3,608,691,259 3,749

(2008 data; calculated from EW3 database)

Energy and Water in a Warming World Initiative (EW3), 2011
Figure 6: Water Used by Fuel

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

Billions of gallons annually

Fresh Water Withdrawn by Fuel Type

Hydropower

Wind

Solar

Oil

Nuclear

Natural Gas

Geothermal

Coal

Biomass

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Billions of gallons annually

Fresh Water Consumed by Fuel Type

(2008 data; calculated from EW3 database)

Energy and Water in a Warming World Initiative (EW3), 2011
Calculated Reported

Figure 7: Total Withdrawals, by basin and state

(2008 data; calculated from EW3 database using NREL median values)

Energy and Water in a Warming World Initiative (EW3), 2011
Figure 8: Total Consumption, by basin and state

(2008 data; calculated from EW3 database using NREL median values)

Calculated Reported

Energy and Water in a Warming World Initiative (EW3), 2011
Table 2: Water withdrawal intensity of power by state 

Withdrawal Intensity in gallons/kWh

STATE

Total # of 

Power 

Plants Biomass Coal

GeothermalNatural 

Gas Nuclear Oil Solar Wind

Hydroelectric

TOTAL 

withdrawal

intensity

VT 52 --- --- --- --- 44.35 0.00 --- 0 0.00 33.9

NE 72 0 31.35 --- 1.44 44.35 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 33.5

VA 101 9.06 19.38 --- 3.54 44.35 10.95 --- --- 0.00 26.9

MO 81 0 32.85 --- 0.63 1.101 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 26.7

MI 157 0.41 33.17 --- 4.12 22.08 0.27 --- 0.00 0.00 26.5

NC 105 28.22 23.72 --- 0.04 35.85 0.00 0.026 --- 0.00 26.3

SC 69 12.38 11.97 --- 2.51 35.33 4.09 --- --- 0.00 23.8

WI 154 23.7 20.87 --- 4.67 44.35 24.60 --- 0.00 0.00 23.4

TN 53 0.80 36.35 --- 0.00 1.10 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 23.2

AL 58 5.67 21.87 --- 0.25 28.74 1.17 --- --- 0.00 19.4

OH 97 23.28 19.90 --- 0.38 1.10 34.55 --- 0.00 0.00 17.5

IN 68 0.00 17.47 --- 11.33 --- 1.23 --- 0.00 0.00 17.1

IA 124 0.00 21.32 --- 1.55 1.10 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 16.5

IL 144 0.00 22.14 --- 0.33 11.42 0.22 --- 0.00 0.00 16.2

DE 12 0.00 20.07 --- 0.26 --- 11.65 --- --- --- 15.5

MN 196 7.08 12.75 --- 4.10 28.12 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 14.9

NY 255 0.57 34.04 --- 2.44 23.25 26.45 --- 0.00 0.00 14.4

MD 29 0.42 23.86 --- 10.56 0.00 3.62 --- --- 0.00 14.4

LA 48 15.37 8.73 --- 8.45 26.53 6.41 --- --- 0.00 11.7

KY 40 0.67 10.19 --- 0.00 --- 0.00 --- --- 0.00 9.8

ND 25 --- 10.81 --- --- --- 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 9.8

PA 131 0.56 9.98 --- 0.23 11.29 9.01 0.03 0.00 0.00 9.5

WV 33 --- 7.26 --- 0.00 --- 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 7.1

KS 79 --- 7.35 --- 0.88 7.05 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 6.7

NH 51 16.80 36.35 --- 0.25 0.00 27.20 --- 0.00 0.00 6.5

SD 17 --- 11.86 --- 0.00 --- 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 6.2

(2008 data; calculated from EW3 database)

Energy and Water in a Warming World Initiative (EW3), 2011
Table 2 (ctd): Water withdrawal intensity of power by state

Withdrawal Intensity in gallons/kWh

STATE

Total # of 

Power 

Plants Biomass Coal

GeothermalNatural 

Gas Nuclear Oil Solar Wind

Hydroelectric

TOTAL 

withdrawal

intensity

MS 32 0.28 8.55 --- 5.22 1.10 0.00 --- --- --- 5.5

GA 83 12.16 7.78 --- 0.26 1.10 1.22 --- --- 0.00 5.4

TX 276 0.63 10.26 --- 1.88 7.05 0.56 --- 0.00 0.00 5.4

NM 31 0.00 7.08 --- 0.53 --- --- --- 0.00 0.00 5.4

NJ 54 0.00 22.20 --- 0.40 0.94 0.09 0.03 0.00 0.00 4.0

FL 77 0.69 1.44 --- 3.60 0.00 15.40 --- --- 0.00 3.8

ME 66 17.65 1.01 --- 2.86 --- 34.65 --- 0.00 0.00 3.7

WY 43 --- 3.53 --- 0.00 --- 0.12 --- 0.00 0.00 3.3

AK 83 --- 23.60 --- 0.00 --- 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 2.5

AR 42 30.86 2.56 --- 1.72 1.10 0.00 --- --- 0.00 2.3

RI 10 0.00 --- --- 2.35 --- 0.47 --- --- 0.00 2.3

OK 55 --- 3.37 --- 1.50 --- 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 2.3

MT 33 --- 3.62 --- 0.00 --- 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 2.3

CT 34 0.83 12.60 --- 0.10 0.00 10.35 --- --- 0.00 2.1

MA 69 0.13 5.57 --- 0.67 0.00 1.05 0.03 0.00 0.00 1.8

CO 95 0.00 2.44 --- 0.18 --- 0.00 0.03 0.00 0.00 1.6

DC 2 --- --- --- --- --- 1.03 --- --- --- 1.0

AZ 46 0.71 1.70 --- 0.26 1.10 0.00 0.04 --- 0.00 1.0

OR 88 0.45 12.23 --- 0.25 --- --- --- 0.00 0.00 0.9

UT 56 0.00 1.01 0.09 0.15 --- 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 0.8

NV 39 --- 1.01 0.16 0.78 --- 0.00 0.05 --- 0.00 0.8

CA 630 0.52 4.39 0.85 0.28 0.00 0.49 0.81 0.00 0.00 0.3

HI 27 0.88 1.01 0.27 --- --- 0.04 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.2

WA 93 0.61 --- --- 0.21 1.10 0.00 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.1

ID 80 0.88 1.01 0.27 0.22 --- 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 0.1

(2008 data; calculated from EW3 database)

Energy and Water in a Warming World Initiative (EW3), 2011
Table 3: Water consumption intensity of power by state

Water Consumption Intensity in gallons/kWh

STATE

Number 

of Plants Biomass Coal

GeothermalNatural 

Gas Nuclear Oil Solar Wind

Hydroelectric

TOTAL 

CONSUMPTIVE 

INTENSITY

AK 83 --- 0.41 --- 0.00 --- 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 0.04

AL 58 0.52 0.43 --- 0.19 0.41 0.80 --- --- 0.00 0.37

AR 42 0.31 0.67 --- 0.20 0.67 0.00 --- --- 0.00 0.53

AZ 46 0.45 0.68 --- 0.20 0.67 0.00 0.04 --- 0.00 0.48

CA 630 0.33 0.65 0.85 0.12 0.00 0.34 0.81 0.00 0.00 0.15

CO 95 0.00 0.67 --- 0.14 --- 0.00 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.47

CT 34 0.53 0.09 --- 0.08 0.00 0.13 --- --- 0.00 0.04

DC 2 --- --- --- --- --- 0.71 --- --- --- 0.71

DE 12 0.00 0.45 --- 0.20 --- 0.08 --- --- --- 0.36

FL 77 0.43 0.40 --- 0.13 0.00 0.16 --- --- 0.00 0.21

GA 83 0.46 0.60 --- 0.19 0.67 0.78 --- --- 0.00 0.57

HI 27 0.55 0.69 0.27 --- --- 0.04 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.16

IA 124 0.00 0.44 --- 0.20 0.67 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 0.41

ID 80 0.55 0.69 0.27 0.17 --- 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 0.05

IL 144 0.00 0.42 --- 0.10 0.57 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 0.48

IN 68 0.00 0.48 --- 0.28 --- 0.81 --- 0.00 0.00 0.47

KS 79 --- 0.61 --- 0.60 0.61 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 0.58

KY 40 0.43 0.57 --- 0.00 --- 0.00 --- --- 0.00 0.56

LA 48 0.45 0.59 --- 0.19 0.44 0.74 --- --- 0.00 0.36

MA 69 0.08 0.04 --- 0.08 0.00 0.02 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.05

MD 29 0.26 0.40 --- 0.13 0.00 0.56 --- --- 0.00 0.25

ME 66 0.43 0.69 --- 0.13 --- 0.24 --- 0.00 0.00 0.14

MI 157 0.26 0.25 --- 0.21 0.48 0.19 --- 0.00 0.00 0.30

MN 196 0.50 0.54 --- 0.14 0.42 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 0.44

MO 81 0.00 0.29 --- 0.15 0.67 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 0.32

MS 32 0.18 0.59 --- 0.19 0.67 0.00 --- --- --- 0.43

MT 33 --- 0.65 --- 0.00 --- 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 0.41

(2008 data; calculated from EW3 database)

Energy and Water in a Warming World Initiative (EW3), 2011
Table 3 (ctd): Water consumption intensity of power by state

Water Consumption Intensity in gallons/kWh

STATE

Number 

of Plants Biomass Coal

GeothermalNatural 

Gas Nuclear Oil Solar Wind

Hydroelectric

TOTAL 

CONSUMPTIVE 

INTENSITY

NC 105 0.28 0.41 --- 0.03 0.35 0.00 0.03 --- 0.00 0.36

ND 25 --- 0.57 --- --- --- 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 0.51

NE 72 0.00 0.31 --- 0.13 0.27 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 0.29

NH 51 0.37 0.25 --- 0.20 0.00 0.19 --- 0.00 0.00 0.11

NJ 54 0.00 0.28 --- 0.11 0.57 0.06 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.37

NM 31 0.00 0.61 --- 0.38 --- --- --- 0.00 0.00 0.53

NV 39 --- 0.69 0.16 0.04 --- 0.00 0.05 --- 0.00 0.20

NY 255 0.36 0.28 --- 0.07 0.47 0.23 --- 0.00 0.00 0.22

OH 97 0.20 0.45 --- 0.19 0.67 0.24 --- 0.00 0.00 0.47

OK 55 --- 0.66 --- 0.30 --- 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 0.45

OR 88 0.28 0.55 --- 0.19 --- --- --- 0.00 0.00 0.10

PA 131 0.35 0.58 --- 0.18 0.58 0.62 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.53

RI 10 0.00 --- --- 0.14 --- 0.33 --- --- 0.00 0.14

SC 69 0.41 0.55 --- 0.08 0.35 0.03 --- --- 0.00 0.42

SD 17 --- 0.55 --- 0.00 --- 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 0.29

TN 53 0.51 0.25 --- 0.00 0.67 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 0.36

TX 276 0.40 0.57 --- 0.19 0.61 0.39 --- 0.00 0.00 0.37

UT 56 0.00 0.69 0.09 0.12 --- 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 0.58

VA 101 0.44 0.46 --- 0.09 0.27 0.31 --- --- 0.00 0.34

VT 52 --- --- --- --- 0.27 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 0.21

WA 93 0.38 --- --- 0.16 0.67 0.00 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.09

WI 154 0.20 0.41 --- 0.14 0.27 0.17 --- 0.00 0.00 0.34

WV 33 --- 0.60 --- 0.00 --- 0.00 --- 0.00 0.00 0.59

WY 43 --- 0.57 --- 0.00 --- 0.09 --- 0.00 0.00 0.54

(2008 data; calculated from EW3 database)

Energy and Water in a Warming World Initiative (EW3), 2011
Table 4: “Power-Full” Water Resources

The 15 water resources that generate the most electricity in the U.S. (Specific water sources are not reported by some 

plants, representing approximately 12% of water-cooled power generation.)

Generation 

(MWh)

CALCULATED 

WITHDRAWAL 

(millions gallons)

CALCULATED 

CONSUMPTION 

(millions gallons)

withdrawal 

intensity

consumption 

intensity

Ohio River 269,084,675 4,016,481 137,679 14.9 0.51

Mississippi River 99,195,439 2,905,548 30,816 29.3 0.31

Lake Michigan 80,882,904 2,388,377 28,239 29.5 0.35

Missouri River 67,641,962 2,424,429 18,366 35.8 0.27

Susquehanna River 67,031,097 1,334,224 32,950 19.9 0.49

Lake Erie 49,616,748 863,129 23,641 17.4 0.48

Delaware River 48,103,614 303,920 23,549 6.3 0.49

Chattahoochee River 46,479,640 61,421 26,726 1.3 0.58

Pacific Ocean 44,775,583 1,790,550 11,212 40.0 0.25

Green River 43,788,364 78,014 29,662 1.8 0.68

Lake Ontario 31,910,341 435,938 17,195 13.7 0.54

Lake Norman 29,895,076 1,223,246 7,798 40.9 0.26

Atlantic Ocean 28,979,285 1,285,231 7,795 44.4 0.27

Arkansas River 28,319,380 150,853 18,140 5.3 0.64

Colorado River 26,871,845 166,958 13,777 6.2 0.51

(2008 data; calculated from EW3 database)

Energy and Water in a Warming World Initiative (EW3), 2011
Figure 9: Reporting Gaps – Calculated vs. Reported

(2008 data; calculated from EW3 database using NREL median values)

Withdrawal Consumption

Energy and Water in a Warming World Initiative (EW3), 2011
Total Water Withdrawals 

Figure 10: Reporting Gaps, % of calculated

(2008 data; calculated from EW3 

database)

Total Water Consumption

(2008 data; calculated from EW3 database using NREL median values)

Energy and Water in a Warming World Initiative (EW3), 2011
Withdrawal

Max

Min

Figure 11: Range of Reporting Gaps, % of calculated

(2008 data; calculated from EW3 database using NREL minimum and maximum values)

Energy and Water in a Warming World Initiative (EW3), 2011

Max

Min

Consumption
Min

Max Max

Min

Withdrawal Consumption

Figure 12: Range of Reporting Gaps, % of calculated

(2008 data; calculated from EW3 database using NREL minimum and maximum values)

Energy and Water in a Warming World Initiative (EW3), 2011
Table 5: Comparison of plant reported data with calculations: 

Upper Colorado River Basin

Power Plant

Name

EIA REPORTED 

CONSUMPTION 

(millions gallons)

RECLAMATION 

REPORTED 

CONSUMPTION

(millions gallons)

Calculated Min 

(millions gallons)

CALCULATED 

CONSUMPTION 

(millions gallons)

Calculated Max 

(millions gallons)

Bonanza 2,949 1,955 1,793 2,566 4,108

Cameo 0 38 40 101 128

Carbon 920 771 578 828 1,326

Craig 5,025 4,731 4,801 6,871 11,001

Four Corners 5,426 7,520 4,405 8,003 10,279

Hayden 920 952 1,643 2,351 3,765

Hunter 6,346 5,379 4,919 7,040 11,272

Huntington 4,506 3,315 3,432 4,911 7,864

Jim Bridger 8,516 8,732 7,346 10,513 16,834

Naughton 3,609 3,538 2,455 3,513 5,625

Navajo 8,917 8,581 8,411 12,038 19,275

Nucla 0 485 333 476 762

San Juan 7,832 7,623 5,122 7,331 11,739

Grand Total 54,966 53,620 45,276 66,543 103,977

(2008 EIA data; calculated from EW3 database; Reclamation info: http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/programs/crbstudy/Report1/TechRptC.pdf)

Energy and Water in a Warming World Initiative (EW3), 2011
State 

(s)

Sub-basin 

Name

Reported Plant 

Name

Reported 

Plant Fuel 

Type

Reported 

Plant 

Capacity 

(MW)

Reported Plant 

Cooling Type

Reported Plant 

Water Source

Subbasin 

WaSSI

Sub-basin 

WaSSI

Anomaly

WY Bitter Jim Bridger Coal 2,318 Recirculating Green River 2.18 0.85 Simplot Phosphates Oil 12 Recirculating Municipality

IA MononaHarrison Ditch

George Neal North Coal 1,046 Once-through Missouri River 0.78 0.72 George Neal South Coal 640 Once-through Missouri River

TX Lake O' the 

Pines

Lone Star Natural gas 40 Once-through Ellison Creek Reserv

0.87 0.72 Monticello Coal 1,980 Once-through Monticello Reservoir

Welsh Coal 1,674 Recirculating Swauano Creek Reserv

Wilkes Natural gas 882 Recirculating Johnson Creek Reserv

NC/SC Upper Catawba

Catawba Nuclear 2,410 Once-through Lake Wylie

0.75 0.69 Marshall Coal 1,996 Once-through Lake Norman

McGuire Nuclear 2,441 Once-through Lake Norman

Riverbend Coal 466 Once-through Catawba River

ND Knife

Antelope Valley Coal 870 Recirculating Lake Sakakawea

Coal Creek Coal 1,210 Recirculating River 0.84 0.68 

Stanton Coal 190 Once-through River

MI Black-Macatawa

J H Campbell Coal, oil 1,605 Once-through, none Lake Michigan

0.79 0.67 

James De Young Coal 63 Once-through Lake Macatawa

New Covert 

Generating Facility Natural gas 1,176 Recirculating Lake Michigan

Palisades Nuclear 812 Recirculating Lake Michigan

MO Little Chariton Thomas Hill Coal 1,135 Once-through Thomas Hill Lake 0.67 0.66 

MI/OH Ottawa-Stony

Fermi Nuclear, oil 1,281 Recirculating, none Lake Erie

J R Whiting Coal, oil 364 Once-through, none Lake Erie 0.89 0.60 

Monroe Coal 3,280 Once-Though Raisin River

NC/SC Seneca Oconee Nuclear 2,667 Once-through Keowee River 0.71 0.60 

NC/VA Upper Dan

Belews Creek Coal 2,160 Once-through Belews Lake

Dan River Coal 290 Once-through Dan River 0.63 0.59 

Roxboro Coal 2,558 Cooling pond Hyco Lake (Hyco River)

VA Pamunkey North Anna Hydro, nuclear 1,960 None, once-through North Anna River 0.59 0.56 West Point Mill Biomass 101 Recirculating Wells

TN Emory Kingston Coal 1,700 Once-through Clinch And Emory Rivers 0.55 0.54 

Table 6: Top 25 Watersheds by WaSSI Anomaly

(calculated from EW3 database; see Appendix A)

Energy and Water in a Warming World Initiative (EW3), 2011
State

(s)

Sub-basin 

Name Reported Plant Name

Reported 

Plant Fuel 

Type

Reporte

d Plant 

Capacity 

(MW)

Reported Plant Cooling 

Type

Reported Plant 

Water Source

Subbasin 

WaSSI

Sub-basin 

WaSSI

Anomaly

MS/TN Horn LakeNonconnah

Allen Steam Plant Coal 990 Once-through Mississippi River 0.72 0.52 TVA Southaven Combined Cycle Natural gas 904 Recirculating Wells

NC/SC South Fork 

Catawba G G Allen Coal 1,155 Once-through Lake Wylie 0.61 0.52 

SC Cooper

Cogen South Coal 99 Once-through Edisto River

0.61 0.50 

Cross Coal 2,390 Recirculating Diversion Canal

Jefferies Coal, hydro, oil 578 Recirc, none, once-through Lake Moultrie/Tail 

Race Canal

Williams Coal, natural gas 687 Once-through, none Back River Reservoir

WI Trempealeau Alma Coal 181 Once-through Mississippi River 0.51 0.48 John P Madgett Coal 387 Once-through Mississippi River

MI St. Clair

Belle River Coal, nat. gas, oil 1,664 Once-through, none St. Clair River

0.58 0.47 Cargill Salt Coal 2 Once-through Saint Clair River

Greenwood Natural gas 1,071 Cooling pond, none Cooling Pond

St Clair Coal 1,547 Once-through St Clair River

MO Cuivre Sioux Coal 1,099 Once-through Mississippi River 0.50 0.47 

MO Meramec Labadie Coal 2,389 Once-through Missouri River 0.49 0.44 

NY IrondequoitNinemile

Oswego Harbor Power Oil 1,804 Once-through Lake Ontario

R. E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant Nuclear 614 Once-through Lake Ontario 0.50 0.44 

Sithe Independence Station Natural Gas 1,086 Recirculating Municipality

IN Muscatatuck Clifty Creek Coal 1,303 Once-through Ohio River 0.44 0.43 

AZ/NM Carrizo Wash Coronado Coal 822 Recirculating Other 0.59 0.41 

NY Oak OrchardTwelvemile

AES Somerset LLC Coal 655 Once-through Lake Ontario

Lockport Energy Associates LP Natural gas 221 Recirculating Municipality 0.54 0.41 

Rochester 7 Coal 253 Once-through Lake Ontario

OH Cedar-Portage Bay Shore Coal, oil 639 Once-through Lake Erie 0.46 0.37 Davis Besse Nuclear 925 Recirculating Lake Erie

GA Upper Oconee Harllee Branch Coal 1,746 Once-through Lake Sinclair 0.43 0.36 

Table 6 (ctd): Top 25 Watersheds by WaSSI Anomaly

Notes: 2008 data, based on reporting to EIA, with some data corrected based on other sources. See Appendix A for methodology. Ranked by WaSSI anomaly. Chart includes only 

the power plants that require water for cooling, or whose cooling needs were unspecified. “Sub-basin name” is the name of the eight-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC-8) used by the 

U.S Geological Survey. “Reported plant fuel type” and “reported plant cooling type” include multiple entries for plants reporting more than one fuel or cooling type. “WaSSI

anomaly” is the difference between the WaSSI calculated with and without power plant water use included. The WaSSI is calculated using USGS water demand data in combination 

with our calculations of power plant water use based on reported generation for 2008, the median NREL coefficients (Macknick et al. 2011), and reported water source. 

(calculated from EW3 database; see Appendix A)

Energy and Water in a Warming World Initiative (EW3), 2011