Even so, domestic use increased as a share of the total, rising to 12 percent in 1995 from 10 percent in 1985. It grew by 18 percent from 1980 to 1995. But because of greater efficiencies, the per-person use in this category has stabilized at about 180 gallons a day. The amount of water used by livestock and rural households has risen 58 percent since 1980. Much of the jump is attributed to growth in the raising of fish, fur-bearing animals, horses and pets.
Most water is returned to rivers and streams after being used.
Consumption of the rest by people, animals and crops dropped by almost 8 percent from 1980 to 1985, but has since rebounded to its 1980 level. All of the categories noted so far apply to water withdrawn from its natural location, known as off-stream use. It is this overall category that declined by about 9 percent, to 402 billion gallons in 1995, from 440 billion gallons a day in 1980. Far more water is used without being removed from the source, by hydroelectric power generators. This type of use declined by about 4 percent from 1980 to 1995.