In 1990, more than 1.2 million people used public-supplied water. Thermoelectric cooling, industrial and mining, and public-supply withdrawals are the major uses of water. Withdrawals for thermoelectric cooling are much greater than withdrawals for other uses. The water-quality degradation in return flows from water used for cooling primarily involves increases in water temperature. Thermoelectric, public supply, and industrial and mining are the largest water uses in the Lower Susquehanna River Basin.
Rural homeowners depend chiefly on ground water for domestic supply.
The precipitation is distributed fairly evenly throughout the year. About 45 percent of the precipitation is contributed by storms in May through September during the growing season, and much of this precipitation is used by plants. The Lower Susquehanna River Basin has a temperate climate, with adequate precipitation for the crops grown in the area. The hydrologic conditions during the study were variable, including wet and dry years. This information is important in the interpretation of the water-quality data collected.