The U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Use Information Program compiles the nation's water-use data at the county, state, and national levels. USGS five-year reports on national and state water-use estimates between 1950-2015 are posted on the web at: http://water.usgs.gov/watuse/. USGS water-use data for states and counties for 1985-2015 are available at: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/wu.
As part of the USGS National Water Use Compilation, the California Water Science Center works in cooperation with local, State, and Federal agencies as well as academic and private organizations to collect and report total water withdrawals for California.
Water-use estimates are compiled by withdrawal source type, use category, and county.
- Withdrawal source types include groundwater, both fresh and saline,
- and surface water, both fresh and saline;
- Eight water-use categories include thermoelectric, public, domestic, livestock, mining, industrial, irrigation, and aquaculture.
For California, population data used to estimate public water-supply use comes from Urban Water Management Plans, California Department of Water Resources, California Department of Public Health, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data. Population data used to estimate domestic, self-supplied water use came from the difference between the Census population and the public-supply population.
Terminology
The terms and units used in this report are similar to those used in previous USGS National Water-Use Reports and are defined in the Glossary. Water-use data are expressed in units of gallons per day.
Withdrawal estimates for each category represent the total amount of water removed from the water source, regardless of how much of that total is consumptively used. In most cases, some fraction of the total withdrawal will be returned to the same or a different water source after use and is available for other withdrawals.
Limitations of Water-Use Data
The California water-use summary presented here is based on estimates compiled from a variety of sources. There is significant uncertainty associated with many of these estimates.
Withdrawals for crop irrigation are among the least accurate of the estimates because withdrawals are generally not measured directly, and must be calculated based on crop acreage, crop coefficients, stage ratios, irrigation-system efficiency, and precipitation. Data on withdrawals for public supply are more accurate because those estimates are based primarily on site-specific information. Powerplant water use and mining information are considered the most accurate data.
Sources of California Water Use Data and Methods of Analysis
The USGS California Water Science Center publishes water information on many topics, including water use. USGS national guidelines for preparing water-use estimates were followed. Water-use estimates and ancillary data were entered into a State aggregate water-use database and reviewed within the USGS and by cooperating agencies.
The following national data are available to each State: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS); U.S. Census Bureau, population; U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey; USDA Census of Agriculture; USDA, national agricultural statistics; and U.S. Department of Energy-Energy Information Administration (USDOE-EIA), steam-electric plant statistics.
The USGS California Water Science Center is responsible for determining the most reliable sources of data, compiling and analyzing those data, determining its comprehensiveness, and estimating missing data where appropriate, and preparing documentation of the sources and methods used to estimate water use for California. California and other states have published reports on water use as part of the National Water Use Information Program.
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance provided by the many State and local agencies that shared data and expertise with the USGS. Cooperators include State agencies that manage water resources, operate data-collection programs, and administer regulations on water use and natural resources.
______________________________
The recommended citation for this web page is:
Water Use in California, 2014, Brandt, Justin; Sneed, Michelle; Rogers, Laurel Lynn; Metzger, Loren F.; Diane Rewis; House, Sally
USGS Data Website, doi:10.5066/F7KD1VXV
Water Use in the United States
California Water Use, 2010
USGS reports on national and state water-use estimates between 1950-2010 are posted on the web at: http://water.usgs.gov/watuse/.
State and county data for 1985-2010 are available at: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/wu.
Water use in the U.S., 2015
How do we use water in the U.S.?
We all depend on water every day, ranging from the water from our faucets, to the food we eat, to much of the electricity we use. The U.S. and its territories used nearly 322 billion gallons of water per day in 2015. This would cover the continental U.S. in about two inches of water over the course of a year. The national breakdown of water withdrawals looks like this:
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
The USGS California Water Science Center publishes water information on many topics, including water use. USGS national guidelines for preparing water-use estimates were followed. Water-use estimates and ancillary data were entered into a State aggregate water-use database and reviewed within the USGS and by cooperating agencies.
Estimated use of water in the United States in 2015
Documentation of methods and inventory of irrigation information collected for the 2015 U.S. Geological Survey estimated use of water in the United States
Estimated use of water in the United States in 2015
Estimated use of water in the United States in 2010
Methods for estimating water consumption for thermoelectric power plants in the United States
Operational evapotranspiration mapping using remote sensing and weather datasets: A new parameterization for the SSEB approach
Documentation of methods and inventory of irrigation data collected for the 2000 and 2005 U.S. Geological Survey Estimated use of water in the United States, comparison of USGS-compiled irrigation data to other sources, and recommendations for future comp
Methods for Estimating Water Withdrawals for Aquaculture in the United States, 2005
Methods for Estimating Water Withdrawals for Mining in the United States, 2005
Method for Estimating Water Withdrawals for Livestock in the United States, 2005
Guidelines for preparation of State water-use estimates for 2005
Guidelines for preparation of state water-use estimates for 2000
Method for estimating water use and interbasin transfers of freshwater and wastewater in an urbanized basin
- Overview
The U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Use Information Program compiles the nation's water-use data at the county, state, and national levels. USGS five-year reports on national and state water-use estimates between 1950-2015 are posted on the web at: http://water.usgs.gov/watuse/. USGS water-use data for states and counties for 1985-2015 are available at: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/wu.
As part of the USGS National Water Use Compilation, the California Water Science Center works in cooperation with local, State, and Federal agencies as well as academic and private organizations to collect and report total water withdrawals for California.
Water-use estimates are compiled by withdrawal source type, use category, and county.
- Withdrawal source types include groundwater, both fresh and saline,
- and surface water, both fresh and saline;
- Eight water-use categories include thermoelectric, public, domestic, livestock, mining, industrial, irrigation, and aquaculture.
For California, population data used to estimate public water-supply use comes from Urban Water Management Plans, California Department of Water Resources, California Department of Public Health, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data. Population data used to estimate domestic, self-supplied water use came from the difference between the Census population and the public-supply population.
Did you know these fun facts about California water use? Irrigation is the water withdrawal category that uses the most water every year. California's total water use has been decliing since 1980. California uses more water than any other state. (Public domain.) Terminology
The terms and units used in this report are similar to those used in previous USGS National Water-Use Reports and are defined in the Glossary. Water-use data are expressed in units of gallons per day.
Withdrawal estimates for each category represent the total amount of water removed from the water source, regardless of how much of that total is consumptively used. In most cases, some fraction of the total withdrawal will be returned to the same or a different water source after use and is available for other withdrawals.
Limitations of Water-Use Data
The California water-use summary presented here is based on estimates compiled from a variety of sources. There is significant uncertainty associated with many of these estimates.
Withdrawals for crop irrigation are among the least accurate of the estimates because withdrawals are generally not measured directly, and must be calculated based on crop acreage, crop coefficients, stage ratios, irrigation-system efficiency, and precipitation. Data on withdrawals for public supply are more accurate because those estimates are based primarily on site-specific information. Powerplant water use and mining information are considered the most accurate data.
Sources of California Water Use Data and Methods of Analysis
The USGS California Water Science Center publishes water information on many topics, including water use. USGS national guidelines for preparing water-use estimates were followed. Water-use estimates and ancillary data were entered into a State aggregate water-use database and reviewed within the USGS and by cooperating agencies.
The following national data are available to each State: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS); U.S. Census Bureau, population; U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey; USDA Census of Agriculture; USDA, national agricultural statistics; and U.S. Department of Energy-Energy Information Administration (USDOE-EIA), steam-electric plant statistics.
The USGS California Water Science Center is responsible for determining the most reliable sources of data, compiling and analyzing those data, determining its comprehensiveness, and estimating missing data where appropriate, and preparing documentation of the sources and methods used to estimate water use for California. California and other states have published reports on water use as part of the National Water Use Information Program.
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance provided by the many State and local agencies that shared data and expertise with the USGS. Cooperators include State agencies that manage water resources, operate data-collection programs, and administer regulations on water use and natural resources.
______________________________
The recommended citation for this web page is:
Water Use in California, 2014, Brandt, Justin; Sneed, Michelle; Rogers, Laurel Lynn; Metzger, Loren F.; Diane Rewis; House, Sally
USGS Data Website, doi:10.5066/F7KD1VXV - Science
Water Use in the United States
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.California Water Use, 2010
In 2010, Californians withdrew an estimated total of 38 billion gallons of water per day, compared with 46 billion gallons per day in 2005. - Data
USGS reports on national and state water-use estimates between 1950-2010 are posted on the web at: http://water.usgs.gov/watuse/.
State and county data for 1985-2010 are available at: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/wu.
Water use in the U.S., 2015
How do we use water in the U.S.?
We all depend on water every day, ranging from the water from our faucets, to the food we eat, to much of the electricity we use. The U.S. and its territories used nearly 322 billion gallons of water per day in 2015. This would cover the continental U.S. in about two inches of water over the course of a year. The national breakdown of water withdrawals looks like this:
- Multimedia
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
- Publications
The USGS California Water Science Center publishes water information on many topics, including water use. USGS national guidelines for preparing water-use estimates were followed. Water-use estimates and ancillary data were entered into a State aggregate water-use database and reviewed within the USGS and by cooperating agencies.
Estimated use of water in the United States in 2015
Water use in the United States in 2015 was estimated to be about 322 billion gallons per day (Bgal/d), which was 9 percent less than in 2010. The 2015 estimates put total withdrawals at the lowest level since before 1970, following the same overall trend of decreasing total withdrawals observed from 2005 to 2010. Freshwater withdrawals were 281 Bgal/d, or 87 percent of total withdrawals, and salinAuthorsCheryl A. Dieter, Molly A. Maupin, Rodney R. Caldwell, Melissa A. Harris, Tamara I. Ivahnenko, John K. Lovelace, Nancy L. Barber, Kristin S. LinseyFilter Total Items: 15Documentation of methods and inventory of irrigation information collected for the 2015 U.S. Geological Survey estimated use of water in the United States
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water-Use Science Project strives to report water-use estimates using the best available information for the period of the estimates. The information available on water used for irrigation activities varies from State to State and in some areas from county to county within a State, which results in many information sources and methods being used to estimaAuthorsJaime A. Painter, Justin T. Brandt, Rodney R. Caldwell, Jonathan V. Haynes, Amy L. ReadEstimated use of water in the United States in 2015
Water use in the United States in 2015 was estimated to be about 322 billion gallons per day (Bgal/d), which was 9 percent less than in 2010. The 2015 estimates put total withdrawals at the lowest level since before 1970, following the same overall trend of decreasing total withdrawals observed from 2005 to 2010. Freshwater withdrawals were 281 Bgal/d, or 87 percent of total withdrawals, and salinAuthorsCheryl A. Dieter, Molly A. Maupin, Rodney R. Caldwell, Melissa A. Harris, Tamara I. Ivahnenko, John K. Lovelace, Nancy L. Barber, Kristin S. LinseyEstimated use of water in the United States in 2010
Water use in the United States in 2010 was estimated to be about 355 billion gallons per day (Bgal/d), which was 13 percent less than in 2005. The 2010 estimates put total withdrawals at the lowest level since before 1970. Freshwater withdrawals were 306 Bgal/d, or 86 percent of total withdrawals, and saline-water withdrawals were 48.3 Bgal/d, or 14 percent of total withdrawals. Fresh surface-wateAuthorsMolly A. Maupin, Joan F. Kenny, Susan S. Hutson, John K. Lovelace, Nancy L. Barber, Kristin S. LinseyMethods for estimating water consumption for thermoelectric power plants in the United States
Water consumption at thermoelectric power plants represents a small but substantial share of total water consumption in the U.S. However, currently available thermoelectric water consumption data are inconsistent and incomplete, and coefficients used to estimate consumption are contradictory. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has resumed the estimation of thermoelectric water consumption, last donAuthorsTimothy H. Diehl, Melissa Harris, Jennifer C. Murphy, Susan S. Hutson, David E. LaddOperational evapotranspiration mapping using remote sensing and weather datasets: A new parameterization for the SSEB approach
The increasing availability of multi-scale remotely sensed data and global weather datasets is allowing the estimation of evapotranspiration (ET) at multiple scales. We present a simple but robust method that uses remotely sensed thermal data and model-assimilated weather fields to produce ET for the contiguous United States (CONUS) at monthly and seasonal time scales. The method is based on the SAuthorsGabriel B. Senay, Stefanie Bohms, Ramesh K. Singh, Prasanna H. Gowda, Naga Manohar Velpuri, Henok Alemu, James P. VerdinDocumentation of methods and inventory of irrigation data collected for the 2000 and 2005 U.S. Geological Survey Estimated use of water in the United States, comparison of USGS-compiled irrigation data to other sources, and recommendations for future comp
Every five years since 1950, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Use Information Program (NWUIP) has compiled water-use information in the United States and published a circular report titled "Estimated use of water in the United States," which includes estimates of water withdrawals by State, sources of water withdrawals (groundwater or surface water), and water-use category (irrigatAuthorsJade M. Dickens, Brandon T. Forbes, Dylan S. Cobean, Saeid TadayonMethods for Estimating Water Withdrawals for Aquaculture in the United States, 2005
Aquaculture water use is associated with raising organisms that live in water - such as finfish and shellfish - for food, restoration, conservation, or sport. Aquaculture production occurs under controlled feeding, sanitation, and harvesting procedures primarily in ponds, flow-through raceways, and, to a lesser extent, cages, net pens, and tanks. Aquaculture ponds, raceways, and tanks usually requAuthorsJohn K. LovelaceMethods for Estimating Water Withdrawals for Mining in the United States, 2005
The mining water-use category includes groundwater and surface water that is withdrawn and used for nonfuels and fuels mining. Nonfuels mining includes the extraction of ores, stone, sand, and gravel. Fuels mining includes the extraction of coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Water is used for mineral extraction, quarrying, milling, and other operations directly associated with mining activities. FoAuthorsJohn K. LovelaceMethod for Estimating Water Withdrawals for Livestock in the United States, 2005
Livestock water use includes ground water and surface water associated with livestock watering, feedlots, dairy operations, and other on-farm needs. The water may be used for drinking, cooling, sanitation, waste disposal, and other needs related to the animals. Estimates of water withdrawals for livestock are needed for water planning and management. This report documents a method used to estiAuthorsJohn K. LovelaceGuidelines for preparation of State water-use estimates for 2005
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has estimated the use of water in the United States at 5-year intervals since 1950. This report describes the water-use categories and data elements required for the 2005 national water-use compilation conducted as part of the USGS National Water Use Information Program. The report identifies sources of water-use information, provides standard methods and techniquAuthorsSusan S. HutsonGuidelines for preparation of state water-use estimates for 2000
This report describes the water-use categories and data elements required for the 2000 national water-use compilation conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as part of its National Water Use Information Program. It identifies sources of water-use information, guidelines for estimating water use, and required documentation for preparation of the national compilation by State for the UnitedMethod for estimating water use and interbasin transfers of freshwater and wastewater in an urbanized basin
Techniques for management of drainage basins that use water budgets to balance available water resources with actual or anticipated water use require accurate and precise estimates of basin withdrawals, interbasin transfers of freshwater, unaccounted-for use, water use, consumptive use, inflow and infiltration, basin return flow, and interbasin transfers of wastewater. Frequently, interbasin transAuthorsM.A. Horn