Water use research in the New England Water Science Center serves both regional and national interests. USGS works with our New England partners in all six states to address questions about water demand, availability, and sustainability. Additionally, the New England Water Science Center contributes to national water use research and ensures that New England is well and accurately represented in national estimates and compilations of water use.
Regional research on water use in New England includes topics such as water demand forecasts, sustainable water availability, and domestic well locations and water withdrawals. The New England Water Science Center also engages in research on impacts of groundwater pumping for water quantity and water quality, and socioeconomic factors affecting water availability and the quality of water availability. More information on specific projects can be found under the Science Tab on this page.
Beginning in 1950, the USGS compiled snapshots of the nation’s water usage every 5 years by state, county, and intermittently by regional watershed. In 2020, the USGS moved away from compiling reported water use data and began developing computer models that produce estimates of water use that are more consistent across state lines. The reported data from states are still used though – these data are used as inputs to the models and allow researchers to check that the model estimates are accurate. The more data that is available in a region, the more accurate the model estimates can be as a result. Modelled water use estimates for 2020 and other years are available for public supply, crop irrigation, thermoelectric power generation, self-supplied industrial, self-supplied domestic, livestock, and aquaculture, and are summarized by the USGS Integrated Water Availability Assessments chapter “Water use across the conterminous United States, water years 2010 – 20”. Estimates for mining are anticipated to be available by the end of 2026.
Related Information
-
Water Withdrawal, Use, and Return Flows by Providence Water from the Scituate Reservoir, Rhode Island Water Withdrawal, Use, and Return Flows by Providence Water from the Scituate Reservoir, Rhode Island
Water use is defined as how humans interact with the hydrologic cycle, and includes water withdrawal, delivery, consumptive use, wastewater release, and reclaimed wastewater. This schematic shows how these elements are interconnected.
Below are links to the USGS national water-use website and water-use web pages for the New England states.
Water Use in the United States
Accessing Water Use Data
Assessing Sustainable Water Use in Connecticut
Enhancing Water and Sewer Utility Mapping in Massachusetts
Estimating Nitrogen Loading from Groundwater and Potential Effects of Sea-Level Rise in Rhode Island's Salt Ponds Region
USGS to Improve Water Use Data Management for State of Massachusetts
Withdrawals for Bottled Water
Investigating Connections Between Socioeconomic Data and Populations Susceptible to Private Well-Water Concerns in New Hampshire
Predictive Analysis of Water Demand for Providence, Rhode Island
Assessment of Nutrient Transport and Discharge to Coastal Embayments, Wickford, Rhode Island
The Connecticut Streamflow and Sustainable Water Use Estimator: A Decision-Support Tool to Estimate Streamflow and Water Availability at Ungaged, User-Defined Stream Locations in Connecticut
Estimation of Daily Streamflow and Water Availability in the Massachusetts Sustainable-Yield Estimator, Version 2.0
Below are FAQ related to water use.
Is saline water used for anything? Is saline water used for anything?
In the U.S., about 13 percent of all water used is saline water. But saline water can only be used for certain purposes. The main use is for thermoelectric power-plant cooling. About 5 percent of water used for industrial purposes is saline, and about 53 percent of all water used for mining purposes is saline. Saline water can be desalinated for use as drinking water by putting it through a...
How much natural water is there? How much natural water is there?
Earth is estimated to hold about 1,386,000,000 cubic kilometers of water. The breakdown of where all that water resides is estimated as follows: Oceans (saline) 1,338,000,000 cubic kilometers Ice caps and glaciers (fresh) 24,064,000 cubic kilometers Groundwater (fresh and saline) 23,400,000 cubic kilometers Streams, lakes, swamps (fresh) 104,590 cubic kilometers Lakes (saline) 85,400 cubic...
How much water is used by people in the United States? How much water is used by people in the United States?
Since 1950, the USGS has collected and analyzed water-use data for the United States and its Territories. That data is revised every 5 years. As of 2015, the United States uses 322 billion gallons of water per day (Bgal/day). The three largest water-use categories were irrigation (118 Bgal/day), thermoelectric power (133 Bgal/day), and public supply (39 Bgal/day), cumulatively accounting for 90...
What is the Earth's "water cycle?" What is the Earth's "water cycle?"
The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, describes where water is stored on Earth and how it moves. Water is stored in the atmosphere, on the land surface, and below the ground. It can be a liquid, a solid, or a gas. Liquid water can be fresh or saline (salty). Water moves between the places it is stored. It moves at large scales (through watersheds, the atmosphere, and below the Earth...
How important is groundwater? How important is groundwater?
Groundwater, which is in aquifers below the surface of the Earth, is one of the Nation's most important natural resources. Groundwater is the source of about 37 percent of the water that county and city water departments supply to households and businesses (public supply). It provides drinking water for more than 90 percent of the rural population who do not get their water delivered to them from...
What determines if a well will go dry? What determines if a well will go dry?
A well is said to have gone dry when water levels drop below a pump intake. This does not mean that a dry well will never have water in it again, as the water level may come back through time as recharge increases. The water level in a well depends on a number of things, such as the depth of the well, the type (confined or unconfined) of aquifer the well taps, the amount of pumping that occurs in...
Does the USGS have data on PFAS in drinking water? Does the USGS have data on PFAS in drinking water?
Use the USGS PFAS in US Tapwater interactive Dashboard to find PFAS data for drinking water. Instructions are on the website or watch a short video about the dashboard. The dashboard incorporates data from several USGS reports that cover PFAS in water sources, including community water supplies. Some notable studies and datasets that were used for the dashboard include: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl...
Where can I find information about my local drinking water supply? Where can I find information about my local drinking water supply?
The best way to learn about your local drinking water quality is to read the annual drinking water quality report/consumer confidence report that water suppliers now send out by July 1 of each year. The reports are often sent out with water bills, but they may be sent separately. The reports tell where drinking water comes from, what contaminants are in it, and at what levels. The U.S...
How do I find the best place to drill for water on my property? How do I find the best place to drill for water on my property?
Many factors must be considered before deciding where to drill a water well. The most important is to decide how the well will be used. If the well is for drinking water, then local geology, hydrology, and state regulations are important to know. Contact the department in your state government that regulates and tracks water and natural resources. They should have information on licensed drillers...
Water use research in the New England Water Science Center serves both regional and national interests. USGS works with our New England partners in all six states to address questions about water demand, availability, and sustainability. Additionally, the New England Water Science Center contributes to national water use research and ensures that New England is well and accurately represented in national estimates and compilations of water use.
Regional research on water use in New England includes topics such as water demand forecasts, sustainable water availability, and domestic well locations and water withdrawals. The New England Water Science Center also engages in research on impacts of groundwater pumping for water quantity and water quality, and socioeconomic factors affecting water availability and the quality of water availability. More information on specific projects can be found under the Science Tab on this page.
Beginning in 1950, the USGS compiled snapshots of the nation’s water usage every 5 years by state, county, and intermittently by regional watershed. In 2020, the USGS moved away from compiling reported water use data and began developing computer models that produce estimates of water use that are more consistent across state lines. The reported data from states are still used though – these data are used as inputs to the models and allow researchers to check that the model estimates are accurate. The more data that is available in a region, the more accurate the model estimates can be as a result. Modelled water use estimates for 2020 and other years are available for public supply, crop irrigation, thermoelectric power generation, self-supplied industrial, self-supplied domestic, livestock, and aquaculture, and are summarized by the USGS Integrated Water Availability Assessments chapter “Water use across the conterminous United States, water years 2010 – 20”. Estimates for mining are anticipated to be available by the end of 2026.
Related Information
-
-
Water Withdrawal, Use, and Return Flows by Providence Water from the Scituate Reservoir, Rhode Island Water Withdrawal, Use, and Return Flows by Providence Water from the Scituate Reservoir, Rhode Island
Water use is defined as how humans interact with the hydrologic cycle, and includes water withdrawal, delivery, consumptive use, wastewater release, and reclaimed wastewater. This schematic shows how these elements are interconnected.
Below are links to the USGS national water-use website and water-use web pages for the New England states.
Water Use in the United States
Accessing Water Use Data
Assessing Sustainable Water Use in Connecticut
Enhancing Water and Sewer Utility Mapping in Massachusetts
Estimating Nitrogen Loading from Groundwater and Potential Effects of Sea-Level Rise in Rhode Island's Salt Ponds Region
USGS to Improve Water Use Data Management for State of Massachusetts
Withdrawals for Bottled Water
Investigating Connections Between Socioeconomic Data and Populations Susceptible to Private Well-Water Concerns in New Hampshire
Predictive Analysis of Water Demand for Providence, Rhode Island
Assessment of Nutrient Transport and Discharge to Coastal Embayments, Wickford, Rhode Island
The Connecticut Streamflow and Sustainable Water Use Estimator: A Decision-Support Tool to Estimate Streamflow and Water Availability at Ungaged, User-Defined Stream Locations in Connecticut
Estimation of Daily Streamflow and Water Availability in the Massachusetts Sustainable-Yield Estimator, Version 2.0
Below are FAQ related to water use.
Is saline water used for anything? Is saline water used for anything?
In the U.S., about 13 percent of all water used is saline water. But saline water can only be used for certain purposes. The main use is for thermoelectric power-plant cooling. About 5 percent of water used for industrial purposes is saline, and about 53 percent of all water used for mining purposes is saline. Saline water can be desalinated for use as drinking water by putting it through a...
How much natural water is there? How much natural water is there?
Earth is estimated to hold about 1,386,000,000 cubic kilometers of water. The breakdown of where all that water resides is estimated as follows: Oceans (saline) 1,338,000,000 cubic kilometers Ice caps and glaciers (fresh) 24,064,000 cubic kilometers Groundwater (fresh and saline) 23,400,000 cubic kilometers Streams, lakes, swamps (fresh) 104,590 cubic kilometers Lakes (saline) 85,400 cubic...
How much water is used by people in the United States? How much water is used by people in the United States?
Since 1950, the USGS has collected and analyzed water-use data for the United States and its Territories. That data is revised every 5 years. As of 2015, the United States uses 322 billion gallons of water per day (Bgal/day). The three largest water-use categories were irrigation (118 Bgal/day), thermoelectric power (133 Bgal/day), and public supply (39 Bgal/day), cumulatively accounting for 90...
What is the Earth's "water cycle?" What is the Earth's "water cycle?"
The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, describes where water is stored on Earth and how it moves. Water is stored in the atmosphere, on the land surface, and below the ground. It can be a liquid, a solid, or a gas. Liquid water can be fresh or saline (salty). Water moves between the places it is stored. It moves at large scales (through watersheds, the atmosphere, and below the Earth...
How important is groundwater? How important is groundwater?
Groundwater, which is in aquifers below the surface of the Earth, is one of the Nation's most important natural resources. Groundwater is the source of about 37 percent of the water that county and city water departments supply to households and businesses (public supply). It provides drinking water for more than 90 percent of the rural population who do not get their water delivered to them from...
What determines if a well will go dry? What determines if a well will go dry?
A well is said to have gone dry when water levels drop below a pump intake. This does not mean that a dry well will never have water in it again, as the water level may come back through time as recharge increases. The water level in a well depends on a number of things, such as the depth of the well, the type (confined or unconfined) of aquifer the well taps, the amount of pumping that occurs in...
Does the USGS have data on PFAS in drinking water? Does the USGS have data on PFAS in drinking water?
Use the USGS PFAS in US Tapwater interactive Dashboard to find PFAS data for drinking water. Instructions are on the website or watch a short video about the dashboard. The dashboard incorporates data from several USGS reports that cover PFAS in water sources, including community water supplies. Some notable studies and datasets that were used for the dashboard include: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl...
Where can I find information about my local drinking water supply? Where can I find information about my local drinking water supply?
The best way to learn about your local drinking water quality is to read the annual drinking water quality report/consumer confidence report that water suppliers now send out by July 1 of each year. The reports are often sent out with water bills, but they may be sent separately. The reports tell where drinking water comes from, what contaminants are in it, and at what levels. The U.S...
How do I find the best place to drill for water on my property? How do I find the best place to drill for water on my property?
Many factors must be considered before deciding where to drill a water well. The most important is to decide how the well will be used. If the well is for drinking water, then local geology, hydrology, and state regulations are important to know. Contact the department in your state government that regulates and tracks water and natural resources. They should have information on licensed drillers...