Water Use in Georgia, 2010

Water Use in Georgia, 2010

Estimates of water withdrawals, surface-water returns (treated and untreated water), and water use for each county in Georgia for nine water-use categories were compiled for 2010. The term "water use" is broadly applied to describe the movement of water from its natural source, through its interaction with human activities, and its subsequent return to the natural environment. This water-use model consists of various components such as:

1. water withdrawal;
2. offstream treatment, distribution and delivery (including conveyance or system losses), and consumptive use;
3. land application of treated wastewater;
4. surface-water returns; and
5. instream use (such as hydroelectric-power generation).

For 2010, these components were further subdivided into the categories of public supply, domestic, commercial, industrial, mining, irrigation, aquaculture, livestock and thermoelectric power.

In 2010, total withdrawals for groundwater and surface-water sources were estimated at 4,670 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) with surface-water withdrawals (3,480 Mgal/d) nearly three times greater than groundwater withdrawals (1,190 Mgal/d).Thermoelectric power facilities and public supply systems withdrew nearly 68% of all water withdrawn in Georgia for 2010. Surface-water withdrawals used in the process of thermoelectric-power generation was the largest volume of water withdrawn (2,040 Mgal/d) followed by public supply systems (1,120 Mgal/d.) Crop irrigation withdrew the largest amount of groundwater (578 Mgal/d).

Total water use, for 2010, is estimated at 4,680 Mgal/d which included 1,130 Mgal/d of water delivered by public suppliers to domestic, commercial and public use, and industrial customer and publics supply losses. About 6.7 Mgal/d of water was delivered from public suppliers in Alabama and Tennessee to customers in Georgia. Furthermore, 2,230 Mgal/d of water was returned to surface-water bodies in Georgia and represents about 48% of the water withdrawn in 2010. About 32% (711 Mgal/d) of all surface-water returns was treated wastewater from public treatment facilities.

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Water Use Data is available at National Water Information System (NWIS): Water Use Data for Georgia 

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This diagram uses a "cylinder and pipe" layout to show the source (surface water or groundwater) of the Georgia's freshwater and for what purposes the water was used in 2010. The data are broken out for each category of use by surface water and groundwater as the source. The top row of cylinders represents where America's freshwater came from (source) in 2010, either from surface water (blue) or from groundwater (brown). The pipes leading out of the surface-water and groundwater cylinders on the top row and flowing into the bottom rows of cylinders (green) show the categories of water use where the water was sent after being withdrawn from a river, lake, reservoir, or well. Each green cylinder represents a category of water use.

(Public domain.)

Population and water withdrawals in Georgia, 2010:

• Population: 9,687,653
• Groundwater withdrawals: 1,230 Mgal/d
• Surface water withdrawals: 3,210 Mgal/d
• Surface water withdrawals (excluding thermoelectric): 1,440 Mgal/d
• Total withdrawals: 4,670 Mgal/d
• Total withdrawals (excluding thermoelectric): 2,620 Mgal/d
• Per capita use, freshwater: 460 gallons per day

Water Use by County, 2010

Total water use for Georgia, for 2010, is estimated at 4,680 Mgal/d which included 1,130 Mgal/d of water delivered by public suppliers to domestic, commercial and public use, and industrial customer and publics supply losses. About 6.7 Mgal/d of water was delivered from public suppliers in Alabama and Tennessee to customers in Georgia. Furthermore, 2,230 Mgal/d of water was returned to surface-water bodies in Georgia and represents about 48% of the water withdrawn in 2010. About 32% (711 Mgal/d) of all surface-water returns was treated wastewater from public treatment facilities.

Total Surface Water Withdrawals

Groundwater Withdrawals

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Water Withdrawals by Category of Use, Georgia, 2010

otal freshwater withdrawals, by category, Georgia, 2010 (Public domain.)

otal freshwater withdrawals, excluding thermoelectric power, by category, Georgia, 2010 (Public domain.)

otal groundwater withdrawals, by category, Georgia, 2010  (Public domain.)

Total fresh surface-water withdrawals, by category, Georgia, 2010 (Public domain.)

Total fresh surface-water withdrawals, excluding thermoelectric power, by category, Georgia, 2010  (Public domain.)

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 Water Withdrawal Trends, 1980-2010 in Georgia\

Since 1980, the Georgia Water-Use Program (GWUP) has compiled and published statewide water-use estimates by category at 5-year intervals. National water-use compilations began in 1950. However, during the period 1950-2010, water-use estimates were not always comparable. Category definition and estimation techniques have been the most consistent since 1980 because of efforts of the National Water-Use Information Program (NWUIP). Withdrawals in Georgia were highest in 1980 (6,730 million gallons per day (Mgal/d)). By 1990, water use had decreased by 20 percent to 5,350 Mgal/d, but increased to 6,490 Mgal/d in 2000. By 2005, water use had decreased to an estimated 5,470 Mgal/d, and declined further to 4,670 Mgal/d in 2010-a 30-percent decrease since 1980. This decline was evident across all water-use categories, but was greatest for surface-water withdrawals by thermoelectric-power facilities.

Freshwater withdrawals and population in Georgia, 1960 to 2010 (Public domain.)

Trends in population, groundwater, and surface-water withdrawals in Georgia, 1960-2010. (Public domain.)

 Trends in total water use by category in Georgia, 1980 to 2010. (Public domain.)