This image shows blue spheres representing relative amounts of Earth's water in comparison to the size of the Earth. Are you surprised that these water spheres look so small? They are only small in relation to the size of the Earth.
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 kilometers
- Other--soil, atmosphere, biosphere (fresh) 330,520 cubic kilometers
Learn More: How Much Water is There on Earth?
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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?"
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...
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 do we benefit from USGS streamgages?
Information on the flow of rivers is a vital national asset that safeguards lives, protects property, and ensures adequate water supplies for the future. The USGS is the federal agency responsible for operating a network of about 7,000 streamgages nationwide. Data from this network are used by water managers, emergency responders, utilities, environmental agencies, universities, consulting firms...
This image shows blue spheres representing relative amounts of Earth's water in comparison to the size of the Earth. Are you surprised that these water spheres look so small? They are only small in relation to the size of the Earth.
--the increasing need for food production, cropland areas, and agricultural water
by Prasad Thenkabail, Research Geographer
--the increasing need for food production, cropland areas, and agricultural water
by Prasad Thenkabail, Research Geographer
Waterfall in Appalachian Forest
Waterfall in Appalachian Forest
Where is the water? Suburban [poster]
Water priorities for the Nation—U.S. Geological Survey Integrated Water Prediction science program
Simulation of water availability in the Southeastern United States for historical and potential future climate and land-cover conditions
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) water-use websites
Continuing progress toward a national assessment of water availability and use
Estimated use of water in the United States in 2015
The water cycle for kids
Water Budgets: Foundations for Effective Water-Resources and Environmental Management
Ground water and surface water: A single resource
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- FAQ
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?"
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...
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 do we benefit from USGS streamgages?
Information on the flow of rivers is a vital national asset that safeguards lives, protects property, and ensures adequate water supplies for the future. The USGS is the federal agency responsible for operating a network of about 7,000 streamgages nationwide. Data from this network are used by water managers, emergency responders, utilities, environmental agencies, universities, consulting firms...
- Multimedia
All of Earth's water in a single sphere!
This image shows blue spheres representing relative amounts of Earth's water in comparison to the size of the Earth. Are you surprised that these water spheres look so small? They are only small in relation to the size of the Earth.
This image shows blue spheres representing relative amounts of Earth's water in comparison to the size of the Earth. Are you surprised that these water spheres look so small? They are only small in relation to the size of the Earth.
PubTalk 8/2012 — Global Food Security in the 21st CenturyPubTalk 8/2012 — Global Food Security in the 21st CenturyPubTalk 8/2012 — Global Food Security in the 21st Century--the increasing need for food production, cropland areas, and agricultural water
by Prasad Thenkabail, Research Geographer
--the increasing need for food production, cropland areas, and agricultural water
by Prasad Thenkabail, Research Geographer
Waterfall in Appalachian ForestWaterfall in Appalachian Forest
Waterfall in Appalachian Forest
- Publications
Where is the water? Suburban [poster]
DescriptionWater is an integral part of how we interact with the environment and live our everyday lives. This educational poster illustrates where water is in the suburbs, how it moves, and different ways water is used both naturally and through human interaction. This poster is intended for eighth-grade audiences and younger.AuthorsManon Hale, Anna Wright, Sophie Hill, Benjamin Abbott, Raymond Lee, Rachel Wood, Elizabeth Bailey, Ryan Nixon, Rebecca Hale, Hayley Corson-Dosch, Cee Nell, Keely SongWater priorities for the Nation—U.S. Geological Survey Integrated Water Prediction science program
The U.S. Geological Survey Integrated Water Prediction science program focuses on the development of advanced models for forecasting water use and other components of the water cycle along with water quality attributes such as temperature, water constituents, and ecological conditions. The program also is developing the cyberinfrastructure required to implement national and local-scale models to bAuthorsMark P. Miller, Katherine Skalak, David P. LesmesSimulation of water availability in the Southeastern United States for historical and potential future climate and land-cover conditions
A study was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative (GCPO LCC) and the Department of the Interior Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, to evaluate the hydrologic response of a daily time step hydrologic model to historical observations and projections of potential climate and land-cover changeAuthorsJacob H. LaFontaine, Rheannon M. Hart, Lauren E. Hay, William H. Farmer, Andy R. Bock, Roland J. Viger, Steven L. Markstrom, R. Steve Regan, Jessica M. DriscollU.S. Geological Survey (USGS) water-use websites
Explore U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) water-use websites to learn how and where the Nation's water use has changed over time! Learn how to find and access USGS water-use data shown in maps, graphs, visualizations, and information products. Gain a better understanding of water-use terms and USGS educational resources. Learn how to find and use USGS visualizations to see how water use has changed iAuthorsKimberly Shaffer, Kathleen M. Rowland, B. Pierre SargentContinuing progress toward a national assessment of water availability and use
Executive SummaryThe Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (Public Law 111—11) was passed into law on March 30, 2009. Subtitle F, also known as the SECURE Water Act, calls for the establishment of a “national water availability and use assessment program” within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS issued the first report on the program in 2013. Program progress over the period 2013–17AuthorsEric J. Evenson, Sonya A. Jones, Nancy L. Barber, Paul M. Barlow, David L. Blodgett, Breton W. Bruce, Kyle R. Douglas-Mankin, William H. Farmer, Jeffrey M. Fischer, William B. Hughes, Jonathan Kennen, Julie E. Kiang, Molly A. Maupin, Howard W. Reeves, Gabriel B. Senay, Jennifer S. Stanton, Chad R. Wagner, Jennifer T. WilsonEstimated 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. LinseyThe water cycle for kids
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have created a water-cycle diagram for use in elementary and middle schools. The diagram is available in many languages. This diagram is part of the USGS's Water Science School, in which the water cycle is described in detail.AuthorsStephanie Neno, Jim Morgan, Gabriele Zonolli, Howard Perlman, Gerard GonthierWater Budgets: Foundations for Effective Water-Resources and Environmental Management
INTRODUCTION Water budgets provide a means for evaluating availability and sustainability of a water supply. A water budget simply states that the rate of change in water stored in an area, such as a watershed, is balanced by the rate at which water flows into and out of the area. An understanding of water budgets and underlying hydrologic processes provides a foundation for effective water-resAuthorsRichard W. Healy, Thomas C. Winter, James W. LaBaugh, O. Lehn FrankeGround water and surface water: A single resource
The importance of considering ground water and surface water as a single resource has become increasingly evident. Issues related to water supply, water quality, and degradation of aquatic environments are reported on frequently. The interaction of ground water and surface water has been shown to be a significant concern in many of these issues. Contaminated aquifers that discharge to streams canAuthorsThomas C. Winter, Judson W. Harvey, O. Lehn Franke, William M. Alley - News