Livestock withdrawals by source, 1985-2020

Time series of public supply withdrawal estimates from 1985 to 2020 by source (groundwater or surface water) for the lower 48 United States. Total withdrawals combine saline and freshwater. In 1985, livestock estimates included aquaculture water use.

Livestock water use is water associated with livestock watering, feedlots, dairy operations, and other on-farm needs. Livestock includes dairy cows and heifers, beef cattle and calves, sheep and lambs, goats, hogs and pigs, horses, and poultry. Other livestock water uses include cooling of facilities for the animals and products, dairy sanitation and wash down of facilities, animal waste-disposal systems, and incidental water losses. The livestock category excludes on-farm domestic use, lawn and garden watering, and irrigation water use.

Data availability described in the Accessing Water Use Data page.