Through the National Water Census, USGS will provide more comprehensive reporting of national information on withdrawal, conveyance, consumptive use, and return flow by water-use category. Water-use data enables water managers to plan more strategically and enables the analysis of trends of over time. It is also vital to water-availability studies such as watershed and groundwater models.
Water Census • Streamflow • Groundwater • Water Use • Environmental Flows • Evapotranspiration • Focus Area Studies
National Water Use Compilation
The national water-use compilation, Estimated Use of Water in the United States, has been conducted every 5 years since 1950 and is now a part of the National Water Census. USGS compilations are the only consistent effort to periodically document water use for the entire Nation and are some of the most widely cited publications of the USGS. The full report on Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 2015 was released in June 2018, and includes consumptive-use estimates for thermoelectric power and irrigation water use for the first time since the 1995 report. Preliminary estimates of water use and population served for 2 categories, public supply and domestic, were released in 2017, two years ahead of the schedule for the previous compilation.
Concurrent with the 2015 report, the USGS developed a visualization of the 2015 water use by county of total water use, highlighting the 4 largest categories of thermoelectric power, irrigation, public supply, and self-supplied industrial. This tool allows users to explore the 2015 distribution of water use at the local, State, and national scale. Water use for thermoelectric power generation is most prominent in the Eastern half of the country while irrigation water use is dominant in the West.
In 2017, the USGS developed an interactive data visualization that shows freshwater use by State every five years from 1950 to 2010 (updated to 2015 on publication of that report). This tool allows users to discover the most comprehensive national-scale data on water use for the United States, examine the differences in water use across the country, and see the trends in water use over the 60 years of data.
Visit the Water Use in the United States web site
Thermoelectric Power
The USGS developed improved estimation techniques for power plants utilizing data reported to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The two agencies are working together to improve the quality and usefulness of the reported data. In the USGS study, approximately 1,300 thermoelectric power plants in the United States have withdrawal and consumptive use estimates based on a linked heat-and-water-budget model that is constrained by power-plant fuel consumption, power production, cooling-system technology, and environmental variables.The results help quality assure information on thermoelectric power water demands from various sources, and are improving thermoelectric power water use estimates included in the national compilation. Three reports have been produced by the study:
- the heat-and-water-budget model
- model estimates of withdrawals and consumptive use for 2010
- comparison of the model results to reported EIA data and to the USGS compilation estimates
Continuous Oil and Gas Development
In 2017, the USGS completed the second year of a special project to quantify water use associated with the production of continous (formerly referred to as "unconventional") oil and gas (COG) resources (shale gas, shale oil, tight gas, tight oil). Assessment of, and the improved ability to forecast future water availability for, “energy production” is specifically called out in section 9508 of the SECURE Water Act. The COG study is designed in three phases: 1) quantifying water use associated with COG in the Williston Basin (Western Dakotas and Eastern Montana), and developing a water use estimation model and methods to estimate uncertainty; 2) testing the model in other production areas across the Nation to evaluate its capabilities; and 3) completing a national water use estimation model that includes methods to estimate uncertainty.
Visit the Estimating National Water Use Associated with Continuous Oil and Gas Development web site
Water Use Data and Research Program
Water managers across the United States require more complete, timely, and accurate water-availability information to support policy and decision-making, specifically, data associated with water withdrawals and consumptive use. Recognizing the limitations of current water-use data, the SECURE Water Act authorized a program that supports activities related to data collection and methods research and development at the State level. The USGS Water-Use Data and Research program (WUDR) provides financial assistance through cooperative agreements with State water resource agencies to improve the availability, quality, compatibility, and delivery of water-use data that is collected or estimated by States.
Find out more about the Water Use Data and Research Program
Water Use Cooperative Matching Funds
Cooperative matching funds (CMF) are matched with State, local and tribal funds to work with partners to solve complex water resource issues in their area of interest and that serve the Federal interest. Many of the collaborative projects being performed across the country are funded at a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio by the participating cooperative entities. This is a testament to the value local, State and tribal cooperators place on the scientific contributions from the USGS. Cooperative projects funded by water-use research CMF typically address water use and the impacts that use has on hydrology and water allocations.
Below are other science components of the National Water Census.
Water Availability and Use Science Program: National Water Census
National Water Census: Streamflow
National Water Census: Groundwater
National Water Census: Environmental Flows
National Water Census: Evapotranspiration
National Water Census: Focus Area Studies
Below are publications associated with the National Water Census.
Estimated use of water in the United States in 2015
Summary of estimated water use in the United States in 2015
Conceptual model to assess water use associated with the life cycle of unconventional oil and gas development
Public supply and domestic water use in the United States, 2015
A comparison of three federal datasets for thermoelectric water withdrawals in the United States for 2010
Estimating national water use associated with unconventional oil and gas development
Estimated use of water in the United States in 2010
Withdrawal and consumption of water by thermoelectric power plants in the United States, 2010
Methods for estimating water consumption for thermoelectric power plants in the United States
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
- Overview
Through the National Water Census, USGS will provide more comprehensive reporting of national information on withdrawal, conveyance, consumptive use, and return flow by water-use category. Water-use data enables water managers to plan more strategically and enables the analysis of trends of over time. It is also vital to water-availability studies such as watershed and groundwater models.
Water Census • Streamflow • Groundwater • Water Use • Environmental Flows • Evapotranspiration • Focus Area Studies
National Water Use Compilation
The national water-use compilation, Estimated Use of Water in the United States, has been conducted every 5 years since 1950 and is now a part of the National Water Census. USGS compilations are the only consistent effort to periodically document water use for the entire Nation and are some of the most widely cited publications of the USGS. The full report on Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 2015 was released in June 2018, and includes consumptive-use estimates for thermoelectric power and irrigation water use for the first time since the 1995 report. Preliminary estimates of water use and population served for 2 categories, public supply and domestic, were released in 2017, two years ahead of the schedule for the previous compilation.
Concurrent with the 2015 report, the USGS developed a visualization of the 2015 water use by county of total water use, highlighting the 4 largest categories of thermoelectric power, irrigation, public supply, and self-supplied industrial. This tool allows users to explore the 2015 distribution of water use at the local, State, and national scale. Water use for thermoelectric power generation is most prominent in the Eastern half of the country while irrigation water use is dominant in the West.
In 2017, the USGS developed an interactive data visualization that shows freshwater use by State every five years from 1950 to 2010 (updated to 2015 on publication of that report). This tool allows users to discover the most comprehensive national-scale data on water use for the United States, examine the differences in water use across the country, and see the trends in water use over the 60 years of data.
Visit the Water Use in the United States web site
Thermoelectric Power
Thermoelectric power plant Bowen owned by Georgia Power Company, from Highway 113, Euharlee, Bartow County, Georgia. Plant Bowen is one of the largest coal-fired power plants in the United States. Plant Bowen uses recirculating cooling, decreasing the amount of water that must be withdrawn. (Credit: Alan Cressler, USGS) The USGS developed improved estimation techniques for power plants utilizing data reported to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The two agencies are working together to improve the quality and usefulness of the reported data. In the USGS study, approximately 1,300 thermoelectric power plants in the United States have withdrawal and consumptive use estimates based on a linked heat-and-water-budget model that is constrained by power-plant fuel consumption, power production, cooling-system technology, and environmental variables.The results help quality assure information on thermoelectric power water demands from various sources, and are improving thermoelectric power water use estimates included in the national compilation. Three reports have been produced by the study:
- the heat-and-water-budget model
- model estimates of withdrawals and consumptive use for 2010
- comparison of the model results to reported EIA data and to the USGS compilation estimates
Continuous Oil and Gas Development
In 2017, the USGS completed the second year of a special project to quantify water use associated with the production of continous (formerly referred to as "unconventional") oil and gas (COG) resources (shale gas, shale oil, tight gas, tight oil). Assessment of, and the improved ability to forecast future water availability for, “energy production” is specifically called out in section 9508 of the SECURE Water Act. The COG study is designed in three phases: 1) quantifying water use associated with COG in the Williston Basin (Western Dakotas and Eastern Montana), and developing a water use estimation model and methods to estimate uncertainty; 2) testing the model in other production areas across the Nation to evaluate its capabilities; and 3) completing a national water use estimation model that includes methods to estimate uncertainty.
Visit the Estimating National Water Use Associated with Continuous Oil and Gas Development web site
Water Use Data and Research Program
Water managers across the United States require more complete, timely, and accurate water-availability information to support policy and decision-making, specifically, data associated with water withdrawals and consumptive use. Recognizing the limitations of current water-use data, the SECURE Water Act authorized a program that supports activities related to data collection and methods research and development at the State level. The USGS Water-Use Data and Research program (WUDR) provides financial assistance through cooperative agreements with State water resource agencies to improve the availability, quality, compatibility, and delivery of water-use data that is collected or estimated by States.
Find out more about the Water Use Data and Research Program
Water Use Cooperative Matching Funds
Cooperative matching funds (CMF) are matched with State, local and tribal funds to work with partners to solve complex water resource issues in their area of interest and that serve the Federal interest. Many of the collaborative projects being performed across the country are funded at a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio by the participating cooperative entities. This is a testament to the value local, State and tribal cooperators place on the scientific contributions from the USGS. Cooperative projects funded by water-use research CMF typically address water use and the impacts that use has on hydrology and water allocations.
- Science
Below are other science components of the National Water Census.
Water Availability and Use Science Program: National Water Census
The USGS National Water Census (NWC) is designed to systematically provide information that will allow resource managers to assess the supply, use, and availability of the Nation’s water. The goal of the NWC is to provide nationally-consistent base layers of well-documented data that account for water availability and use nationally.National Water Census: Streamflow
The USGS National Water Census complements the USGS national network of more than 8,000 streamgages by estimating streamflow for ungaged locations throughout the country, by analyzing streamflow records, and by providing tools for analysis of streamgage data to end users. The USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) makes the actual streamgage data available to the public, most of it in "near...National Water Census: Groundwater
The National Water Census (NWC) is leveraging a long history of groundwater studies and is accelerating ongoing regional studies to assess the Nation's groundwater reserves, studies that formerly were conducted under the USGS Groundwater Resources Program. The NWC is also increasing the ability to integrate groundwater and surface-water analyses into watershed-level assessments of water...National Water Census: Environmental Flows
Environmental water studies refer to understanding the quantity, timing, and quality of water flows, as well as the water levels and storage required to sustain freshwater and estuarine ecosystems and the human livelihoods that depend on these ecosystems. The concept of ‘environmental flows’ in stream ecology are the basis of these studies, but they go beyond the understanding of surface flows and...National Water Census: Evapotranspiration
No water budget would be complete without accounting for evaporation and related processes, such as transpiration and sublimation. Evapotranspiration, or "ET," refers to the combined flux of plant transpiration and evaporation from the adjacent soil. It is especially important for understanding water used by irrigated crops, and is related to crop productivity. Consumptive water use for irrigation...National Water Census: Focus Area Studies
Focus Area Studies are stakeholder-driven assessments of water availability in river basins with known or potential conflict. They contribute toward ongoing assessments of water availability in large watersheds, provide opportunities to test and improve approaches to water availability assessment, and inform and ground truth the National Water Census with local information. Common to each of the... - Publications
Below are publications associated with the National Water Census.
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 salinSummary of estimated water use in the United States in 2015
A total of 322 Bgal/d of water withdrawals was reported for eight categories of use in the United States in 2015, which was 9 percent less than in 2010 (354 Bgal/d), and continued a declining trend since 2005. The decline in total withdrawals in 2015 primarily was caused by significant decreases (28.8 Bgal/d) in thermoelectric power, which accounted for 89 percent of the decrease in total withdrawConceptual model to assess water use associated with the life cycle of unconventional oil and gas development
As the demand for energy increases in the United States, so does the demand for water used to produce many forms of that energy. Technological advances, limited access to conventional oil and gas accumulations, and the rise of oil and gas prices resulted in increased development of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) accumulations. Unconventional oil and gas is developed using a method that combinesPublic supply and domestic water use in the United States, 2015
IntroductionThe U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Use Science Project (NWUSP), part of the USGS Water Availability and Use Science Program (WAUSP), has estimated water use in the United States every 5 years since 1950. This report provides an overview of total population, public-supply use, including the population that is served by public-supply systems and the domestic deliveries to tA comparison of three federal datasets for thermoelectric water withdrawals in the United States for 2010
Historically, thermoelectric water withdrawal has been estimated by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) and the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) water-use compilations. Recently, the USGS developed models for estimating withdrawal at thermoelectric plants to provide estimates independent from plant operator-reported withdrawal data. This article compares three federal datasets of thermoelecEstimating national water use associated with unconventional oil and gas development
The U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Water Availability and Use Science Program (WAUSP) goals are to provide a more accurate assessment of the status of the water resources of the United States and assist in the determination of the quantity and quality of water that is available for beneficial uses. These assessments would identify long-term trends or changes in water availability since the 1950sEstimated 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-wateWithdrawal and consumption of water by thermoelectric power plants in the United States, 2010
Estimates of water use at thermoelectric plants were developed by the U.S. Geological Survey based on linked heat and water budgets, and complement reported thermoelectric water withdrawals and consumption. The heat- and water-budget models produced withdrawal and consumption estimates, including thermodynamically plausible ranges of minimum and maximum withdrawal and consumption, for 1,290 water-Methods 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 donDocumentation 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 (irrigat