The USGS has estimated water use for the United States every 5 years since 1950. Estimates are provided for groundwater and surface-water sources, for fresh and saline water quality, and by sector or category of use. Estimates have been made at the State level since 1950, and at the county level since 1985. Water-use estimates by watershed were made from 1950 through 1995, first at the water-resources region level (HUC2), and later at the subbasin level (HUC8).
••• WATER USE HOME • TOTAL WATER USE • SURFACE WATER USE • GROUNDWATER USE • TRENDS •••
Public Supply • Domestic • Irrigation • Thermoelectric Power • Industrial • Mining • Livestock • Aquaculture
2015 Water Use
(source: Dieter, C.A., Maupin, M.A., Caldwell, R.R., Harris, M.A., Ivahnenko, T.I., Lovelace, J.K., Barber, N.L., and Linsey, K.S., 2018, Estimated use of water in the United States in 2015: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1441, 65 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/cir1441.)
Total freshwater and saline-water withdrawals for 2015 were estimated to be 322,000 million gallons per day (Mgal/d; equivalent to 322 billion gallons per day), or 361,000 thousand acre-feet per year (acre-ft/yr). Freshwater withdrawals made up 87 percent of the total, and saline-water withdrawals made up the remaining 13 percent. Most saline-water withdrawals were seawater and brackish coastal water used for thermoelectric power.
As in 2010, water withdrawals in four States—California, Texas, Idaho, and Florida—accounted for more than one-quarter of all fresh and saline water withdrawn in the United States in 2015. California accounted for 9 percent of the total withdrawals for all categories and 9 percent of total freshwater withdrawals for all categories nationwide.
| State | Percentage of total withdrawals |
Cumulative percentage of total withdrawals |
|---|---|---|
| California | 9% | 9% |
| Texas | 7% | 16% |
| Idaho | 6% | 21% |
| Florida | 5% | 26% |
| Arkansas | 4% | 30% |
The three largest categories were thermoelectric power, irrigation, and public supply, cumulatively accounting for 90 percent of the national total.
See trends for withdrawals by source and by water-use category
Below are other water-use topics.
Water Use in the United States
Trends in Water Use
Surface-Water Use
Groundwater Use
Water-Use Terminology
- Overview
The USGS has estimated water use for the United States every 5 years since 1950. Estimates are provided for groundwater and surface-water sources, for fresh and saline water quality, and by sector or category of use. Estimates have been made at the State level since 1950, and at the county level since 1985. Water-use estimates by watershed were made from 1950 through 1995, first at the water-resources region level (HUC2), and later at the subbasin level (HUC8).
••• WATER USE HOME • TOTAL WATER USE • SURFACE WATER USE • GROUNDWATER USE • TRENDS •••
Public Supply • Domestic • Irrigation • Thermoelectric Power • Industrial • Mining • Livestock • Aquaculture
2015 Water Use
(source: Dieter, C.A., Maupin, M.A., Caldwell, R.R., Harris, M.A., Ivahnenko, T.I., Lovelace, J.K., Barber, N.L., and Linsey, K.S., 2018, Estimated use of water in the United States in 2015: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1441, 65 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/cir1441.)
Total freshwater and saline-water withdrawals for 2015 were estimated to be 322,000 million gallons per day (Mgal/d; equivalent to 322 billion gallons per day), or 361,000 thousand acre-feet per year (acre-ft/yr). Freshwater withdrawals made up 87 percent of the total, and saline-water withdrawals made up the remaining 13 percent. Most saline-water withdrawals were seawater and brackish coastal water used for thermoelectric power.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.As in 2010, water withdrawals in four States—California, Texas, Idaho, and Florida—accounted for more than one-quarter of all fresh and saline water withdrawn in the United States in 2015. California accounted for 9 percent of the total withdrawals for all categories and 9 percent of total freshwater withdrawals for all categories nationwide.
Total water withdrawals, top States, 2015
[percentages calculated from unrounded values]State Percentage of
total withdrawalsCumulative percentage
of total withdrawalsCalifornia 9% 9% Texas 7% 16% Idaho 6% 21% Florida 5% 26% Arkansas 4% 30%
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.The three largest categories were thermoelectric power, irrigation, and public supply, cumulatively accounting for 90 percent of the national total.
See trends for withdrawals by source and by water-use category
- Science
Below are other water-use topics.
Water Use in the United States
The USGS produces national estimates of water withdrawal and consumptive water use. Withdrawal estimates are currently being finalized for a 20-year period from 2000 to 2020 for the three largest water use categories nationally (public supply, self-supplied thermoelectric power, and self-supplied crop irrigation). Six additional categories of use (self-supplied industrial, domestic, mining...Trends in Water Use
Total withdrawals for all categories of use in 2015 were estimated to be 322 billion gallons per day (Bgal/d), a level of withdrawal not reported since before 1970. Total withdrawals in 2015 were 9 percent less than in 2010, continuing a sharp but steady downward trend since 2005. Freshwater withdrawals were also 9 percent less than in 2015.Surface-Water Use
Surface-water sources include streams and rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and oceans. For the purposes of the USGS water-use reports, surface water with less than 1,000 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of dissolved solids is considered freshwater, and the remainder is considered saline.Surface-water resources are often evaluated by watershed. The most recent USGS water-use estimates by watershed are in...Groundwater Use
Groundwater refers to all subsurface water, specifically that part of groundwater which is in the saturated zone. Groundwater sources are called aquifers: geologic formations that contain sufficient saturated permeable material to yield significant quantities of water to wells and springs. For the purposes of the USGS water-use reports, groundwater with less than 1,000 milligrams per liter (mg/L)...Water-Use Terminology
The following terms have been used in one or more of the water-use publications. The comparison of water-use categories over the history of these reports may also help clarify the use of some of the terms.