Through the National Water Census, USGS will provide national information on withdrawal, conveyance, consumptive use, and return flow by water-use category at spatial and temporal resolutions important for risk-informed water management decisions. Water-use data provide a foundation for water managers to analyze trends over time, plan more strategically, identify, and ultimately quantify vulnerability thresholds for adaptive water management. These data are vital to water-availability studies and assessments which seek to evaluate the balance between supply and demand and the relative influence of individual components in affecting that balance and achieving water security.
National Water Use Estimates
The U.S. Geological Survey is developing a combination of physics-based and data-driven models that rely on artificial intelligence/machine learning to estimate water withdrawal and consumptive use, replacing the previously used method of compiling and reviewing available data and making estimates to complete a national picture every 5-years. These models will allow for a consistent and more frequent reporting of water use information with an enhanced understanding of how water is used and what influences the variation in time and space. The models will be useful in identifying data gaps and data quality issues which in turn will inform future data collection and ultimately improve model predictions.
General model design requirements include:
- National scope (States and territories)
- Predict annual and sub-seasonal water withdrawals and consumptive use for publicly supplied and self-supplied water use for a historical period, near real-time conditions (1–2-month latency), short-term (months-to-years) and long-term (years-to-decades) forecasts and that can be regularly refreshed.
- 12-digit hydrologic unit code level watershed resolution
- Differentiate between water source (groundwater, surface water, water reuse)
- Incorporate quality-assured State and Federal agency data, where available.
Models for each use category will rely on different design strategies and development timelines following a set of prioritization factors, including the proportion of water use relative to the nation’s total water use, availability of data, availability of established modeling theories, and understanding of drivers of water use for each category. Model enhancements will be made to incorporate new data products and technological advancements in water use estimation research to maintain the highest levels of accuracy necessary to best align with water resource decision maker’s needs.
Development of models for the three categories that represent over 90% of total water use nationally--public supply, self-supplied thermoelectric power, and self-supplied crop irrigation--are underway. Withdrawal estimates for a 20-year reanalysis period of 2000 to 2020 for these three largest water use categories are anticipated for publication in early 2023. The estimates are for each month of that 20-year period for all watersheds at the 12-digit hydrologic unit code level in the continental United States. Other categories of use (self-supplied industrial, domestic, mining, livestock, aquaculture, and golf irrigation) will be available near the end of 2024, as the development of those models will be started in late 2022. All models will include Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands and will be enhanced as new data and understanding is gained.
Models by Category
Public Water Supply
Statistical models, including machine learning, are being developed for estimating withdrawals and consumptive use for public supply water use. These models are data intensive and rely heavily on State, Federal and local information. To model public-supply water use effectively and accurately an understanding of the geographic extent of each system’s customer base (service area) and demographics are required. Information is needed that links the sources of water to the systems, the volume of water delivered to domestic and other uses (commercial, industrial, irrigation, and thermoelectric power), the water losses that happen during transport, and a multitude of climatic, economic, and social variables that influence public supply water use.
Thermoelectric Power (TE)
A hybrid physics-based and machine learning modeling approach is being used to characterize plant operations and water use requirements for near-real-time estimates and future forecasts. These models add capability to the physics-based models previously developed by the USGS in collaboration with the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
For each plant, the physics-based models calculate monthly and annual estimates of withdrawal and consumptive use based on linked heat-and-water-budget understanding that are constrained by power plant fuel consumption, electricity generation, cooling-system technology and environmental variables (air and water temperatures, wind speed, and elevation). Although processes and plant characteristics that affect water use are well developed and represented by the physics-based model, data requirements including gross electricity generation and fuel heat which are provided by the EPA and EIA are released quarterly. To provide a TE model that can estimate near-real-time and forecasted withdrawals, machine learning approaches are being used to predict gross electrical generation and fuel heat.
- Diel, T.H., Harris, M., Murphy, J.C., Hutson, S.S., and Ladd, D.E., 2013, Methods for estimating water consumption for thermoelectric power plants in the United States: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2013-5188, 78 p.
- Harris, M.A. and Diehl, T.H., 2017, A Comparison of Three Federal Datasets for Thermoelectric Water Withdrawals in the United States for 2010, Journal of the American Water Resources Association, Vol. 53, Issue 5, p. 1062-1080.
Irrigation
Models for estimating and identifying irrigated lands, crop water requirements, irrigation system types and efficiencies, and source-water information are all needed to construct high spatial and temporal-scale estimates of irrigation water use. Satellite-based surface energy balance models and a hydrologic soil-water balance model are coupled to calculate crop water consumption and applied irrigation. Crops get their water as a mixture of natural precipitation and applied irrigation and depending on the amount and timing of precipitation relative to the growing season, irrigation water requirements can be highly variable. The amount of water withdrawn relies on an understanding of irrigation system type and water conveyance efficiencies. Estimates for irrigated golf courses will be added to the model design after 2022.
Mining
Model development will begin in 2023 and will include minerals mining as well as oil and gas extraction activity. The information gained from model development for continuous oil and gas water use will be incorporated into the new modeling efforts, and methods developed for previous USGS county-scale mining estimates will be evaluated for inclusion.
Industrial
Model development will begin in 2023.
Livestock and Aquaculture
Model development will begin in 2023 and will include an evaluation of methods developed for previous USGS county-scale estimates.
- Lovelace, J.K., 2009, Method for Estimating Water Withdrawals for Livestock in the United States, 2005: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009-5041, 7 p.
- Lovelace, J.K., 2009, Method for Estimating Water Withdrawals for Aquaculture in the United States, 2005: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009-5042, 13 p.
Self-Supplied Domestic
Model development will begin in 2023 and will include an evaluation of methods developed for the public supply model and previous USGS approaches for quantifying domestic water use.
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.
Learn more about the National Water Census.
National Water Census
Below are publications associated with water use.
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 national information on withdrawal, conveyance, consumptive use, and return flow by water-use category at spatial and temporal resolutions important for risk-informed water management decisions. Water-use data provide a foundation for water managers to analyze trends over time, plan more strategically, identify, and ultimately quantify vulnerability thresholds for adaptive water management. These data are vital to water-availability studies and assessments which seek to evaluate the balance between supply and demand and the relative influence of individual components in affecting that balance and achieving water security.
National Water Use Estimates
The U.S. Geological Survey is developing a combination of physics-based and data-driven models that rely on artificial intelligence/machine learning to estimate water withdrawal and consumptive use, replacing the previously used method of compiling and reviewing available data and making estimates to complete a national picture every 5-years. These models will allow for a consistent and more frequent reporting of water use information with an enhanced understanding of how water is used and what influences the variation in time and space. The models will be useful in identifying data gaps and data quality issues which in turn will inform future data collection and ultimately improve model predictions.
General model design requirements include:
- National scope (States and territories)
- Predict annual and sub-seasonal water withdrawals and consumptive use for publicly supplied and self-supplied water use for a historical period, near real-time conditions (1–2-month latency), short-term (months-to-years) and long-term (years-to-decades) forecasts and that can be regularly refreshed.
- 12-digit hydrologic unit code level watershed resolution
- Differentiate between water source (groundwater, surface water, water reuse)
- Incorporate quality-assured State and Federal agency data, where available.
Models for each use category will rely on different design strategies and development timelines following a set of prioritization factors, including the proportion of water use relative to the nation’s total water use, availability of data, availability of established modeling theories, and understanding of drivers of water use for each category. Model enhancements will be made to incorporate new data products and technological advancements in water use estimation research to maintain the highest levels of accuracy necessary to best align with water resource decision maker’s needs.
Development of models for the three categories that represent over 90% of total water use nationally--public supply, self-supplied thermoelectric power, and self-supplied crop irrigation--are underway. Withdrawal estimates for a 20-year reanalysis period of 2000 to 2020 for these three largest water use categories are anticipated for publication in early 2023. The estimates are for each month of that 20-year period for all watersheds at the 12-digit hydrologic unit code level in the continental United States. Other categories of use (self-supplied industrial, domestic, mining, livestock, aquaculture, and golf irrigation) will be available near the end of 2024, as the development of those models will be started in late 2022. All models will include Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands and will be enhanced as new data and understanding is gained.
Models by Category
Public Water Supply
Statistical models, including machine learning, are being developed for estimating withdrawals and consumptive use for public supply water use. These models are data intensive and rely heavily on State, Federal and local information. To model public-supply water use effectively and accurately an understanding of the geographic extent of each system’s customer base (service area) and demographics are required. Information is needed that links the sources of water to the systems, the volume of water delivered to domestic and other uses (commercial, industrial, irrigation, and thermoelectric power), the water losses that happen during transport, and a multitude of climatic, economic, and social variables that influence public supply water use.
Thermoelectric Power (TE)
A hybrid physics-based and machine learning modeling approach is being used to characterize plant operations and water use requirements for near-real-time estimates and future forecasts. These models add capability to the physics-based models previously developed by the USGS in collaboration with the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
For each plant, the physics-based models calculate monthly and annual estimates of withdrawal and consumptive use based on linked heat-and-water-budget understanding that are constrained by power plant fuel consumption, electricity generation, cooling-system technology and environmental variables (air and water temperatures, wind speed, and elevation). Although processes and plant characteristics that affect water use are well developed and represented by the physics-based model, data requirements including gross electricity generation and fuel heat which are provided by the EPA and EIA are released quarterly. To provide a TE model that can estimate near-real-time and forecasted withdrawals, machine learning approaches are being used to predict gross electrical generation and fuel heat.
- Diel, T.H., Harris, M., Murphy, J.C., Hutson, S.S., and Ladd, D.E., 2013, Methods for estimating water consumption for thermoelectric power plants in the United States: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2013-5188, 78 p.
- Harris, M.A. and Diehl, T.H., 2017, A Comparison of Three Federal Datasets for Thermoelectric Water Withdrawals in the United States for 2010, Journal of the American Water Resources Association, Vol. 53, Issue 5, p. 1062-1080.
Irrigation
Models for estimating and identifying irrigated lands, crop water requirements, irrigation system types and efficiencies, and source-water information are all needed to construct high spatial and temporal-scale estimates of irrigation water use. Satellite-based surface energy balance models and a hydrologic soil-water balance model are coupled to calculate crop water consumption and applied irrigation. Crops get their water as a mixture of natural precipitation and applied irrigation and depending on the amount and timing of precipitation relative to the growing season, irrigation water requirements can be highly variable. The amount of water withdrawn relies on an understanding of irrigation system type and water conveyance efficiencies. Estimates for irrigated golf courses will be added to the model design after 2022.
Mining
Model development will begin in 2023 and will include minerals mining as well as oil and gas extraction activity. The information gained from model development for continuous oil and gas water use will be incorporated into the new modeling efforts, and methods developed for previous USGS county-scale mining estimates will be evaluated for inclusion.
Industrial
Model development will begin in 2023.
Livestock and Aquaculture
Model development will begin in 2023 and will include an evaluation of methods developed for previous USGS county-scale estimates.
- Lovelace, J.K., 2009, Method for Estimating Water Withdrawals for Livestock in the United States, 2005: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009-5041, 7 p.
- Lovelace, J.K., 2009, Method for Estimating Water Withdrawals for Aquaculture in the United States, 2005: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009-5042, 13 p.
Self-Supplied Domestic
Model development will begin in 2023 and will include an evaluation of methods developed for the public supply model and previous USGS approaches for quantifying domestic water use.
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
Learn more about the National Water Census.
National Water Census
The National Water Census will deliver routinely updated water availability information in the United States. - Publications
Below are publications associated with water use.
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 salinAuthorsCheryl A. Dieter, Molly A. Maupin, Rodney R. Caldwell, Melissa A. Harris, Tamara I. Ivahnenko, John K. Lovelace, Nancy L. Barber, Kristin S. LinseySummary 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 withdrawAuthorsMolly A. MaupinConceptual 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 combinesAuthorsJoshua F. Valder, Ryan R. McShane, Theodore B. Barnhart, Roy Sando, Janet M. Carter, Robert F. LundgrenPublic 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 tAuthorsCheryl A. Dieter, Molly A. MaupinA 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 thermoelecAuthorsMelissa A. Harris, Timothy H. DiehlEstimating 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 1950sAuthorsJanet M. Carter, Kathleen M. Macek-Rowland, Joanna N. Thamke, Gregory C. DelzerEstimated 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-wateAuthorsMolly A. Maupin, Joan F. Kenny, Susan S. Hutson, John K. Lovelace, Nancy L. Barber, Kristin S. LinseyWithdrawal 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-AuthorsTimothy H. Diehl, Melissa A. HarrisMethods 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 donAuthorsTimothy H. Diehl, Melissa Harris, Jennifer C. Murphy, Susan S. Hutson, David E. LaddDocumentation 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 (irrigatAuthorsJade M. Dickens, Brandon T. Forbes, Dylan S. Cobean, Saeid Tadayon