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, livestock, aquaculture, and golf irrigation) will be available near the end of 2024.
••• WATER USE HOME • TOTAL WATER USE • SURFACE WATER USE • GROUNDWATER USE • TRENDS •••
Public Supply • Domestic • Irrigation • Thermoelectric Power • Industrial • Mining • Livestock • Aquaculture
The USGS works in cooperation with local, State, and Federal partners to compile and integrate water-use information with other datasets of climate, population, social, and economics in a modeling framework to produce national estimates of water withdrawal and consumptive use. Models allow for water use estimates to be available more frequently, data outliers to be identified more readily, and a means to consistently evaluate estimate uncertainty. Using methods that enhance understanding of what influences water use enables more informed forecasting of water use under different climate and social/economic futures.
Withdrawal estimates are being finalized for a 20-year reanalysis period from 2000 to 2020 for the three largest water use categories nationally (public supply, self-supplied thermoelectric power, and self-supplied crop irrigation). 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. The public release of these withdrawal estimates is anticipated towards the end of 2023.
Six additional 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 2023. Furthermore, all models will be expanded to include Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands during this next phase of model development.
At present, the most recent water use estimates are from 2015.
Overviews (2015)
- Estimated total water use for all categories and sources by State
- Water-use estimates for groundwater and surface water by State.
- Trends: How water use is changing over time, starting with the initial USGS estimates for 1950.
Water Use Categories (2015)
See how water-use categories have changed since the USGS water-use circulars were first published in 1950.
Additional information: Publications • Water-use category changes over time • Water-use terminology
Below are other water-use topics.
National Water Census
Total Water Use
Trends in Water Use
Surface-Water Use
Groundwater Use
Water-Use Terminology
State Contacts for Water-Use Data
The National Water-Use Science Project
- Overview
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, livestock, aquaculture, and golf irrigation) will be available near the end of 2024.
••• WATER USE HOME • TOTAL WATER USE • SURFACE WATER USE • GROUNDWATER USE • TRENDS •••
Public Supply • Domestic • Irrigation • Thermoelectric Power • Industrial • Mining • Livestock • Aquaculture
The USGS works in cooperation with local, State, and Federal partners to compile and integrate water-use information with other datasets of climate, population, social, and economics in a modeling framework to produce national estimates of water withdrawal and consumptive use. Models allow for water use estimates to be available more frequently, data outliers to be identified more readily, and a means to consistently evaluate estimate uncertainty. Using methods that enhance understanding of what influences water use enables more informed forecasting of water use under different climate and social/economic futures.
Withdrawal estimates are being finalized for a 20-year reanalysis period from 2000 to 2020 for the three largest water use categories nationally (public supply, self-supplied thermoelectric power, and self-supplied crop irrigation). 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. The public release of these withdrawal estimates is anticipated towards the end of 2023.
Six additional 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 2023. Furthermore, all models will be expanded to include Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands during this next phase of model development.
At present, the most recent water use estimates are from 2015.
Overviews (2015)
- Estimated total water use for all categories and sources by State
- Water-use estimates for groundwater and surface water by State.
- Trends: How water use is changing over time, starting with the initial USGS estimates for 1950.
Water Use Categories (2015)
See how water-use categories have changed since the USGS water-use circulars were first published in 1950.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.The eight water-use categories included in the National Water-Use Science Project: public supply, domestic, irrigation, thermoelectric power, self-supplied industrial, mining, livestock, and aquaculture. Additional information: Publications • Water-use category changes over time • Water-use terminology
- Science
Below are other water-use topics.
National Water Census
The National Water Census will deliver routinely updated water availability information in the United States.Total Water Use
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...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.State Contacts for Water-Use Data
Water-use data is compiled for each of the United States as well as for the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The list below contains a link to the USGS water-use site for each entity, if one exists, as well as the point of contact for State-level information.The National Water-Use Science Project
The U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Use Science Project (formerly the National Water-Use Information Program) is responsible for compiling and disseminating the nation's water-use data. Established by USGS in 1978, the USGS National Water-Use Science Project built on the legacy of the Estimated Use of Water in the United States report series, begun in 1950 and produced every 5 years. - Data
- Publications