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 for early 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 late 2022. 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
- 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 for early 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 late 2022. 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 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. - Data
- Publications