The USGS works in cooperation with local, State, and Federal agencies to collect water-use information, then compiles these data to produce water-use information aggregated at the county, state, and national levels. Every five years, data at the county level are compiled into a national water-use data system and State-level data are published in a national circular, Estimated Use of Water in the United States.
The National Water Use Science Project, part of the National Water Census, is responsible for compiling and disseminating the nation's water-use data. The USGS Water-Use Data and Research program seeks to develop improved water-use data through agreements with State water-resources agencies.
••• WATER USE HOME • TOTAL WATER USE • SURFACE WATER USE • GROUNDWATER USE • TRENDS •••
Public Supply • Domestic • Irrigation • Thermoelectric Power • Industrial • Mining • Livestock • Aquaculture
Water Use Categories
See how water-use categories have changed since the USGS water-use circulars were first published in 1950.
Overviews
- 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.
Additional information: Publications • Water-use category changes over time • Water-use terminology
Below are other water-use topics.
Water Availability and Use Science Program: National Water Census
- Overview
The USGS works in cooperation with local, State, and Federal agencies to collect water-use information, then compiles these data to produce water-use information aggregated at the county, state, and national levels. Every five years, data at the county level are compiled into a national water-use data system and State-level data are published in a national circular, Estimated Use of Water in the United States.
The National Water Use Science Project, part of the National Water Census, is responsible for compiling and disseminating the nation's water-use data. The USGS Water-Use Data and Research program seeks to develop improved water-use data through agreements with State water-resources agencies.
••• WATER USE HOME • TOTAL WATER USE • SURFACE WATER USE • GROUNDWATER USE • TRENDS •••
Public Supply • Domestic • Irrigation • Thermoelectric Power • Industrial • Mining • Livestock • Aquaculture
Water Use Categories
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. Overviews
- 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.
Additional information: Publications • Water-use category changes over time • Water-use terminology
- Science
Below are other water-use topics.
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. - Data
- Publications