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
Below are data associated with water use in the United States.
Below are publications associated with water use in the United States.
Estimated use of water in the United States in 2015
Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 1985
Estimated use of water in the United States - 1950
Estimated use of water in the United States, 1960
Estimated use of water in the United States in 1990
Estimated use of water in the United States in 1975
Estimated use of water in the United States, 1955
Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 1980
- 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.
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
Below are data associated with water use in the United States.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with water use in the United States.
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 salinFilter Total Items: 20Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 1985
Water withdrawals in the United States during 1985 were estimated to average 399,000 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) of freshwater and saline water for offstream uses--10 percent less than the 1980 estimate. Average per-capita use for all offstream uses was 1,650 gallons per day (gal/d) of freshwater and saline water combined and 1,400 gal/d of freshwater alone. Offstream water-use categoriesEstimated use of water in the United States - 1950
An estimated 170,000 million gallons of water was withdrawn from the ground, lakes, or streams each day on the average during 1950 and used on the farms and in the homes, factories, and business establishments of the United States. An additional 1,100,000 million gallons per day was used to generate hydro-power. Water power is the largest user of water; however, irrigation and industry also are laEstimated use of water in the United States, 1960
The estimated overage withdrawal use of water in the United States during 1960 was almost 270,000 mgd (million gallons per day), exclusive of water used to develop water power. This estimated use amounts to about 1,500 gpd (galIons per day) per capita. An additional 2,000,000 mgd were used to develop waterpower.Withdrawal use of water requires that the water be removed from the ground or divertedEstimated use of water in the United States in 1990
Water withdrawals in the United States during 1990 were estimated to average 408,000 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) of freshwater and saline water for offstream uses--2 percent more than the 1985 estimate. Total freshwater withdrawals were an estimated 339,000 Mgal/d during 1990, about the same as during 1985. Average per-capita use for all offstream uses was 1,620 gallons per day (gal/d) of freEstimated use of water in the United States in 1975
Estimates of water use in the United States in 1975 indicate that an average of about 420 bgd (billion gallons per day) about 1,900 gallons per capita per day was withdrawn for the four principal off-channel uses which are (1) publicsupply (for domestic, commercial, and industrial uses), (2) rural (domestic and livestock), (3) irrigation, and (4) self-supplied industrial (including thermoelectricEstimated use of water in the United States, 1955
The estimated withdrawal use of water in the United States during 1955 was about 740,000 mgd (million gallons per day). Withdrawal use of water requires that it be removed from the ground or diverted from a stream or lake. In this report it is divided into five types: public supplies, rural, irrigation, self-supplied industrial, and waterpower. Consumptive use of water is the quantity discharged tEstimated Use of Water in the United States in 1980
Water use in the United States in 1980 was estimated to be an average of 450 bgd (billion gallons per day) of fresh and saline water for offstream uses- an 8-percent increase from the 1975 estimate and a 22-percent increase from the 1970 estimate. Average per capita use for all offstream uses was 2,000 gpd (gallons per day) of fresh and saline water, and 1,600 gpd of fresh water; this represents a