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Discover and download images and data visualizations that support the National and Regional Water Availability Assessments.

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Public Supply Water Use map, monthly averages 2009-2020 by watershed
Public Supply Water Use map, monthly averages 2009-2020 by watershed
Public Supply Water Use map, monthly averages 2009-2020 by watershed
Public Supply Water Use map, monthly averages 2009-2020 by watershed

This model computes the amount of water withdrawn for public supply each month over the period from 2000 to 2020 for all subwatersheds (12-digit Hydrologic Unit Codes or HUC12s) in the conterminous United States (CONUS).

Map of the lower 48 U.S showing thermoelectric water use by watershed
Thermoelectric Power Water Use map, monthly averages 2009-2020 by watershed
Thermoelectric Power Water Use map, monthly averages 2009-2020 by watershed
Thermoelectric Power Water Use map, monthly averages 2009-2020 by watershed

This model computes the amount of water withdrawn and consumed by thermoelectric power plants each month over the period from 2008 to 2020 for all subwatersheds (12-digit Hydrologic Unit Codes or HUC12s) in the conterminous United Sta

Irrigation Use map, monthly averages 2009-2020 by watershed
Irrigation Water Use map, monthly averages 2009-2020 by watershed
Irrigation Water Use map, monthly averages 2009-2020 by watershed
Irrigation Water Use map, monthly averages 2009-2020 by watershed

This model computes the amount of crop irrigation withdrawals each month over the period from 2000 to 2020 for all subwatersheds (12-digit Hydrologic Unit Codes or HUC12s) in the conterminous United States (CONUS).

Images that represent downloading integrated water data
National Water Availability Assessment Data Companion capabilities
National Water Availability Assessment Data Companion capabilities
National Water Availability Assessment Data Companion capabilities

Images representing three of the services available to users of the National Water Availability Assessments (NWAA) Data Companion. Services include subset and download tool, data file directory, and web services. 

Surface water supply and use index, as a fraction, across the United States
Surface water supply and use index from National Water Availability Assessment Data Companion
Surface water supply and use index from National Water Availability Assessment Data Companion
Surface water supply and use index from National Water Availability Assessment Data Companion

The surface water supply and use index (SUI) expresses the fraction of the median long-term water supply at a HUC12 that is unavailable either because of climatic variability (e.g. an unusually dry year) or because the water is used consumptively for crop irrigation, thermoelectric power, or public supply.

The surface water supply and use index (SUI) expresses the fraction of the median long-term water supply at a HUC12 that is unavailable either because of climatic variability (e.g. an unusually dry year) or because the water is used consumptively for crop irrigation, thermoelectric power, or public supply.

3D render of Upper Colorado River Basin
3D render of Upper Colorado River Basin
3D render of Upper Colorado River Basin
3D render of Illinois River Basin
3D render of Illinois River Basin
3D render of Illinois River Basin
3D render of Illinois River Basin

3D render of the Illinois River Basin, created using TopoRivBlender. Read more about this method at https://waterdata.usgs.gov/blog/topo-riv-blender/ 

Map of the Upper Colorado River Basin, Integrated Water Availability Assessment.
Map of Upper Colorado River Basin - Integrated Water Availability
Map of Upper Colorado River Basin - Integrated Water Availability
Map of Upper Colorado River Basin - Integrated Water Availability

Map of the Upper Colorado River Basin —referred to as an Integrated Water Science (IWS) basins—are intensively monitored study basins representing a wide range of environmental, hydrologic, and landscape settings and human stressors of water resources to improve our understanding of water availability across the Nation.

Map of the Upper Colorado River Basin —referred to as an Integrated Water Science (IWS) basins—are intensively monitored study basins representing a wide range of environmental, hydrologic, and landscape settings and human stressors of water resources to improve our understanding of water availability across the Nation.

see caption
Integrated Water Science in the Klamath River Basin, Diagram
Integrated Water Science in the Klamath River Basin, Diagram
Integrated Water Science in the Klamath River Basin, Diagram

Water availability in the Klamath Basin is shaped by three interconnected factors, like overlapping circles in a Venn diagram. First, upper basin controls—such as groundwater, snowpack, and runoff—determine how much water is available. Second, biological opinions set flow requirements to protect endangered fish and habitats, including flushing and geomorphic flows.

Water availability in the Klamath Basin is shaped by three interconnected factors, like overlapping circles in a Venn diagram. First, upper basin controls—such as groundwater, snowpack, and runoff—determine how much water is available. Second, biological opinions set flow requirements to protect endangered fish and habitats, including flushing and geomorphic flows.

NWAA regions map, including aggregated regions
National Water Availability Assessment Hydrologic Regions and Aggregate Regions
National Water Availability Assessment Hydrologic Regions and Aggregate Regions
National Water Availability Assessment Hydrologic Regions and Aggregate Regions

Hydrologic regions and aggregated hydrologic regions used in the National Water Availability Assessment report in the conterminous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Published in https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1894A

HUC diagram showing the hierarchical, nested way in which HUCs are named
Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) overview
Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) overview
Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) overview

The U.S. Geological Survey uses a depiction and classification scheme for hydrologic units known as hydrologic unit codes (HUCs). HUCs generally represent catchments, and river basins are represented by a unique series of numbers with successively smaller hydrologic units nested inside of larger ones.

The U.S. Geological Survey uses a depiction and classification scheme for hydrologic units known as hydrologic unit codes (HUCs). HUCs generally represent catchments, and river basins are represented by a unique series of numbers with successively smaller hydrologic units nested inside of larger ones.

Stacked bar chart showing the sources of nitrogen by U.S. regions
Sources of Nitrogen across hydrologic regions (total load)
Sources of Nitrogen across hydrologic regions (total load)
Sources of Nitrogen across hydrologic regions (total load)

A stacked bar chart showing the sources of Nitrogen across hydrologic regions of CONUS (2010-2020). Colors show the total Nitrogen load contributed from agriculture, atmospheric deposition, natural sources, wastewater, and other human sources.

A stacked bar chart showing the sources of Nitrogen across hydrologic regions of CONUS (2010-2020). Colors show the total Nitrogen load contributed from agriculture, atmospheric deposition, natural sources, wastewater, and other human sources.

Map showing water limitation using five categories (very low to severe)
Water limitation (2010-2020)
Water limitation (2010-2020)
Water limitation (2010-2020)

Water limitation across the lower 48. Water limitation is measured as the Supply and Use Index (SUI) which represents the imbalance between water supply and demand. A higher SUI indicates a greater proportion of supply being used. 

Water limitation across the lower 48. Water limitation is measured as the Supply and Use Index (SUI) which represents the imbalance between water supply and demand. A higher SUI indicates a greater proportion of supply being used. 

Map of continental U.S. showing aquifer extents
Drinking water aquifers
Drinking water aquifers
Drinking water aquifers

A simplified drinking water aquifer map of CONUS. Overlapping aquifers are indicated with striping.

A simplified drinking water aquifer map of CONUS. Overlapping aquifers are indicated with striping.

Chart showing surface water supply and demand by U.S. hydrologic region
Water supply vs demand 2010-2020
Water supply vs demand 2010-2020
Water supply vs demand 2010-2020

Surface water supply and demand across hydrologic regions (2010-2020). Surface water supply is shown as average surface runoff, and demand reflects consumptive use.

Surface water supply and demand across hydrologic regions (2010-2020). Surface water supply is shown as average surface runoff, and demand reflects consumptive use.

Bar charts showing average daily water use by water-use type (public supply, thermoelectric power, and crop irrigation).
Water use 2010-2020 by type
Water use 2010-2020 by type
Water use 2010-2020 by type

Total water use for the top 3 water use categories: thermoelectric power generation, public supply, and crop irrigation. These three categories make up 90% of all water use in the contiguous United States. 

Total water use for the top 3 water use categories: thermoelectric power generation, public supply, and crop irrigation. These three categories make up 90% of all water use in the contiguous United States. 

Stacked bar chart showing total water use by year and water use type.
Total water use (2010-2020)
Total water use (2010-2020)
Total water use (2010-2020)

Total water use for the top 3 water use categories: thermoelectric power generation, public supply, and crop irrigation. These three categories make up 90% of all water use in the contiguous United States.

Total water use for the top 3 water use categories: thermoelectric power generation, public supply, and crop irrigation. These three categories make up 90% of all water use in the contiguous United States.

Illustration showing what happens to the water that falls as precipitation over the continental U.S.
The water cycle of the U.S.
The water cycle of the U.S.
The water cycle of the U.S.

In the lower 48 states, nearly 5,000 billion gallons of water fall in the form of precipitation each day. Most of that water re-enters the atmosphere through evapotranspiration, and about a quarter of our daily water input ends up as streamflow to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Canada or the Gulf of Mexico.

In the lower 48 states, nearly 5,000 billion gallons of water fall in the form of precipitation each day. Most of that water re-enters the atmosphere through evapotranspiration, and about a quarter of our daily water input ends up as streamflow to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Canada or the Gulf of Mexico.

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