How has America's water use changed over the last 65 years? Are we using more or less water, and are there trends for different kinds of water use?
• Water Science School HOME • Water Use topics •
How has America's water use changed over the last 65 years? Are we using more or less water, and are there trends for different kinds of water use? There is a lot of information in the bar graph below. It shows the amount of water used for various categories of water use from 1950 to 2015.
Trends in total water withdrawals, 1950-2015
This chart shows the trends in freshwater and saline-water withdrawals for the Nation from 1950 to 2015. What is remarkable about this chart is that it shows that the Nation's water use peaked in 1980 and has been fairly steady since then. Many of the stresses for greater water use have risen since 1980, such as population, the need to grow more food (irrigation), more industry, etc, yet total water use has not risen. This shows that water conservation efforts and greater efficiencies in using water have had a positive effect in the last 35 years.
Trends in total freshwater withdrawals by source, 1950-2015
This chart shows the trends in surface-water, groundwater, and total-water withdrawals for the Nation from 1950 to 2015. Notice how the relative amounts of surface- and groundwater withdrawals (in percentages) has remained fairly constant. About three-fourths of the water used in America comes from surface water.
Trends in total water withdrawals by category, 1950-2015
The bars that stand out most are the yellow ones -- freshwater for electricity production. Electricity water use increased almost 400 percent from 1950 to 2005, but dropped about 19 percent from 2005 to 2015. Irrigation water use increased by about 29 percent since 1950—it takes more water to grow food for our increasing population. Notice how after 1980 water use started to decrease a bit, possibly due to the Nation making more use of water-conservation measures. The purple public-supply boxes are important. Notice how they continue on an uptrend. Public-supply water (water withdrawn by the local county and city water departments and delivered to homes and businesses) goes to serve the Nation's normal water uses, such as supplying industries, restaurants, and homes with water. The Nation's ever-increasing population demands ever-increasing supplies of water.
Trends in estimated use of water in the United States, 1950-2015
Source: Estimated Water Use in the United States in 2015
Want to know more about trends in water use in the United States? Follow me to the Trends in Water Use website!
Below are science topics related to water use in the U.S.
Water Use Information by Topic
Surface Water Use in the United States
Trends in Water Use in the United States, 1950 to 2015
Thermoelectric Power Water Use
Groundwater Use in the United States
Saline Water Use in the United States
Total Water Use in the United States
Freshwater Withdrawals in the United States
Public Supply Water Use
Irrigation Water Use
Domestic Water Use
- Overview
How has America's water use changed over the last 65 years? Are we using more or less water, and are there trends for different kinds of water use?
• Water Science School HOME • Water Use topics •
How has America's water use changed over the last 65 years? Are we using more or less water, and are there trends for different kinds of water use? There is a lot of information in the bar graph below. It shows the amount of water used for various categories of water use from 1950 to 2015.
Trends in total water withdrawals, 1950-2015
This chart shows the trends in freshwater and saline-water withdrawals for the Nation from 1950 to 2015. What is remarkable about this chart is that it shows that the Nation's water use peaked in 1980 and has been fairly steady since then. Many of the stresses for greater water use have risen since 1980, such as population, the need to grow more food (irrigation), more industry, etc, yet total water use has not risen. This shows that water conservation efforts and greater efficiencies in using water have had a positive effect in the last 35 years.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Trends in total water withdrawals, 1950-2015 Trends in total freshwater withdrawals by source, 1950-2015
This chart shows the trends in surface-water, groundwater, and total-water withdrawals for the Nation from 1950 to 2015. Notice how the relative amounts of surface- and groundwater withdrawals (in percentages) has remained fairly constant. About three-fourths of the water used in America comes from surface water.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Trends in population and freshwater withdrawals by source, 1950-2015. Trends in total water withdrawals by category, 1950-2015
The bars that stand out most are the yellow ones -- freshwater for electricity production. Electricity water use increased almost 400 percent from 1950 to 2005, but dropped about 19 percent from 2005 to 2015. Irrigation water use increased by about 29 percent since 1950—it takes more water to grow food for our increasing population. Notice how after 1980 water use started to decrease a bit, possibly due to the Nation making more use of water-conservation measures. The purple public-supply boxes are important. Notice how they continue on an uptrend. Public-supply water (water withdrawn by the local county and city water departments and delivered to homes and businesses) goes to serve the Nation's normal water uses, such as supplying industries, restaurants, and homes with water. The Nation's ever-increasing population demands ever-increasing supplies of water.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Trends in total water withdrawals by water-use category, 1950-2015 Trends in estimated use of water in the United States, 1950-2015
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Source: Estimated Water Use in the United States in 2015
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Want to know more about trends in water use in the United States? Follow me to the Trends in Water Use website!
- Science
Below are science topics related to water use in the U.S.
Water Use Information by Topic
Water is everywhere, which is fortunate for all of humanity, as water is essential for life. Even though water is not always available in the needed quantity and quality for all people everywhere, people have learned to get and use water for all of their water needs, from drinking, cleaning, irrigating crops, producing electricity, and for just having fun.Surface Water Use in the United States
The Nation's surface-water resources—the water in the nation's rivers, streams, creeks, lakes, and reservoirs—are vitally important to our everyday life.Trends in Water Use in the United States, 1950 to 2015
How has America's water use changed over the last 65 years? Are we using more or less water, and are there trends for different kinds of water use?Thermoelectric Power Water Use
Much of the electricity used in the United States and worldwide comes from thermoelectric power plants. This type of production includes fuels such as coal, oil, gas-fired, nuclear, and other lesser-used methods, such as geothermal and burning waste material. Production of electrical power results in one of the largest uses of water in the United States and worldwide. Water for thermoelectric...Groundwater Use in the United States
Groundwater is one of our most valuable resource—even though you probably never see it or even realize it is there. Groundwater is essential for irrigation and human use in many parts of the country. The use of groundwater in the United States in 2015 is described below.Saline Water Use in the United States
Do you wear contact lenses? If so, you most likely use a saline water solution to clean them. But what else do we use saline water for and do we really use that much? Read on to learn all about the use of saline water.Total Water Use in the United States
The water in the Nation's rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and underground aquifers are vitally important to our everyday life. These water bodies supply the water to serve the needs of every human and for the world's ecological systems, too. Here in the United States, every 5 years the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) compiles county, state, and National water withdrawal and use data for a number of water...Freshwater Withdrawals in the United States
The freshwater in the Nation's rivers, streams, creeks, lakes, reservoirs, and in underground aquifers are vitally important to our everyday life, and, indeed, to all life on Earth.Public Supply Water Use
It is likely the water you use at home is brought to you by a public water-supply system. These are agencies, such as your local county government, that find and get the water that is delivered to not only your home, but to many businesses and industries. Most of the population of the United States gets their water this way.Irrigation Water Use
Throughout the world, irrigation (water for agriculture, or growing crops) is probably the most important use of water (except for drinking and washing a smelly dog, perhaps). Irrigation water is essential for keeping fruits, vegetables, and grains growing to feed the world's population, and this has been a constant for thousands of years.Domestic Water Use
Domestic water use is water used for indoor and outdoor household purposes— all the things you do at home: drinking, preparing food, bathing, washing clothes and dishes, brushing your teeth, watering the garden, and even washing the dog. At the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), domestic water use refers to the amount of water that is "self-supplied", or water withdrawn directly by users, such as from... - Publications