Find out which states use the most water and what they use it for.
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Which states use the most water?
More than one-fourth of the total water used in the United States in 2015 was withdrawn in California, Texas, Idaho, and Florida. California accounted for 9 percent of all withdrawals in the United States in 2015. Nearly three-fourths of the freshwater withdrawn in California was for irrigation, and 98 percent of saline water withdrawn was for thermoelectric-power generation.
In 2015, more than 50 percent of the total withdrawals in the United States were accounted for by 12 States: California, Texas, Idaho, Florida, Arkansas, New York, Illinois, Colorado, North Carolina, Michigan, Montana, and Nebraska.
The chart below shows the distribution of total (fresh plus saline) water withdrawals, by state, in 2015.
- Overview
Find out which states use the most water and what they use it for.
• Water Science School HOME • Water Science Q&As •
Which states use the most water?
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.More than one-fourth of the total water used in the United States in 2015 was withdrawn in California, Texas, Idaho, and Florida. California accounted for 9 percent of all withdrawals in the United States in 2015. Nearly three-fourths of the freshwater withdrawn in California was for irrigation, and 98 percent of saline water withdrawn was for thermoelectric-power generation.
In 2015, more than 50 percent of the total withdrawals in the United States were accounted for by 12 States: California, Texas, Idaho, Florida, Arkansas, New York, Illinois, Colorado, North Carolina, Michigan, Montana, and Nebraska.
The chart below shows the distribution of total (fresh plus saline) water withdrawals, by state, in 2015.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.