Georgia Water Science Center
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Water use for Georgia counties, 2000
Water-use estimates for the State of Georgia have been compiled since 1950. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, Georgia Geologic Survey, entered into a cooperative agreement in 1979 to develop the Georgia Water-Use Program (GWUP). The GWUP collects, compiles, and disseminates water-use data in the State. USGS personnel maintain these data. Since 1980, the GWUP has compiled water-use estimates annually and published a State report every fifth year.
In Georgia, total offstream water use from ground- and surface-water sources was estimated to be 6,490 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) in 2000. Thermoelectric power was the largest category of offstream water use in 2000, estimated to be 3,310 Mgal/d from surface water. Instream water use for hydroelectric power plants in the State of Georgia was estimated to be 31,900 Mgal/d. Withdrawals for irrigation mostly were from ground-water sources, and withdrawals for public supply mostly were from surface-water sources. Offstream water use for 2000 was about 21 percent larger than in 1950.
Statewide, from 1950–2000, water-use trends show the relation between water withdrawals and changes in population and climate. During that 50-year period, the largest category of water withdrawals has been thermoelectric power. Public supply has increased steadily since 1950 along with the State’s population.
Water use for individual Georgia counties for 2000
Water-use data are divided into offstream and instream uses. Offstream water-use categories include public supply, domestic, commercial, industrial, mining, irrigation, livestock, and thermoelectric power. An estimated 6,490 Mgal/d were withdrawn for offstream uses throughout Georgia during 2000. Of the total offstream use, an estimated 5,040 Mgal/d were withdrawn from surface-water sources (78 percent); and of that amount, 68 percent was for thermoelectric power generation. Ground-water withdrawals were estimated to be 1,450 Mgal/d, mostly for irrigation (51 percent) and industrial uses (20 percent) and public supply (19 percent).
Data tables of water use for 2000:
Total • Surface water, by category • Ground water, by category • Total, by category
Water Use by Category, 2000
Trends in Water Use, 1950–2000
Selected References
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://ga.water.usgs.gov/projects/projectwateruse.html
Page Contact Information: webmaster-ga@usgs.gov
Page Last Modified: Friday, 23-Jun-2006 11:16:42 EDT
