Water Use in Georgia by County for 2000 and Water-Use Trends for 1980 - 2000

Georgia Geologic Survey Information Circular 106, 176 pages

Cover photograph: Brooks Forrier and friends from Statesboro enjoy an outing at a mill at Indian Springs (Butts County), Georgia, about 1900. Source: Georgia Secretary of State, State Archives of Georgia.

ABSTRACT

During 2000, water use in Georgia was estimated for each county by category using data obtained from various Federal and State agencies and local sources. Categories of offstream water use include public supply, domestic, commercial, industrial, mining, irrigation, livestock, and thermoelectric power; the only category of estimated instream use is hydroelectric-power generation.

Total offstream water use from ground- and surface-water sources was estimated to be about 6,487 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) during 2000. Thermoelectric power was the largest water use during 2000 with surface-water withdrawals of 3,310 Mgal/d. Instream water use for hydroelectric plants in the State was estimated to be 31,890 Mgal/d. Withdrawal for irrigation was mostly from ground-water sources, and withdrawal for public supply was mostly from surface-water sources.

During 1980, water use in Georgia was estimated to be 6,725 Mgal/d, which was withdrawn from ground- and surface-water sources in Georgia. Since 1980, water-use estimates for the State have been compiled and published at 5-year intervals by the Georgia Water-Use Program. State-wide, water use reached an all-time high of 6,725 Mgal/d during 1980. By 1990, water use had decreased by 20 percent to 5,353 Mgal/d, followed by an increase to 6,487 Mgal/d during 2000.

During 1980-2000 thermoelectric-power has been consistently the largest water use in Georgia. Public-supply use steadily increased during the last 20 years, concurrent with the State's increasing population. Conversely, industrial water use decreased during the same period. Water withdrawal for irrigation during 1980-2000 followed changes in hydrologic conditions, increasing during drier years and decreasing during wetter years. Withdrawal for all other categories of use (domestic, commercial, and livestock) remained about the same during 1980-2000.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract

Introduction

Purpose and scope

Data Collection and Presentation

Water Use in Georgia, 2000

Public Supply

Domestic and Commercial

Industrial and Mining

Irrigation

Livestock

Thermoelectric-Power Generation

Hydroelectric-Power Generation

Water-Use in Georgia, 1980-2000

Selected References

Appendix A--Standard Industrial Classification Codes

Appendix B--Ground- and Surface-Water Use by County in Georgia for 2000 and Trends for 1980 - 2000

REPORT AVAILABILITY

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  Atlanta, GA 30334
  
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