Water Use in Kansas, 1990–2000

About 416 millon gallons per day (Mgal/d) were used for public water supply in Kansas during 2000, about 11% more than in 1990. During this time, the state's population increased about 8%, from 2.5 to 2.7 million people. Public supplies in Kansas are derived primarily from ground-water sources in the western part of the state and from surface-water sources in the eastern part. In 2000, about 59% of all public-supply water obtained from surface sources and 41% was from ground sources. The percentage of public-supply water obtained from surface sources increased between 1990 and 2000, especially in the Lower Arkansas and Missouri river basins.

Irrigation is the largest use of water in Kansas, totaling 3,714 Mgal/d in 2000. About 92% of this irrigation water was from ground-water sources, and about 95% was withdrawn in western Kansas. Most of the surface water used for irrigation is withdrawn in the Solomon, Upper Arkansas, and Kansas-Lower Republican river basins. Irrigation withdrawals in most of the state were smaller in 1995 than in either 1990 or 2000 due to more precipitation. Irrigation withdrawals in 2000 were 11% less than they were in 1990. The largest decreases occurred in the Smoky Hill-Saline and Cimarron river basins.

Industrial (including mining) water use totaled 85 Mgal/d in 2000. Most of the industrial water use in Kansas occurs in the Kansas-Lower Republican, Lower Arkansas, and Upper Arkansas river basins. Statewide, 72% of industrial supply is withdrawn from ground-water sources. Industrial water use increased by 7% between 1990 and 2000.

Water is used for livestock throughout Kansas and totaled 116 Mgal/d in 2000. Livestock water supplies are derived primarily from ground water in western Kansas, where usage increased substantially between 1990 and 2000. In the Cimarron and Upper Arkansas basins, water usage for livestock increased 32% during this period.

Water used to generate thermoelectric power totaled 2,556 Mgal/d in 2000, although most of this water use is nonconsumptive. The largest uses of water for power generation occur in eastern Kansas where adequate supplies of surface water are available.