Water Use in the United States
Water Use in the United States
The U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Use Science Project is responsible for compiling and disseminating the nation's water-use data. The USGS works in cooperation with local, State, and Federal environmental agencies to collect water-use information. USGS compiles these data to produce water-use information aggregated at the county, state, and national levels. Every five years, data at the county level are compiled into a national water-use data system and state-level data are published in a national circular. Over the history of these circulars, the water-use categories have had some changes. The USGS Water-Use Data and Research program seeks to develop improved water-use data through agreements with State water-resources agencies.
Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 2010 is available (published November 2014). Report | Data download | Fact sheet
Work on the 2015 report began in calendar year 2016.
Water Use Overviews
Surface Water and Groundwater Use
Surface Water and Groundwater Use: Water-use estimates for groundwater and surface water by State
Trends in Water Use
Trends: How water use is changing over time, starting with the initial USGS estimates for 1950.
Categories of water use
Additional Information
Water Use Concepts
Water-use terminologyNational Water-Use Science Project
The National Water-Use Science Project was established by USGS in 1978.
