Water Use Across the Conterminous United States, Water Years 2010–20, Chapter D of U.S. Geological Survey Integrated Water Availability Assessment—2010–20

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | January 15th, 2025

Key Points An estimated average of 223,594 million gallons per day (Mgal/d; 26,179 million cubic meters per month [Mm3/mo]) were withdrawn from freshwater sources fo

Key Points An estimated average of 223,594 million gallons per day (Mgal/d; 26,179 million cubic meters per month [Mm3/mo]) were withdrawn from freshwater sources for human use for crop irrigation, public supply, and thermoelectric power across the conterminous United States (CONUS) during water years 2010–20. Including saline water, withdrawals were 244,817 Mgal/d (28,677 Mm3/mo). Average withdrawals and consumptive use (1) for CONUS crop irrigation during water years 2010–20 were 105,497 and 75,698 Mgal/d, respectively; (2) for public supply were 35,440 and 4,219 Mgal/d, respectively; and (3) for thermoelectric power from fresh water were 82,656 Mgal/d and 2,904 Mgal/d, respectively. Across the CONUS, the source of water—whether groundwater, surface water, public supply, reclaimed wastewater, or a combination thereof—typically depends on the availability of these sources and on the category of use. The water-use categories of industrial, self-supplied domestic, mining, livestock, and aquaculture together accounted for 10 percent of water withdrawals in the United States in 2015. Although a small proportion nationally, these water-use categories can be locally important. Companion chapters: U.S. Geological Survey Integrated Water Availability Assessment—2010–20, Chapter A Water Supply in the Conterminous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, Water Years 2010–20, Chapter B Status of Water-Quality Conditions in the United States, 2010–20, Chapter C  Climate Change and Future Water Availability in the United States, Chapter E  Integrated Water Availability in the Conterminous United States, 2010–20, Chapter F 

Water Use in California

Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) | April 19th, 2023

Water Wasted to the Sea?

University of California, Davis (UC Davis) | July 15th, 2017

Water Year 2017: What a Difference a Year Makes

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | October 3rd, 2022

The very wet conditions of 2017 gave many parts of the state access to excess surface waters for both planned and impromptu groundwater recharge, and fall 2017 groundwate

The very wet conditions of 2017 gave many parts of the state access to excess surface waters for both planned and impromptu groundwater recharge, and fall 2017 groundwater level data (not available until the end of the calendar year) should show the effects of the substantial recharge water available

Water Year 2021 Compound Precipitation and Temperature Extremes in California and Nevada

American Meteorological Society (AMS) | December 23rd, 2022

The most intense 22-yr drought in the western United States since 800 CE (Williams et al. 2022) was extended by compound dry and hot extremes in Water Year 2021 (October

The most intense 22-yr drought in the western United States since 800 CE (Williams et al. 2022) was extended by compound dry and hot extremes in Water Year 2021 (October 2020–September 2021). Compared to an instrumental record that dates to 1895, low precipitation (Fig. 1a) and high temperatures (Fig. 1b) were widespread across the western United States. The intense and prevalent drought has caused water delivery shortages (U.S. Bureau of Reclamation 2021), damaged ecosystems (Wlostowski et al. 2022), and contributed to extreme wildfires (e.g., Fu et al. 2021; Gutierrez et al. 2021; Abolafia-Rosenzweig et al. 2022). California and Nevada (CA–NV) were once again at the epicenter of drought and heat in Water Year 2021 (California Department of Water Resources 2021). This was the first time since 1895 that precipitation fell below –1.5 standardized departures and temperatures exceeded 1.5 standardized departures concurrently for the two-state average (Fig. 1c). Precipitation and temperatures were individually extreme as well, as the former was the second lowest since 1895 and the latter was the second highest. We examine whether the co-occurrence of anthropogenic climate change and La Niña, two principal climate drivers during Water Year 2021, altered the risk of unprecedented compound dry and hot extremes in CA–NV during Water Year 2021. Our assessment investigates the factors related to compound extremes that lead to heightened societal impacts compared to individual extreme events (e.g., AghaKouchak et al. 2020; Zscheischler et al. 2020; W. Zhang et al. 2021).

Water Year 2023: Weather Whiplash, from Drought to Deluge

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | October 4th, 2023

Water Year 2023 demonstrated California’s high climate variability, ending the state’s driest consecutive three-year period with one of the snowiest years of record.

Water Year 2023 demonstrated California’s high climate variability, ending the state’s driest consecutive three-year period with one of the snowiest years of record. Even though California has been experiencing a theme of aridity in the 21st century (the statewide droughts of 2007-2009, 2012-2019, and 2020-2022), Water Year 2017 was the state’s second wettest in terms of statewide precipitation. Climate change is expected to amplify naturally occurring variability in the long term, potentially result in a shorter wet season for California but one with more extreme atmospheric river storms and hence potentially greater flood damage risk.

Water-Level and land-subsidence studies in the Mojave River and Morongo groundwater basins; 2007

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | June 25th, 2007

Since 1992, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Mojave Water Agency (MWA), has constructed a series of regional water-table maps for intermittent y

Since 1992, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Mojave Water Agency (MWA), has constructed a series of regional water-table maps for intermittent years in a continuing effort to monitor groundwater conditions in the Mojave River and Morongo groundwater basins. The previously published data, which were used to construct these maps, can be accessed on the interactive map. The associated reports describing the groundwater conditions for the Mojave River groundwater basin for 1992 (Stamos and Predmore, 1995), the Morongo groundwater basin for 1994 (Trayler and Koczot, 1995), and for both groundwater basins for 1996 (Mendez and Christensen, 1997); for 1998 (Smith and Pimentel, 2000), for 2000 (Smith, 2002), for 2002 (Smith and others, 2004), for 2004 (Stamos and others, 2004), and for 2006 (Stamos and others, 2007) can be accessed using this web site.

Water/Wastewater Utilities and Extreme Climate and Weather Events: Case Studies on Community Response, Lessons Learned, Adaptation, and Planning Needs for the Future

Water Research Foundation | July 21st, 2014

This project consisted of a series of workshops that (1) examined the actions taken by water and wastewater utility practitioners who faced a recent extreme weather and c

This project consisted of a series of workshops that (1) examined the actions taken by water and wastewater utility practitioners who faced a recent extreme weather and climate-related event and documented their planning and response; (2) determined and recorded lessons learned; (3) documented and analyzed the decision process, including decision makers, organizations involved, and data needed for making decisions when faced with an extreme event; and (4) summarized communication approaches used to inform the public. The final report, published by WERF, consists of the workshop results and a series of case studies highlighting lessons learned and recommended actions. Additionally, the case studies were published separately and are available on this project page under Project Resources/Project Papers.

Watershed Modeling for the Santa Clara River in Southern California

Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) | July 24th, 2019

A calibrated watershed hydrologic model of the Santa Clara River (SCR) Watershed was developed for use as a tool for watershed planning, resource assessment, and ultima

A calibrated watershed hydrologic model of the Santa Clara River (SCR) Watershed was developed for use as a tool for watershed planning, resource assessment, and ultimately, water quality management purposes. The study was a joint effort of the Ventura County Watershed Protection District (VCWPD), Los Angeles County Department of Public Works (LACDPW), and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Los Angeles District. The modeling package used for the study was the U.S. EPA Hydrologic Simulation Program – FORTRAN (HSPF). The SCR main stem flows east-to-west from the San Gabriel Mountains of central Los Angeles County to its mouth at the Pacific Ocean near the cities of Ventura and Oxnard. The 4,263 square kilometer watershed includes rapidly urbanizing valleys and extensive agriculture, and is subject to severe flooding and erosion. There are four large reservoirs within the watershed. Although the Santa Clara River watershed remains primarily in a natural physical state, the flow regime within the watershed is highly engineered to optimize water deliveries and aquifer recharge. The SCR Watershed was segmented into 209 subwatersheds and 192 stream reaches, based on precipitation patterns, drainage boundaries, hydrography, stream gage locations, and impaired water segments. Each land segment was further subdivided into individual model segments based on land use/cover categories. A long-term data base of 46 years of model input data (precipitation, evaporation, diversions, POTWs, etc.) was developed. The model was calibrated and validated to observed flow at multiple locations, using both graphical and statistical model-data comparisons. Long-term simulations were run to assess the impacts of alternative conditions (baseline, natural) on flow and flood frequencies. The model was also used to generate design storm event hydrographs for selected return intervals with synthetic input rainfall hyetographs for the corresponding rainfall return period developed from available rain gage data. The design storm results were submitted to FEMA for the Flood Insurance Study currently underway.

Wells of Southern California

Scientific American | March 22nd, 1902

In the Series of Water Supply Irrigation Papers, the United States Geological Survey has in press, but not yet published, the “Wells of Southern California" (Nos. 59

In the Series of Water Supply Irrigation Papers, the United States Geological Survey has in press, but not yet published, the “Wells of Southern California" (Nos. 59 and 60), by Mr. Joseph Barlow Lippincott. In his letter of transmittal Mr. F.H. Newell, Hydrographer in Charge, remarks: "The results are instructive, as showing what may be done in other parts of the United States under favorable conditions of climate and soil, and have peculiar interest in any consideration of the extent to which the arid land can ultimately be redeemed by irrigation." The region discussed is the San Bernardino Valley in Southern California, which has an area of 563 square miles, and lies south and west of the Sierra Madre and San Bernardino Mountains. Riverside and Rcdlands are the centers of fruit production. Up to elevations of 2,000 feet the relatively high lands are free from frost, and the relatively low lands are subject to it. The distinctive crop of San Barnardino Valley is citrus fruits. Oranges predominate, followed next by lemons, and of late years the grape fruit has become a popular product. Olives, almonds, prunes, apricots, peaches, pears, and wine, raisin, and table grapes, are all grown to perfection in this district. In the eleven years prior to 1898 Riverside shipped nearly seven million boxes of oranges, an average annual income of $1,000,000. Water is the lifeblood of the land.