Estimated use of water in the United States in 1975
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Abstract
Estimates of water use in the United States in 1975 indicate that an average of about 420 bgd (billion gallons per day) about 1,900 gallons per capita per day was withdrawn for the four principal off-channel uses which are (1) publicsupply (for domestic, commercial, and industrial uses), (2) rural (domestic and livestock), (3) irrigation, and (4) self-supplied industrial (including thermoelectric power). In 1975, withdrawals for these uses exceeded by 11.7 percent the 370 bgd estimated for 1970. Increases in the various categories of off-channel water use since 1970 were: approximately 12.8 percent for self-supplied industry (mainly in electric-utility thermoelectric plants), 7.9 percent for public supplies, 10.3 percent for rural supplies, and 10.9 percent for irrigation. Industrial water withdrawals included 70 bgd of saline water, a 30 percent increase in 5 years. The fifth principal withdrawal use, hydroelectric power (an in-channel use), amounted to 3,300 bgd, a 5-year increase of 20.7 percent. In computing total withdrawals, recycling within a plant (reuse) is not counted, but withdrawal of the same water by a downstream user (cumulative withdrawals) is counted. The quantity of freshwater consumed that is, water made unavailable for further possible withdrawal because of evaporation, incorporation in crops and manufactured products, and other causes was estimated to average 96 bgd for 1975, an increase of about 10 percent since 1970.
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Estimated use of water in the United States in 1975 |
| Series title | Circular |
| Series number | 765 |
| DOI | 10.3133/cir765 |
| Year Published | 1977 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Reston, VA |
| Contributing office(s) | Indiana Water Science Center, North Dakota Water Science Center, Utah Water Science Center, Dakota Water Science Center |
| Description | vi, 39 p. |
| Country | United States |
| Online Only (Y/N) | N |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |