Top Two Freshwater Uses in the United States

Where America's Water Goes

According to USGS (2015 data, latest comprehensive), the two largest freshwater withdrawal categories are:

1. Thermoelectric Power (41% of total withdrawals, 133 Bgal/d)

• Cooling for coal, nuclear, natural gas, biomass plants.
• Mostly once-through (withdrawn, heated, returned) – low consumption (~3%), high withdrawal.
• Recirculating systems use less water but consume more (evaporation).
• Dominant in East, Midwest, Texas.

2. Irrigation (37% of total withdrawals, 118 Bgal/d)

• Crop production (corn, soy, alfalfa, cotton, fruit, nuts).
• High consumption (~60-70% lost to evapotranspiration).
• Concentrated in West (CA Central Valley, AZ, ID, CO, NE, TX High Plains).
• Groundwater (Ogallala Aquifer) provides ~40% of irrigation water.

Other Notable Uses

• Public Supply (12%): Drinking, sanitation, commercial, industrial (municipal). 87% of population served.
• Industrial (4%): Manufacturing, mining, petroleum refining.
• Aquaculture (3%): Fish farming.
• Mining (1%): Dewatering, processing.
• Livestock (<1%): Watering, cooling, sanitation.

Key Distinction: Withdrawal vs. Consumption

• Withdrawal: Water taken from source.
• Consumption: Water not returned (evaporated, transpired, incorporated). Irrigation is #1 in consumption; Thermoelectric #1 in withdrawal.

Trends: Thermoelectric withdrawals declining (plant closures, recirculating). Irrigation efficiency improving (drip, scheduling) but acreage expanding. Climate change intensifies competition.