The U.S. Geological Survey Federal-State Cooperative Water-Resources Program, fiscal year 1992
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Geology topics
Publications and source records attributed to William B. Mann.
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The U.S. Geological Survey 's Federal-State Cooperative Water Resources Program (50-50 matching of funds) started in Kansas in 1895. During fiscal year (FY) 1987, hydrologic data collection, investigations, and research are being conducted in every state, Puerto Rico, and several territories in cooperation with 940 state, regional and local agencies. Federal funding of $55.3 million was matched by cooperating agencies; cooperators also provided $4.6 million unmatched, for a program total of about $115 million. The Cooperative Program accounted for almost 45% of the FY 1987 obligations of the Geological Survey 's Water Resources Division. The principal areas of emphasis during the year included groundwater contamination, stream quality, water supply and demand, and hydrologic hazards. Information is presented on program functions and priorities. Data collection activities are also described as is work related to water resources contamination. Several examples of current (1987) investigations are provided. (Author 's abstract)
The U.S. Geological Survey 's water resources programs are supported by direct annual appropriations from Congress, the Federal-State Cooperative Program (50:50 matching of funds), and by funds provided by other Federal agencies. For fiscal year 1987, total obligations exceeded $250 million for activities in every State, Puerto Rico, and several territories in cooperation with nearly 1,000 local, State, regional, and other Federal agencies. The quality of the ground and surface waters has been of concern to the Geological Survey from the time it was established. During the past few years, water resources contamination has received highest priority consideration and a variety of investigations and research are ongoing to obtain an improved understanding of the Nation 's water quality and the factors affecting it. This report presents information on program priorities and discusses the coordinated activities focusing on the effects of contaminants on water resources. The report also describes a number of investigations and research activities in progress during fiscal years of 1986 and 1987, and provides guidance on how to obtain additional details. (Author 's abstract)
Water use in the United States in 1980 was estimated to be an average of 450 bgd (billion gallons per day) of fresh and saline water for offstream uses- an 8-percent increase from the 1975 estimate and a 22-percent increase from the 1970 estimate. Average per capita use for all offstream uses was 2,000 gpd (gallons per day) of fresh and saline water, and 1,600 gpd of fresh water; this represents a slight increase since 1975. Offstream uses include (1) public supply (domestic, public, commercial, and industrial uses), (2) rural (domestic and livestock uses), (3) irrigation, and (4) self-supplied industrial uses (including thermoelectric power). From 1975 to 1980, public supply use increased 15 percent to 34 bgd, rural use increased 14 percent to 5.6 bgd, irrigation use increased 7 percent to 150 bgd, and self-supplied industrial use increased 8 percent to 260 bgd. Within the industrial category, thermoelectric power generation increased 9 percent to 210 bgd, whereas other self-supplied industrial uses remained approximately constant at 45 bgd. Total fresh water consumed- that part of water withdrawn that is no longer available for subsequent use- by these offstream uses increased 7 percent to 100 bgd, with irrigation accounting for the largest part of water consumed, estimated at 83 bgd. Estimates of withdrawals by source indicate that from 1975 to 1980, total groundwater withdrawals increased 7 percent to 89 bgd, and total surface-water withdrawals increased 9 percent to 360 bgd. Total saline-water withdrawals increased by about 2 bgd to 72 bgd, of which 71 bgd was saline surface water. Reclaimed sewage amounted to about 0.5 bgd in 1980, an 11-percent decrease from 1975. Water used for hydroelectric power generation, an instream use, remained unchanged from 1975 at 3,300 bgd. This is in contrast to the increasing trend from 1950 to 1975. Although 1980 estimates of water use were higher than the 1975 estimates for all offstream categories, trends establishing during the periods 1970 to 1975 and 1975 to 1980 indicate a general slackening in the rate of increase of total withdrawls in comparison to the period 1965 to 1970. (USGS)
Estimated use of water in the United States increased from 180 bgd (billion gallons per day) in 1950 to 450 bgd in 1980. During this same time population increased from about 150 million to about 230 million. Data on consumptive use are not available for the first decade of the period; however, from 1960 to 1980, consumptive use increased from 61 bgd to 100 bgd. From 1950 to 1980, fresh surface-water withdrawals increased from 140 bgd to 290 bgd and fresh ground-water withdrawals increased from 34 bgd to 88 bgd. Withdrawals of saline surface water increased from 10 bgd in 1950 to 71 bgd in 1980. In 1980, 91 percent of the saline surface water withdrawn was used in thermoelectric power plants. Withdrawals of water for domestic purposes nationwide increased from 16 bgd in 1960 to 25 bgd in 1980. The Northeastern States still are the largest users of water for domestic purposes; however, domestic withdrawals in that region declined from 9.6 bgd in 1975 to 8.8 bgd in 1980. Population in that region also showed a slight decline from 1970 to 1980. Irrigation withdrawals nationwide increased from 89 bgd in 1950 to 150 bgd in 1980. The Western States continue to be the largest user of irrigation water, 136 bgd in 1980. Irrigation accounted for 81 percent of the total consumptive use for the Nation in 1980. Industrial withdrawals (exclusive of thermoelectric power generation) increased from 44 bgd in 1960 to about 56 bgd in 1980. The Northeast Region continues to withdraw the largest amount of water for industrial purposes, although withdrawals declined steadily from 33 bgd in 1965 to 27 bgd in 1980. Total withdrawals for thermoelectric power generation increased from about 99 bgd in 1960 to about 210 bgd in 1980. During that period, saline surface water withdrawals increased from 26 bgd to 71 bgd. Thermoelectric plants accounted for 84 percent of saline surface water withdrawals in 1960 compared to 91 percent in 1980. Withdrawals for thermoelectric power generation continue to be the largest in the Northeast, ll3 bgd in 1980, where many of the major industrial and population centers are located. Agriculture (nonirrigation) water withdrawals nationwide increased from 1.6 bgd in 1960 to about 2.2 bgd in 1980. Withdrawals for this purpose in 1980 were about evenly divided between the West and East.
The U.S. Geological Survey has compiled estimates of water use every five years since 1950. These estimates have been derived from many sources, and have a wide range of accuracy. Therefore, they fall short of providing a national data base that is both current and reliable. In 1977, the Congress of the United States recognized the need for uniform information on water use and directed the U.S. Geological Survey to establish a National Water-Use Information Program to complement the Survey's data on the availability and quality of the Nation's water resources. The National Water-Use Information Program was designed as a cooperative program between the States and the Federal Government. The goals of the program are: to collect and compile water-use data; to develop and refine computerized water-use data systems at both the State and national levels; to devise new methods and techniques to improve the collection and analysis of water-use information; and to disseminate this information to those involved in establishing water-resources policy and to those managing the resources. The program that started in 1978 in 20 States now includes participation by 47 States. Water-Use information is being compiled for 12 categories of use. Each State will have a automated data system that contains site-specific information about the water use in each category. The National Water-Use Data System will contain information for the 12 categories of use summarized by counties and river basins within each State. The national system will aid in defining how much fresh and saline surface water and ground water is withdrawn and for what purpose, how much water is consumed during use, and how much water is returned to a water body (stream, lake, or aquifer) after use.