Estimated use of water in the United States, 1965

Estimates of water use in the United States for 1965 indicate that an average of about 310 bgd (billion gallons per day) were withdrawn for public-supply, rural domestic and livestock, irrigation, and industrial (including thermoelectric power) uses-that is, about 1,600 gallons per capita per day. This represents an increase of 15 percent over the withdrawal of 270 bgd reported for 1960. Fresh water withdrawals for thermoelectric power generation increased nearly 25 percent during the 5 years, and saline water withdrawals increased 33 percent. An additional 2,300 bgd was used for hydroelectric power generation (waterpower), which also represented a IS-percent increase in 5 years. The quantity of water consumedthat is, water made unavailable for further possible withdrawal because of evaporation, incorporation in manufactured products, and other causes-was estimated to average 78 bgd for 1965, an increase of about 28 percent since 1960.