Visualization of water use in the United States

The U.S. Geological Survey has produced a visualization that shows how much freshwater is used by each state for a variety of purposes. The visualization resizes the states according to how much freshwater they use.

The visualization shows freshwater withdrawals for thermoelectric power generation, public supply, irrigation, industrial use, or total withdrawals, with data available in 5-year intervals from 1950 to the present.

Click here to access the visualization of state water use.

Critical Issues: Map of the Day - Shoreline Change in Texas

Interactive map of Texas Gulf shoreline change rates. Image Credit: Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas

#MapOfTheDay!

Desalination as a Source of Fresh Water

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Background: Fresh water is an increasingly scarce resource in an increasingly populous and water-intensive world. Maintaining an adequate supply of fresh water both nationally and globally will be one of the largest challenges of the 21st century. Desalination of salty water – from both the ocean and the ground – represents a huge potential source of fresh water. The development of this resource requires a combination of geoscience, engineering, waste management, policy, and community outreach and participation.

Our speakers are:

Tzahi Cath, Ph.D., Ben L. Fryrear Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines | Slides Video
Jessica H Jones, Director of Communications, Poseidon Water | Slides Video
Katherine R. Zodrow, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Environmental Engineering, Montana Tech of the University of Montana; Non-Resident Scholar, Center for Energy Studies, James A. Baker III Institute, Rice University | Slides Video

Webinar Co-Sponsors: National Ground Water Association, Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists, International Association of Hydrogeologists: United States National Chapter

CEU Credits

To earn CEU credits, please complete the associated on-demand GOLI course that was developed from this webinar with a grade of 70% or higher and then submit your application for CEUs. CEUs are awarded from the American Institute of Professional Geologists. To view the full list of on-demand GOLI courses, please browse the GOLI course catalog.

Resources to learn more:

View this webinar's Question & Answer session
Colorado School of Mines, Advanced Water Technology Center (AQWATEC) website
Engineering Research Center for Re-inventing the Nation's Urban Water Infrastructure website
Claude "Bud" Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant website
USGS National Brackish Groundwater Assessment website
USGS Circular 1405: Estimated Use of Water in the United States 2010
National Groundwater Association Information Brief: Brackish Groundwater
Texas Water Development Board website
Texas Desalination Plant Database
Texas Water Development Board: Brackish Groundwater Manual for Texas Regional Water Planning Groups
Buono, R.M., Zodrow, K.R., Alvarez, P.J.J., Qilin, L., 2015, A New Frontier in Texas: Managing and Regulating Brackish Groundwater

Search the Geological Surveys Database for reports and factsheets about desalination.

Desalination as a Source of Fresh Water: Desalination 101

Interactive map of coastal change hazards in the United States

The U.S. Geological Survey's Coastal Change Hazards Portal provides an interactive map showing the hazards posed to U.S. coasts from extreme storms, shoreline change, and sea-level rise. The map includes:

Interactive map of produced waters in the United States

The U.S. Geological Survey's Produced Waters app provides information on over 100,000 samples of produced water from the oil and gas industry, waters extracted from hydrothermal systems (geothermal water), and some additional water wells.

Interactive map of coastal and marine geoscience features in the United States

The Marine Cadastre National Viewer is a joint product of the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The viewer contains an enormous amount of information relevant to marine and coastal issues in interactive map form. Over 275 different map layers are available on a wide range of topics. The geoscience-related layers include:

Visualization of energy use in every state

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, under the direction of the U.S. Department of Energy and using data from the Energy Information Administration, has produced flow charts showing the major sources and uses of energy in every U.S. state in the year 2014.

Visualization of water use in every state

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, under the direction of the U.S. Department of Energy and using data from the U.S. Geological Survey, has produced flow charts showing the major sources and uses of water in every U.S. state in the year 2005.

2016 AGI Critical Issues Forum

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Groundwater is often a "transboundary" resource, shared by many groups of people across town, county, state, and international boundaries. Changes in groundwater resources can create unique challenges requiring high levels of cooperation and innovation amongst stakeholder groups, from individuals to the state and federal government levels.

Interactive map of streams and rivers in the United States

The U.S. Geological Survey's Streamer application allows users to explore where their surface water comes from and where it flows to. By clicking on any major stream or river, the user can trace it upstream to its source(s) or downstream to where it joins a larger river or empties into the ocean.

American Geosciences Institute

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