What is groundwater used for?

Roughly 60 percent of global groundwater use is for irrigation; most of the rest is used in households and industry.¹ Groundwater uses vary significantly by country, and partly depend on climate. In some countries with abundant rainfall, such as Indonesia and Thailand, irrigation needs are very low, so household water supply is the main use for groundwater.

Hearing to address contentious tribal water rights issues

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee held a hearing led by Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY) to discuss bills addressing contentious tribal water rights in Montana and Arizona (S. 3013 and S. 2959) and repealing obsolete laws relating to Native Americans (S. 2796).

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.

Interactive map of dams in Nebraska

The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources provides information about dams in the state in interactive map form. The map shows all dams more than 25 feet high or with a maximum storage capacity greater than 50 acre-feet.

Dams are color-coded according to the potential hazard they pose, with symbols designating existing dams, breached dams, and dams under construction. Specifications are available for each dam, including height, storage capacity, maximum discharge, surface area, and drainage area.

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.

Which areas in the United States are most dependent on groundwater?

Groundwater use is highest in parts of the country with limited rainfall but high water needs, especially for irrigation. Most of these areas are in the western half of the country, where annual rainfall is typically much lower than in the East and where surface water supplies cannot meet the demand for water.

In 2015, groundwater provided 29% of the total freshwater used in the United States. However, eight states and at least one territory depended on groundwater for at least 50% of their freshwater supply:¹

Interactive map of water and weather conditions in Texas

The U.S. Geological Survey's Texas Water Dashboard provides an instant, real-time picture of water and weather conditions in Texas. Information for streams, lakes, reservoirs, precipitation, and groundwater measurements are combined with weather and hazard conditions updated every minute, as well as recent precipitation totals and forecasts for next seven days.

Click here to access the USGS Texas Water Dashboard.

Interactive map of water wells in Nebraska

The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources provides an interactive map of water wells in the state. Wells are color-coded by use, and include geothermal, injection, irrigation, domestic, monitoring, and commerical wells, plus many other types. Users can click on each well to access registration and ownership information.

Additional map layers include transportation, aerial photography, and lakes and rivers.

Click here to access the Nebraska DNR's map of water wells.

Interactive map of Michigan's geology and natural resources

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's GeoWebFace website provides a large amount of information on Michigan's geology and natural resources in interactive map form, including:

Interactive map of Florida's geology and natural resources

The Florida Geological Survey provides a huge amount of information on Florida's geology and natural resources in interactive map form, including:

American Geosciences Institute

water availability