Groundwater in the United States is used across several major sectors today. Here are the main current uses and approximate shares based on recent national data and summaries from U.S. agencies and industry sources:
- Irrigation for agriculture: This is the largest use of groundwater. It supports crop production across many regions (notably the Great Plains and California), enabling large-scale irrigation for commodities such as corn, soybeans, and almonds. Estimates commonly place irrigation as the dominant share of groundwater withdrawals in many years, often around two-thirds of total withdrawals in some datasets, with daily withdrawals in the billions of gallons range. This use underpins national food security and agricultural economics, but it also contributes significantly to aquifer drawdown in drought-prone areas where pumping is intensive.
- Public supply (domestic use): Groundwater provides a substantial portion of drinking water and municipal supplies, particularly in areas with limited surface-water resources or where groundwater wells are the most reliable source. This includes households, schools, businesses, and institutions, delivering water that is treated and distributed through public water systems.
- Industrial uses: Groundwater serves as a process and cooling water source for various industries, including manufacturing, energy production, and technology sectors. It supports specific industrial processes, equipment cooling, and compliance with environmental and safety standards.
- Livestock and aquaculture: Groundwater is used to supply water for farm animals, dairies, and aquaculture operations where surface-water availability is limited or where groundwater quality and reliability are advantageous.
- Geothermal energy: In some regions, groundwater is used as a working fluid in geothermal systems for direct heating and, in some cases, electricity generation. This also includes groundwater used for district heating and other thermal applications, contributing to energy diversification and energy efficiency in certain markets.
Key context to keep in mind:
- The exact shares by sector can vary by year and by region due to weather, groundwater availability, irrigation technology, and shifts in water management policies. In many national summaries, irrigation consistently ranks as the largest use, with public supply and industrial uses following.
- Groundwater withdrawal and use are monitored by federal and state agencies, with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) providing regular national-use estimates and regional assessments. These datasets reflect both total withdrawals and per-capita usage, as well as trends over time.
If you’d like, I can pull the most recent USGS national-use breakdowns and regional highlights, and present them in a clear, sourced summary with figures you can cite.
