Skip Links

USGS - science for a changing world

Scientific Investigations Report 2009—5002

Prepared in cooperation with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division

Water Use in Georgia by County for 2005; and Water-Use Trends, 1980–2005

Julia L. Fanning and Victoria P. Trent1

1 Georgia Environmental Protection Division, Atlanta, Georgia

ABSTRACT

Thumbnail of and link to report PDF (10.4 MB)

Water use for 2005 for each county in Georgia was estimated using data obtained from various Federal and State agencies and local sources. Total consumptive water use also was estimated for each county in Georgia for 2005. Estimates of offstream water use include the categories of public supply, domestic, commercial, industrial, mining, irrigation, livestock, and thermoelectric power. The only category of instream use estimated was hydroelectric-power generation.

Total offstream water use from ground- and surface-water sources was about 5,471 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) in 2005. Surface water used in the process of thermoelectric-power generation was the largest volume of water withdrawn with withdrawals of 2,717 Mgal/d in 2005. Estimated instream water use for hydroelectric-power generation was 54,096 Mgal/d. Withdrawals for irrigation totaled 752 Mgal/d with 65 percent supplied by ground-water sources. Surface water provided 78 percent of the 1,180 Mgal/d withdrawn for public supply. Many counties in the northern Piedmont physiographic province of Georgia, an area of dense population, had a large percentage of withdrawals from surface-water sources. In contrast, in the southern Coastal Plain physiographic province part of the State, many counties had more withdrawals from ground-water sources.

As part of the Georgia Water-Use Program, statewide water-use estimates have been compiled every 5 years since 1980. During this period, water use was greatest in 1980 at 6,725 Mgal/d. Water use decreased by 31 percent to 5,353 Mgal/d in 1990 then increased to 6,487 Mgal/d in 2000. By 2005, water withdrawals had decreased to an estimated 5,471 Mgal/d primarily because of a decline in withdrawals for thermoelectric-power generation and a decline in demands as 2005 was a normal year for precipitation compared to 2000, which was in drought. Throughout the period 1980–2005, water withdrawn for thermoelectric-power generation made up the largest volume of offstream water use in Georgia. Total withdrawals for thermoelectric-power generation decreased about 24 percent in 2005 compared to 2000, due to the decommissioning of three power plants in the State. In addition, several plants operated by Georgia Power Company were retooled during this period to increase water conservation. Public-supply use steadily increased from 1980 to 2000, concurrent with increasing population in the State; however, in 2005, there was a slight decrease in public-supply use. Conversely, industrial water use decreased during the period 1980–2005. Water withdrawals for irrigation during 1980–2005 followed changing hydrologic conditions, increasing during drier years (1980 and 2000) and decreasing during normal or wetter years. Withdrawals for the categories of domestic and commercial use remained about the same during 1980–2005. Livestock and mining use increased in 2005 compared to the 2000 estimates because of changes in estimation techniques.

Consumptive water use was determined for each category of use and compiled for each county. Estimation techniques vary for each water-use category. While consumptive use varied for each county in 2005, from about 1 percent to nearly 100 percent of total withdrawals, consumptive-use estimates for the entire State totaled 1,310 Mgal/d, about 24 percent of total withdrawals.

Revised March 8, 2011

First posted January 13, 2009

The report is presented here in pdf format (print quality) in its entirety, and in parts for easier downloading. Each section is about 9 MB in size.

For additional information contact:
Director, Georgia Water Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
3039 Amwiler Rd.
Suite 130
30360-42824
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/

Part or all of this report is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF); the latest version of Adobe Reader or similar software is required to view it. Download the latest version of Adobe Reader, free of charge.


Suggested citation:

Fanning, J.L. and Trent, V.P., 2009, Water Use in Georgia by County for 2005; and Water-Use Trends, 1980–2005: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009-5002, 186 p., Web-only publication available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2009/5002/



Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Purpose and Scope

Water Resources of Georgia

Water Use in Georgia, 2005

Public Supply

Domestic and Commercial

Industrial and Mining

Irrigation

Livestock

Thermoelectric-Power Generation

Hydroelectric-Power Generation

Consumptive Water Use, 2005

Water-Use Trends, 1980–2005

References

Appendix A. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes

Appendix B. Ground- and Surface-Water Use in Georgia, by County 2005, and Trends for 1980–2005

Appendix C. Water Withdrawal and Water Use by County in Georgia, 2005 (County of Source Withdrawal Location)


Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America logo USA.gov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http:// pubsdata.usgs.gov /pubs/sir/2009/5002/index.html
Page Contact Information: USGS Publications Team
Page Last Modified: Thursday, 10-Jan-2013 19:24:31 EST