thumbnail

Water Use in Louisiana, 2020

Scientific Investigations Report 2026-5135
Prepared in cooperation with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
By:
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20265135

Links

Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, collected water-withdrawal and water-use data from a 2020 inventory of water withdrawals in Louisiana. In 2020, approximately 8,700 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) of water was withdrawn from groundwater and surface-water sources in Louisiana, which represented a 0.22-percent decrease from 2015. Total groundwater withdrawals were about 1,900 Mgal/d, an increase of 7.1 percent from 2015, and total surface-water withdrawals were about 6,800 Mgal/d, a decrease of 2.1 percent from 2015 to 2020.

Total water withdrawals, in million gallons per day, in 2020 for the various categories of use were as follows: public supply, 720; industry, 2,100; power generation, 4,100; rural domestic, 39; livestock, 7.0; rice irrigation, 930; general irrigation, 250; and aquaculture, 590. From 2015 to 2020, Louisiana’s total withdrawals for public supply increased by 1.4 percent, industry decreased by 2.3 percent, power generation decreased by 4.9 percent, rural domestic decreased by 1.2 percent, livestock increased by 11 percent, rice irrigation increased by 13 percent, general irrigation increased by 12 percent, and aquaculture increased by 20 percent.

About 51 percent (approximately 960 Mgal/d) of all groundwater withdrawn was from the Chicot aquifer system and 24 percent (approximately 450 Mgal/d) was withdrawn from the Mississippi River alluvial aquifer. Since 2015, withdrawals from the Chicot aquifer system increased by 13 percent, and withdrawals from the Mississippi River alluvial aquifer increased by 18 percent. About 72 percent (4,900 Mgal/d) of all surface water withdrawn was from the Mississippi River main stem. This value represents a 1.1-percent decrease in withdrawals from 2015 to 2020.

All water-withdrawal and water-use data presented in this report should be considered estimates. Because of rounding, totals and percentages presented in the tables, figures, and text in the report may differ slightly from totals or percentages calculated individually.

Suggested Citation

Robinson, A.L., 2026, Water use in Louisiana, 2020: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2026–5135, 150 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20265135.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

ISSN: 2328-031X (print)

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Data Collection and Estimation
  • Water Use by Category
  • Water Use by Parish, Aquifer, and Surface-Water Basin
  • Total Water Use
  • Water Use Trends
  • Summary
  • References Cited
  • Glossary
  • Appendix 1. Water Use by Parish
  • Appendix 2. Water Use by Aquifer
  • Appendix 3. Water Use by Surface-Water Basin
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Water use in Louisiana, 2020
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2026-5135
ISBN 978-1-4113-4660-4
DOI 10.3133/sir20265135
Publication Date May 07, 2026
Year Published 2026
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center
Description Report: viii, 150 p.; Data Release
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Additional publication details