WATER POLITICS

From the press release:

More people living in areas with high water limitation were socially vulnerable compared to those living in areas with lower water limitation and more available water. With the United States facing growing challenges related to water availability, the assessment provides key insights into understanding where shortages exist, where surpluses can be found and the quality of the water.

“This assessment is a crucial part of the USGS’s commitment to understanding and reporting on water availability, a growing concern in the face of increasing challenges to this vital resource,” said David Applegate, USGS Director.

One of the most striking things to come out of the study were visualizations and maps that provide snapshots of water issues across the United States during the assessment period (2010-2020), a period marked by extreme weather amplified by climate change.

I wanted to share some of those findings here:

1. Water limitation and demand

This first map shows the imbalance between surface-water supplies (it is worth noting that groundwater is excluded) and who much water is consumed. The study also found limitations vary based on season and drought conditions — not all that surprising. But what I did find interesting was the report note that supply is only a part of the picture. Demand also tends to rise during drought, with irrigation use reaching a peak in 2012.

2. Water inequality

The report finds that about 27 million people in the U.S. (or 8% of the population) live in areas with high to severe water scarcity. And in many places in California, Texas and the Southwest, these areas of water scarcity overlap with social vulnerability, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control Social Vulnerability Index (SVI). This map looks at water scarcity (color of the circle) and social vulnerability (size of the circle).

3. How water is used

This is fairly self-explanatory but takes a look at how water is used across the United States. Highly recommend looking at the chart below it, which breaks down regional differences in groundwater vs. surface water use for public water supplies.

Another great visual in this set looks at regional concentrations and causes of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. Another excellent one on water quality.