The United States used nearly 10% less water in 1995 than it did in 1980, even though
the population in the country grew by 16%. Water conservation in agriculture and
industry are credited with being the prime reasons for the decline, according to a report
from the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS). Internationally, the outlook for available
water is bleaker, according to another report from the Johns Hopkins University School
of Public Health.

In the United States, water use for irrigation steadily increased from 1950 to 1980 be-

fore beginning to decline, according to the USGS. The average amount of water
applied for irrigation in 1995 was about 2.1 acre-feet per acre. An acre-foot is the
volume of water required to cover 1 acre of land to a depth of 1 foot. The average
application rate in 1975 and 1980 was about 2.5 acre-feet per acre. Drip irrigation and
subsurface irrigation are credited with reducing by about 16% the amount of water used
for irrigation from 1980 to 1995. The amount of land under irrigation remained about
constant.

Overall, irrigation is still the largest user of fresh water in the United States, at 134
billion gallons per day. Thermoelectric power plants use an average of 190 billion gal-

lons per day, but 58 bgd is salt water. In total, the United States used about 402 billion
gallons per day in 1995, the most recent year for which statistics are available. On
average, each person in the United States used 20% less water in 1995 than they did
in 1980--the all-time peak year.

Worldwide, the Johns Hopkins report predicts that by 2025 one in every three people
will live in countries short of water. At present, 31 countries are facing water stress.
The report predicts another 17 countries, including India and perhaps China, will be on
the list by 2025. "In many developing countries, lack of water could cap future
improvements in the quality of life," says Don Hinrichsen, the lead author of the report
and a consultant with the U.N. Population Fund. The report recommends slowing
population growth around the world in addition to conserving more water and polluting
less.

Des Keller, Progressive Farmer, January 1999