Minnesota Milestones 2010: Water use

Indicator 55: Water use

Goal: Minnesotans will improve the quality of the air, water and earth.

Rationale: A clean and abundant water supply is essential to economic and human health. The use, quality and availability of water are important indicators of future economic and environmental conditions.

About this indicator: Total water use and per capita water use have shown a gradual upward trend since 1995. Total water use increased 18 percent over the period 1995 to 2005 while population grew only 12 percent.

Total gallons of water used
Year	Data
Per capita daily water use (gallons), Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Total gallons of water used, Minnesota Department of Natural Resource
	Per capital daily water use	Total gallons used
1995	716.6	1,210,041,321,641
1996	692.7	1,184,041,799,858
1997	674.8	1,166,382,586,219
1998	733.7	1,280,708,749,809
1999	736.6	1,300,837,853,673
2000	746.8	1,340,900,707,256
2001	700.4	1,272,541,046,285
2002	706.7	1,298,470,195,591
2003	740.2	1,374,720,091,414
2004	733.4	1,377,252,576,960
2005	751.5	1,427,712,875,734
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For comparison: Power generation accounts for the largest share of water use, followed by public water supply, industrial production and irrigation. Power generation draws mostly from surface water and returns the majority of the water to the original source. Some water users rely on a combination of surface and ground waters, called conjunctive use.

Technical notes: Water use for hydropower was not included in the figures for total water use or per capita use.

Sources:

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/watermgmt_section/appropriations/wateruse.html

Related 2002 Milestones indicator:

Water use

Local data:

Milestones is a product of the Minnesota State Demographic Center, a division of the Department of Administration