U.S. Water Use Hits 45-Year Low

"Water use across the country reached its lowest recorded level in nearly 45 years. According to a new USGS report, about 355 billion gallons of water per day (Bgal/d) were withdrawn for use in the entire United States during 2010," according to a USGS press release.

"This represents a 13 percent reduction of water use from 2005 when about 410 Bgal/d were withdrawn and the lowest level since before 1970."

Peter H. Gleick shares the news of the report in an article for the Huffington Post, focusing on how the data has broken the traditional model of water demand increasing at the same rate as population growth. Gleick writes: "The assumption that demand for water must inevitably grow is false. Let's start planning for the reality that a healthy economy and population can mean more sustainable, efficient, and equitable water use."