MAIN PAGE
PEOPLE
Groundwater Uses
printable pageUse by Purpose
The state of Texas used a total of 16.1 million acre-feet (~5.2 trillion gallons) of water in 2002. 61% (10 million acre-feet) of this water is pumped from aquifers. In comparison, only 5.3 million acre-feet per year recharge Texas? aquifers (TWDB, 2002)
The population of Texas is rapidly increasing, as is the amount of municipal water being used. However, less of the state is being farmed, so the amount of water used for irrigation, and the total amount being used in Texas is currently decreasing. Unfortunately, reduced levels of irrigation do not translate into more drinking water. Most water used for irrigation are in the Texas panhandle and derived from the very large amount of water in the Ogallala Aquifer; population growth in the state is most drastic in south Texas, where the available aquifers contain many times less water. Further, relying on surface water for human use still impacts groundwater. Water that is diverted for use, or retained in a reservoir cannot recharge an aquifer.
Desalinization may soon add another source of water for Texas. This is not restricted to the vast amounts of sea water, but includes much of the groundwater in the state, especially in west Texas. Desalinization is less expensive on waters that began at lower levels of salinity, so brackish groundwater may more economical than water from the Gulf of Mexico (LBG-G, 2003).
Municipal Water Use
In most areas municipal water comes from a combination of surface sources, such as lakes, streams, and rivers, and groundwater. The ends of the spectrum are illustrated by the rates of groundwater use in San Antonio and Dallas. If you live in the San Antonio area, almost 100% of your water comes from an aquifer. In Dallas, only 1% of the water is derived from underground.
The state of Texas used a total of 16.1 million acre-feet (~5.2 trillion gallons) of water in 2002. 61% (10 million acre-feet) of this water is pumped from aquifers. In comparison, only 5.3 million acre-feet per year recharge Texas? aquifers (TWDB, 2002)
 Water usage in Texas for 2002. Unpublished data from Texas Water Development Board. |
The population of Texas is rapidly increasing, as is the amount of municipal water being used. However, less of the state is being farmed, so the amount of water used for irrigation, and the total amount being used in Texas is currently decreasing. Unfortunately, reduced levels of irrigation do not translate into more drinking water. Most water used for irrigation are in the Texas panhandle and derived from the very large amount of water in the Ogallala Aquifer; population growth in the state is most drastic in south Texas, where the available aquifers contain many times less water. Further, relying on surface water for human use still impacts groundwater. Water that is diverted for use, or retained in a reservoir cannot recharge an aquifer.
 Percentage of municipal use supplied by groundwater in major Texas urbanized counties. From Sierra Club (2003). |
Municipal Water Use
In most areas municipal water comes from a combination of surface sources, such as lakes, streams, and rivers, and groundwater. The ends of the spectrum are illustrated by the rates of groundwater use in San Antonio and Dallas. If you live in the San Antonio area, almost 100% of your water comes from an aquifer. In Dallas, only 1% of the water is derived from underground.
