Salt marsh in coastal Massachusetts (Cape Cod) during USGS field work on estuarine ecosystems.
Is saline water used for anything?
In the U.S., about 13 percent of all water used is saline water. But saline water can only be used for certain purposes. The main use is for thermoelectric power-plant cooling. About 5 percent of water used for industrial purposes is saline, and about 53 percent of all water used for mining purposes is saline.
Saline water can be desalinated for use as drinking water by putting it through a process to remove the salt. While this method is used extensively in Middle East countries, the process costs so much that it isn't used very much in the United States.
Learn more:
Related
How much natural water is there?
Earth is estimated to hold about 1,386,000,000 cubic kilometers of water. The breakdown of where all that water resides is estimated as follows: Oceans (saline) 1,338,000,000 cubic kilometers Ice caps and glaciers (fresh) 24,064,000 cubic kilometers Groundwater (fresh and saline) 23,400,000 cubic kilometers Streams, lakes, swamps (fresh) 104,590 cubic kilometers Lakes (saline) 85,400 cubic...
How much water is used by people in the United States?
Since 1950, the USGS has collected and analyzed water-use data for the United States and its Territories. That data is revised every 5 years. As of 2015, the United States uses 322 billion gallons of water per day (Bgal/day). The three largest water-use categories were irrigation (118 Bgal/day), thermoelectric power (133 Bgal/day), and public supply (39 Bgal/day), cumulatively accounting for 90...
How is the salinity of Great Salt Lake measured?
The salinity of Great Salt Lake is measured by taking specific gravity and temperature measurements and comparing them to standardized values reported in a table. Specific gravity is measured in the field by testing a water sample with a device very similar to a battery or antifreeze tester. Learn more: Great Salt Lake, Utah
Why does it take so long to rinse the soap off my hands? What are hard water and soft water?
Water is said to be soft if it has a low concentration of calcium and magnesium ions in it, while hard water has a high concentration of calcium and magnesium. The minerals in hard water often react with most soaps to create a "soap scum," which is an insoluble substance that can temporarily adhere to your hands or the shower walls. When using hard water, you may have a harder time working your...
Do you have information about water hardness in the United States?
See our map of water hardness (as calcium carbonate) in surface water of the United States. Hardness data (reflecting mostly calcium, plus a little magnesium) for individual drinking-water suppliers is at the EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water website. It is important to note that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not set a legal limit or standard for hardness in water...
Salt marsh in coastal Massachusetts (Cape Cod)
Salt marsh in coastal Massachusetts (Cape Cod) during USGS field work on estuarine ecosystems.
Salt marsh with ponding in coastal Connecticut.
Photograph of a salt marsh with ponding in coastal Connecticut taken during estuarine research field work.
Photograph of a salt marsh with ponding in coastal Connecticut taken during estuarine research field work.
Measuring salinity as part of a vegetation survey
Brendan Crossman measures porewater salinity in a vegetation plot situated on a survey transect from the wetland into the adjacent upland forest.
Brendan Crossman measures porewater salinity in a vegetation plot situated on a survey transect from the wetland into the adjacent upland forest.
All of Earth's water in a single sphere!
This image shows blue spheres representing relative amounts of Earth's water in comparison to the size of the Earth. Are you surprised that these water spheres look so small? They are only small in relation to the size of the Earth.
This image shows blue spheres representing relative amounts of Earth's water in comparison to the size of the Earth. Are you surprised that these water spheres look so small? They are only small in relation to the size of the Earth.
Thermoelectric power water withdrawals for 2015
Thermoelectric power water withdrawals for 2015
Thermoelectric power water withdrawals for 2015
Salt, Sodium, Chlorine
Mineral: Halite (NaCl)
Primary mineral Commodity: Salt
Mineral: Halite (NaCl)
Primary mineral Commodity: Salt
Red Morning Sunrise on Atlantic Ocean
Red morning sunrise on the Atlantic Ocean as seen from a barrier island.
Red morning sunrise on the Atlantic Ocean as seen from a barrier island.
Ocean and Double Rainbow 2
Sunlight and an offshore shower produced this double rainbow off Florida's east coast.
Sunlight and an offshore shower produced this double rainbow off Florida's east coast.
Related
How much natural water is there?
Earth is estimated to hold about 1,386,000,000 cubic kilometers of water. The breakdown of where all that water resides is estimated as follows: Oceans (saline) 1,338,000,000 cubic kilometers Ice caps and glaciers (fresh) 24,064,000 cubic kilometers Groundwater (fresh and saline) 23,400,000 cubic kilometers Streams, lakes, swamps (fresh) 104,590 cubic kilometers Lakes (saline) 85,400 cubic...
How much water is used by people in the United States?
Since 1950, the USGS has collected and analyzed water-use data for the United States and its Territories. That data is revised every 5 years. As of 2015, the United States uses 322 billion gallons of water per day (Bgal/day). The three largest water-use categories were irrigation (118 Bgal/day), thermoelectric power (133 Bgal/day), and public supply (39 Bgal/day), cumulatively accounting for 90...
How is the salinity of Great Salt Lake measured?
The salinity of Great Salt Lake is measured by taking specific gravity and temperature measurements and comparing them to standardized values reported in a table. Specific gravity is measured in the field by testing a water sample with a device very similar to a battery or antifreeze tester. Learn more: Great Salt Lake, Utah
Why does it take so long to rinse the soap off my hands? What are hard water and soft water?
Water is said to be soft if it has a low concentration of calcium and magnesium ions in it, while hard water has a high concentration of calcium and magnesium. The minerals in hard water often react with most soaps to create a "soap scum," which is an insoluble substance that can temporarily adhere to your hands or the shower walls. When using hard water, you may have a harder time working your...
Do you have information about water hardness in the United States?
See our map of water hardness (as calcium carbonate) in surface water of the United States. Hardness data (reflecting mostly calcium, plus a little magnesium) for individual drinking-water suppliers is at the EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water website. It is important to note that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not set a legal limit or standard for hardness in water...
Salt marsh in coastal Massachusetts (Cape Cod)
Salt marsh in coastal Massachusetts (Cape Cod) during USGS field work on estuarine ecosystems.
Salt marsh in coastal Massachusetts (Cape Cod) during USGS field work on estuarine ecosystems.
Salt marsh with ponding in coastal Connecticut.
Photograph of a salt marsh with ponding in coastal Connecticut taken during estuarine research field work.
Photograph of a salt marsh with ponding in coastal Connecticut taken during estuarine research field work.
Measuring salinity as part of a vegetation survey
Brendan Crossman measures porewater salinity in a vegetation plot situated on a survey transect from the wetland into the adjacent upland forest.
Brendan Crossman measures porewater salinity in a vegetation plot situated on a survey transect from the wetland into the adjacent upland forest.
All of Earth's water in a single sphere!
This image shows blue spheres representing relative amounts of Earth's water in comparison to the size of the Earth. Are you surprised that these water spheres look so small? They are only small in relation to the size of the Earth.
This image shows blue spheres representing relative amounts of Earth's water in comparison to the size of the Earth. Are you surprised that these water spheres look so small? They are only small in relation to the size of the Earth.
Thermoelectric power water withdrawals for 2015
Thermoelectric power water withdrawals for 2015
Thermoelectric power water withdrawals for 2015
Salt, Sodium, Chlorine
Mineral: Halite (NaCl)
Primary mineral Commodity: Salt
Mineral: Halite (NaCl)
Primary mineral Commodity: Salt
Red Morning Sunrise on Atlantic Ocean
Red morning sunrise on the Atlantic Ocean as seen from a barrier island.
Red morning sunrise on the Atlantic Ocean as seen from a barrier island.
Ocean and Double Rainbow 2
Sunlight and an offshore shower produced this double rainbow off Florida's east coast.
Sunlight and an offshore shower produced this double rainbow off Florida's east coast.
Updated Date: January 16, 2025