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Water use in Louisiana, 2015

January 1, 2018

In 2015, approximately 8,720 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) of water was withdrawn from groundwater and surface-water sources in Louisiana, a 2.6 percent increase from 2010. Total groundwater withdrawals were about 1,750 Mgal/d, an increase of 12 percent from 2010, and total surface-water withdrawals were about 6,970 Mgal/d, an increase of 0.44 percent from 2010 to 2015.

Total water withdrawals, in Mgal/d, in 2015 for the various categories of use were as follows: public supply—715, industry—2,155, power generation—4,265, rural domestic—39, livestock—6, rice irrigation—825, general irrigation—225, and aquaculture—490. From 2010 to 2015, Louisiana’s total withdrawals for public supply decreased by 3.4 percent, industry increased by 5.7 percent, power generation decreased by 3.9 percent, rural domestic decreased by 4.1 percent, livestock decreased by 21 percent, rice irrigation increased by 20 percent, general irrigation decreased by 6.0 percent, and aquaculture increased by 58 percent.

About 48 percent (approximately 850 Mgal/d) of all groundwater withdrawn was from the Chicot aquifer system and 22 percent (approximately 385 Mgal/d) was withdrawn from the Mississippi River alluvial aquifer. Since 2010, withdrawals from the Chicot aquifer system increased by 30 percent and withdrawals from the Mississippi River alluvial aquifer decreased by 2.9 percent.

About 70 percent (4,905 Mgal/d) of all surface water withdrawn was from the Mississippi River mainstem. This value represents a 1.1-percent decrease in withdrawals from 2010 to 2015.

All water-withdrawal and water-use data presented in this report should be considered estimates. Because of rounding, totals and percentages presented in the tables, figures, and text in the report may differ slightly from totals or percentages calculated individually

Publication Year 2018
Title Water use in Louisiana, 2015
Authors Angela L. Robinson, B. Pierre Sargent
Publication Type Report
Publication Subtype State or Local Government Series
Series Title Water Resources Special Report
Series Number 18
Index ID 70202410
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center