Managing water is a growing concern in the United States. Communities across the country are starting to face challenges regarding water supply and a need to update aging water treatment and delivery systems, sometimes referred to as "water infrastructure". Many of the states that have projected population growth increases also have higher per capita water use and can expect increased competition for water resources.
The above water data was compiled by the U.S. EPA, pulled from USGS Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 2005, Table 6, Page 20;
The population data used to calculate the per capita daily rate is from the U.S. Census Bureau, State Interim Population Projections by Age and Sex: 2004-2030.
Strains on water supplies and our aging water treatment systems can lead to a variety of consequences for communities:
- Higher water prices to ensure continued access to a reliable and safe supply
- Increased summer watering restrictions to manage shortages
- Seasonal loss of recreational areas like lakes and rivers when the human demand for water conflicts with environmental needs
- Expensive water treatment projects to transport and store freshwater when local demand overcomes available capacity