Warning: Javascript must be enabled to use all the features on this page!
Click to hideNews Bulletins

USGS Water Use Data for Pennsylvania

Click to hide state-specific text

[!] Over the next year, the USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center will be updating the geodetic vertical elevation (gage datum) for many locations. Click HERE for additional information including a current list of streamgages with upcoming datum changes. This update in gage datum does not affect the location of the streamgage, nor the observed local gage height or discharge recorded at the streamgage.



[!] ICE EFFECTS ON STREAMFLOW -- During cold weather, stage and discharge values may be affected by ice at some streamgages. Streamgages experiencing ice conditions will have the discharge record temporarily disabled to prevent the display of erroneous discharge values. Display of discharge record will resume when it is determined that ice conditions are no longer present. Adjustment of data affected by ice can only be done after detailed analysis.




(1985-2015)

State water-use data are reported by source (surface water or groundwater, fresh and saline, and total), category, and area type (county). The water-use data presented here are the current best estimates, and may have been revised from previous publications. Data collection varied between the different compilations. Pre-1995 datasets have more data available than 2000 and later. A chart is available that provides for a conceptual picture of the changes in water-use categories between compilations.

The details of a water-use category sometimes changed between compilations. For example, for 1985-1995, thermoelectric power withdrawal data was grouped by fuel type, but for 2000-2015, thermoelectric power data was grouped by the cooling method (once-through or closed-loop).

To change to another State, please select from the Geographic Area dropdown in the upper right corner.

Introduction

The USGS's National Water Use Information Program compiles and publishes the Nation's water-use data. Public access to some of these data is provided via the USGS Water Data for the Nation site (additional background). Water use refers to water that is used for specific purposes. Water-use data are collected by area type (State, county, watershed or aquifer) and source such as rivers or groundwater, and category such as public supply or irrigation. Water-use data has been reported every five years since 1950, for years ending in "0" and "5". The USGS works in cooperation with local, State, and Federal agencies as well as academic and private organizations to collect and report total withdrawals.

Annual water-use data are expressed in units of million gallons per day (abbreviated as Mgal/d) and thousand acre-feet per year. For the irrigation category, water-use data are the average daily quantities used over a period of a year and do not represent actual daily rates. In most parts of the nation, irrigation water is applied during only a part of each year and at variable rates; therefore, the actual rate of application is much greater than the average daily rate. For all other categories, the daily quantity of water that is withdrawn may be based on daily usage or more often, monthly usage that is averaged to a daily quantity.