U.S. Ranks Sixth in Freshwater Withdrawals Despite Moderate Supply Per Person
The United States ranks 54th globally in renewable freshwater supply per person, with 297,000 cubic feet annually, but jumps to sixth place for freshwater withdrawals. This high withdrawal rate, averaging 46,000 cubic feet per person, is primarily driven by agricultural and industrial demands rather than residential use. U.S. farms withdraw an average of 105 billion gallons of water per day for crop irrigation, while power plants account for another 83 billion gallons of freshwater daily. While power plants return most of the water they withdraw, irrigation consumes a significantly larger share. Forests play a crucial role in the U.S. water supply, generating approximately 46% of the surface water in the contiguous U.S. by capturing precipitation, filtering water, and feeding rivers and reservoirs. 
