The U.S. Geologic Survey announced a new tool Monday that allows businesses and water planners to assess current and future water availability in communities around the country.
Climate change is altering traditional rain and snow patterns, while suburban growth, farming and data centers are putting increasing pressure on water supplies around the country.
The USGS National Water Availability Assessment Data Companionmarries up previously unwieldy data sets from stream monitoring, satellite observations and climate modeling to provide detailed information about water supply and demand across roughly 80,000 watersheds.
“While the United States has abundant water nationally, regional imbalances between supply and demand may create water challenges affecting millions of Americans,” said Shirley Leung, USGS’s lead scientist. “This tool can help decision-makers understand whether challenges may stem from limited natural water supply, high demand, or both. This information is helpful for effective water planning.”
