Productivity and Efficiency

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, water efficiency is the smart use of our water resources through water-saving technologies and simple steps. Using water efficiently will help ensure reliable water supplies today and for future generations. Topics addressed in this theme provide insights, lessons, and guidance on how diverse stakeholders are working to improve water management and reduce water use.

Productivity and Efficiency Resources

Domestic Water Use

Publication date:
July 21, 2021
This web page provides an overview of USGS's research about domestic water use. It includes related research and a collection of data and tools. Domestic water use includes indoor and outdoor uses at residences, and includes uses such as drinking, food preparation, bathing, washing clothes and...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
United States

Recreational Water Quality

Publication date:
July 21, 2021
This web page provides an overview of USGS's research about recreational water quality. It includes related research, publications, news, and a collection of data and tools. The water quality of a nearby lake, a watershed, or along the coast can be enhanced only by collecting good information...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
United States

Irrigation Water Use

Publication date:
July 21, 2021
Irrigation water use includes water that is applied by an irrigation system to sustain plant growth in agricultural and horticultural practices. Irrigation also includes water that is used for pre-irrigation, frost protection, chemical application, weed control, field preparation, crop cooling,...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
United States

Agriculture and the Quality of the Nation's Waters

Publication date:
July 21, 2021
Intensive studies by the USGS National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Project in agricultural areas provide insight into how agricultural activities have altered the natural flow of water and the way that agricultural chemicals enter streams and aquifers, and in particular how nutrients affect...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
United States

Aquaculture Water Use

Publication date:
July 21, 2021
Aquaculture water use is water associated with raising organisms that live in water, such as finfish and shellfish, for food, restoration, conservation, or sport. Aquaculture production occurs under controlled feeding, sanitation, and harvesting procedures primarily in ponds, flowthrough raceways,...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
United States

Water quality trading

Publication date:
July 22, 2021
Water quality trading is a market-based tool for achieving improved water quality. To offset its pollutant discharges, an entity required to control a pollutant in a watershed can trade water quality credits with another entity in the same watershed to lower its pollution-control costs. Water...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
United States

California Water on the Market: Q&A with Barton “Buzz” Thompson

Publication date:
July 22, 2021
California water has joined gold, energy and bitcoin as a commodity whose future value can be traded on a financial exchange and the first market trades on water futures took place three months ago. The market, based on values determined by NASDAQ’s Veles Water Market Index, was hailed by some as a...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
United States

USGS Blue Carbon Projects

Publication date:
July 22, 2021
Blue carbon projects aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avert the worst effects of climate change by storing carbon in ocean-based environmental restoration projects like seaweed farms. The USGS Blue Carbon (vegetated coastal ecosystems) Projects work with partner organizations to collect,...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
United States

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