Water Supply and Scarcity
According to the United Nations, water scarcity is defined as the point at which the aggregate impact of all users impinges on the supply or quality of water. Water scarcity is a relative concept and can occur at any level of supply or demand. Scarcity may be socially-constructed or the consequence of altered supply patterns stemming from climate change. Resources available in this sub-theme include U.S. drought monitoring data, workshops for rural water supply systems, among other resources that support water supply and scarcity.
Browse by resource type
Water Supply and Scarcity Resources
The Understanding Water Supply: General Considerations
U.S. Agency for International Development
This paper is one of a series published by Volunteers in Technical Assistance to provide an introduction to specific state-of-the-art technologies of interest to people in developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to provide basic information and data for those individuals responsible for...Read more
Regional focus:
United StatesNorth AmericaHow Water Management in Tucson, Arizona Has Affected the Desert's Landscape
Published:
October 18, 2014The National Institutes for Water Resources
Tuscan, Arizona has relied heavily on groundwater to supply its water needs. Over time, the pumping associated with residential, agricultural and industrial water use has outstripped nature's ability to replenish the underground aquifers. To reduce the overdraft of groundwater in the Tuscan...Read more
Regional focus:
United StatesNorth AmericaWhy the Groundwater Management Act?
Published:
October 18, 2014The National Institutes for Water Resources
Groundwater is being pumped from aquifers faster than it is able to be naturally replenished. The Groundwater Management Act (GMA) was established by the Arizona State legislature to regulate groundwater use and determine a safe yield goal for recharge of water and recovery.Read more
Regional focus:
United StatesNorth AmericaArizona Rural Water Issues Attracting Attention: What Is Best Plan for Managing Non-Active Management Areas?
Published:
March 18, 2014The National Institutes for Water Resources
Water management involves more than just the hydrological process. Successful water management should reflect the physical, social and cultural characteristics unique to the area. In Arizona, urban water affairs are recognized as a priority, however rural regions are often overlooked, which has...Read more
Regional focus:
United StatesNorth AmericaDate API
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) API for data retrieval can be used to retrieve observations and predictions from CO-OPS stations.Read more
Regional focus:
United StatesNorth AmericaMapping High and Low Lake Level Impacts
Published:
September 14, 2016National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This web-based tool creates visuals that capture lake level changes that range from six feet above to six feet below historical long-term average water levels in the Great Lakes. Potential shoreline and coastal impacts are also provided. This information can be used to determine appropriate...Read more
Regional focus:
United StatesNorth AmericaUSGS WaterWatch
Published:
November 2, 2016U.S. Geological Survey
Display National and State maps, graphs, and tables describing real-time, recent, and past streamflow conditions for the United States including locations where floods and droughts are occurring. (Real-time data, in most cases, are transmitted once every 1 to 4 hours.) Also, you can select USGS...Read more
Regional focus:
North AmericaUnited StatesUSGS Groundwater Watch
Published:
September 1, 2016National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Find more about groundwarer levels and statistical charecteristics of well networks. Active Water Level Network-- wells measured at least once within the past 13 months. Climate Response Network-- wells that monitor effects of climate variability such as droughts. Real-time network-- wells measured...Read more
Regional focus:
United StatesNorth AmericaUSGS StreamStats
Published:
March 24, 2016National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Obtain a variety of flow statistics, basin characteristics, and other information for both gaged and ungaged stream sites by using a mapping application. Streamstats is not operational for all States at this time. See a map at http://water.usgs.gov/osw/streamstats/ssonline.html to determine if...Read more
Regional focus:
United StatesNorth AmericaUSGS Flood Inundation Mapper
Published:
February 10, 2016National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The USGS Flood Inundation Mapper partners with local communities to assist with the development and validation of flood inundation map libraries and provides online access to flood inundation maps along with real-time streamflow data, flood forecasts, and potential loss estimates.Read more
Regional focus:
United StatesNorth AmericaDon't see what you're looking for? You can search USWP member sites, request a resource, or contact the USWP.