Previous work by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed models to estimate the amount of water that is withdrawn and consumed by thermoelectric power plants (Diehl and others, 2013; Diehl and Harris, 2014; Harris and Diehl, 2019 [full citations listed in srcinfo of the metadata file]). This data release presents a historical reanalysis of thermoelectric water use from 2008 to 2020 and includes monthly and annual water withdrawal and consumption estimates, thermodynamically plausible ranges of minimum and maximum withdrawal and consumption estimates, and associated information for 1,360 water-using, utility-scale thermoelectric power plants in the United States. The term “reanalysis” refers to the process of reevaluating and recalculating water-use data using updated or refined methods, data sources, models, or assumptions. For this case, new estimates of withdrawal and consumption were made using new data sources and methods which involved taking existing historical data and subjecting it to a thorough review and revision to improve accuracy, completeness, and consistency. Reanalysis included incorporating new datasets, refining methodologies, and adjusting for changes in technology, regulations, or knowledge. The goal of reanalysis was to provide more accurate and up-to-date water-use estimates that reflects the most current understanding of water-use patterns and factors affecting water usage in the United States. This historical reanalysis was completed by running thermoelectric water-use models that are based on linked heat-and-water budgets (models contained within this data release). The linked heat-and-water budgets are constrained by the following data (also contained within this data release): power plant generation and cooling system technologies, the quantity of fuels consumed and electricity generated, as well as environmental variables. The heat-budget component of the models calculates the amount of waste heat (fuel heat that is not converted to electricity) that is removed from the steam used to drive the turbines that generate electricity. The waste heat is transferred to the cooling system in a thermoelectric power plant’s condenser, which is defined as the condenser duty (Diehl and others, 2013). The water-budget component of the models calculates the amount of water that is withdrawn and consumed based on plant-specific condenser duty, and environmental variables (air temperatures, water temperatures, wind speed, and elevation). The models were updated using the same formulation previously developed (Diehl and others, 2013) and updates include enhancements of automatic data collectors, nationally consistent and operational environmental variables, and simulated water temperatures for plant intakes provided by the USGS National Hydrologic Model (Regan and others, 2018; Hay and others, 2023). These new features enable reproducibility and are an important step toward an operational modeling framework for making nationally consistent historical and forecasted future water-use estimates that are independent of Federal plant-operator reported water withdrawal and consumption data. Total estimated water withdrawal (including fresh and saline sources) ranged from 132 billion gallons per day (Bgal/d) in 2008 to 80 Bgal/d in 2020. Total estimated water consumption (including only fresh sources; consumption at coastal saline plants was not modeled) ranged from 3.6 Bgal/d in 2008 to 2.7 Bgal/d in 2020. Gorman Sanisaca and others, 2023, provides monthly condenser duty estimates and associated information from 2008 to 2020 that are used by the models reported here for estimating withdrawals and consumption.

Previous work by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed models to estimate the amount of water that is withdrawn and consumed by thermoelectric power plants (Diehl and others, 2013; Diehl and Harris, 2014; Harris and Diehl, 2019 [full citations listed in srcinfo of the metadata file]). This data release presents a historical reanalysis of thermoelectric water use from 2008 to 2020 and includes monthly and annual water withdrawal and consumption estimates, thermodynamically plausible ranges of minimum and maximum withdrawal and consumption estimates, and associated information for 1,360 water-using, utility-scale thermoelectric power plants in the United States. The term “reanalysis” refers to the process of reevaluating and recalculating water-use data using updated or refined methods, data sources, models, or assumptions. For this case, new estimates of withdrawal and consumption were made using new data sources and methods which involved taking existing historical data and subjecting it to a thorough review and revision to improve accuracy, completeness, and consistency. Reanalysis included incorporating new datasets, refining methodologies, and adjusting for changes in technology, regulations, or knowledge. The goal of reanalysis was to provide more accurate and up-to-date water-use estimates that reflects the most current understanding of water-use patterns and factors affecting water usage in the United States. This historical reanalysis was completed by running thermoelectric water-use models that are based on linked heat-and-water budgets (models contained within this data release). The linked heat-and-water budgets are constrained by the following data (also contained within this data release): power plant generation and cooling system technologies, the quantity of fuels consumed and electricity generated, as well as environmental variables. The heat-budget component of the models calculates the amount of waste heat (fuel heat that is not converted to electricity) that is removed from the steam used to drive the turbines that generate electricity. The waste heat is transferred to the cooling system in a thermoelectric power plant’s condenser, which is defined as the condenser duty (Diehl and others, 2013). The water-budget component of the models calculates the amount of water that is withdrawn and consumed based on plant-specific condenser duty, and environmental variables (air temperatures, water temperatures, wind speed, and elevation). The models were updated using the same formulation previously developed (Diehl and others, 2013) and updates include enhancements of automatic data collectors, nationally consistent and operational environmental variables, and simulated water temperatures for plant intakes provided by the USGS National Hydrologic Model (Regan and others, 2018; Hay and others, 2023). These new features enable reproducibility and are an important step toward an operational modeling framework for making nationally consistent historical and forecasted future water-use estimates that are independent of Federal plant-operator reported water withdrawal and consumption data. Total estimated water withdrawal (including fresh and saline sources) ranged from 132 billion gallons per day (Bgal/d) in 2008 to 80 Bgal/d in 2020. Total estimated water consumption (including only fresh sources; consumption at coastal saline plants was not modeled) ranged from 3.6 Bgal/d in 2008 to 2.7 Bgal/d in 2020. Gorman Sanisaca and others, 2023, provides monthly condenser duty estimates and associated information from 2008 to 2020 that are used by the models reported here for estimating withdrawals and consumption.

The datasets in this data release contain the results of an analysis of the U.S. Geological Survey's historical water-use data from 1985 to 2015. Data were assessed to determine the top category of water use by volume. Data from groundwater, surface water, and total water (groundwater plus surface water) use were parsed by water type, and the top category of use by county or the geographic region or local government equivalent to a county (for example, parishes in Louisiana) was determined. There are two sets of results provided, one for the "Priority" categories of water use and the second for all categories of water use. "Priority" categories are irrigation, public supply, and thermoelectric power and comprise 90 percent of all water use nationwide. In addition to the priority categories, the remaining categories of water use are as follows: aquaculture, domestic, industrial, livestock, and mining. Water-use data historically have been compiled at the county level every 5 years as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water Use Science Project. In 2020 the U.S. Geological Survey began transitioning the collection of water-use data from every 5 years to an annual collection, from county level to hydrologic unit code (HUC) 12, and to a model-based approach. To assist in the transition, an assessment of the current (2022) historical water-use data was done by the Water-Use Gap Analysis Project.

The datasets in this data release contain the results of an analysis of the U.S. Geological Survey's historical water-use data from 1985 to 2015. Data were assessed to determine the top category of water use by volume. Data from groundwater, surface water, and total water (groundwater plus surface water) use were parsed by water type, and the top category of use by county or the geographic region or local government equivalent to a county (for example, parishes in Louisiana) was determined. There are two sets of results provided, one for the "Priority" categories of water use and the second for all categories of water use. "Priority" categories are irrigation, public supply, and thermoelectric power and comprise 90 percent of all water use nationwide. In addition to the priority categories, the remaining categories of water use are as follows: aquaculture, domestic, industrial, livestock, and mining. Water-use data historically have been compiled at the county level every 5 years as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water Use Science Project. In 2020 the U.S. Geological Survey began transitioning the collection of water-use data from every 5 years to an annual collection, from county level to hydrologic unit code (HUC) 12, and to a model-based approach. To assist in the transition, an assessment of the current (2022) historical water-use data was done by the Water-Use Gap Analysis Project.

This dataset presents water withdrawal estimates, consumption estimates, and associated information for 1,122 water-using, utility-scale thermoelectric power plants in the United States for 2015. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed models to estimate thermoelectric water use based on linked heat-and-water budgets, including thermodynamically plausible ranges of minimum and maximum withdrawal and consumption, to provide a consistent method for water-use estimation across the fleet of U.S. thermoelectric plants. Historically, thermoelectric water withdrawal and consumption has been estimated by the Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration (EIA) based on surveys of plant operator-reported data, and the USGS's 5-year water-use reports based on compiling data from State water agencies, plant operators, and the EIA. The USGS models provide independent estimates from plant operator-reported data. The total estimated withdrawal for 2015 was about 103 billion gallons per day (Bgal/d), and total estimated consumption was about 2.7 Bgal/d. This data release supports the findings published in Harris and Diehl (2019).

This dataset presents water withdrawal estimates, consumption estimates, and associated information for 1,122 water-using, utility-scale thermoelectric power plants in the United States for 2015. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed models to estimate thermoelectric water use based on linked heat-and-water budgets, including thermodynamically plausible ranges of minimum and maximum withdrawal and consumption, to provide a consistent method for water-use estimation across the fleet of U.S. thermoelectric plants. Historically, thermoelectric water withdrawal and consumption has been estimated by the Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration (EIA) based on surveys of plant operator-reported data, and the USGS's 5-year water-use reports based on compiling data from State water agencies, plant operators, and the EIA. The USGS models provide independent estimates from plant operator-reported data. The total estimated withdrawal for 2015 was about 103 billion gallons per day (Bgal/d), and total estimated consumption was about 2.7 Bgal/d. This data release supports the findings published in Harris and Diehl (2019).

This dataset presents the total monthly water withdrawal and consumption estimates for surface-water and groundwater sourced utility-scale thermoelectric power plants by 12-digit hydrologic unit code (HUC12) in the United States for 2015. The water withdrawal and consumption estimate methods and data are published in USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2019-5103 "Withdrawal and Consumption of Water by Thermoelectric Power Plants in the United States, 2015" available at https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20195103. The data release described by this metadata documents the summation of the monthly water withdrawal and consumption estimates by the HUC12 in which the facilities reside. These monthly estimates by HUC12 support USGS National Integrated Water Availability Assessments Water Use Maps.

This dataset presents the total monthly water withdrawal and consumption estimates for surface-water and groundwater sourced utility-scale thermoelectric power plants by 12-digit hydrologic unit code (HUC12) in the United States for 2015. The water withdrawal and consumption estimate methods and data are published in USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2019-5103 "Withdrawal and Consumption of Water by Thermoelectric Power Plants in the United States, 2015" available at https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20195103. The data release described by this metadata documents the summation of the monthly water withdrawal and consumption estimates by the HUC12 in which the facilities reside. These monthly estimates by HUC12 support USGS National Integrated Water Availability Assessments Water Use Maps.