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Water Use & Water Supply

In Maryland, public supply water is delivered to users for domestic, commercial, and industrial purposes. Most is used for public services, such as public pools, parks, firefighting, water and wastewater treatment, and municipal buildings, and some is unaccounted for because of leaks, flushing, tower maintenance, and other losses. 5.7 million Marylanders get their water from the public supply.

The MD-DE-DC WSC works with state and local agencies to collect, estimate, review, and compile water use information.  Data are used in USGS groundwater and watershed models, and other USGS studies.  The data are also compiled and incorporated into the USGS national estimates of water-use.  WSC staff currently participate in various national water use projects focused on improving water use estimates for various categories of use including thermo-electric power generation, irrigation, public supply, and self-supplied domestic.