(Updated September 2016)

Mark Twain said, “Whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting over.” Indeed, water rights have been a source of conflict and controversy throughout the history of the world. Ever expanding populations and resulting development continue to exacerbate the debate, particularly in the American West. Find resources, statistics, an A to Z water glossary and more on this field guide. (H. Hester, Information & Digitization Specialist)


E - EBSCO articles available for NAR members only. Password can be found on the EBSCO Access Information page.


How America U​ses Water

  • Electric Power - 45%
  • Irrigation - 33%
  • Public Supply - 12%
  • Industrial - 4%
  • Livestock - 1%
  • Mining - 1%
  • Aquaculture - 3%

Source: Estimated Use of Water in the U.S.—2014pdf, (U.S. Geological Survey, Dec. 2014).


Water Resources & Issues

Water Resources of the United States, (U.S. Geological Survey, Sept. 14, 2016).

Climate Impacts on Water Resources, (U.S. EPA, Aug. 9, 2016).

The Water Resources Development Act of 2016pdf, (U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Apr. 26, 2016).

Water Resources Dashboard, (U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit, Mar. 18, 2016).

Water Resources, (YouTube Video, Sept. 7, 2015).

Next stage of green building industry to focus on water efficiency, (Realty Times, June 24, 2009).

Fresh water represents only 2.5% of the world's water resources. Source: United Nations Environment Programme


Water Rights

Nestle fights feds over water rights, (USA Today, May 9, 2016).

Detroit is Ground Zero in the New Fight for Water Rights, (The Nation Blog, July 15, 2015).

What are Water Rights?, (Gizmodo, Apr. 13, 2015).

Drought may dry up water rights, (San Angelo Standard Times, Aug. 12, 2011).

Calif. Counties Denied Priority Water Rights, (Courthouse News Service, Aug. 9, 2011).

Every drop counts; Valuing the water used to generate electricitypdf, (Western Resource Advocates, Jan. 2011).

Public has right to walk upon privately owned river beds when using state waters - see Recent Court Decisions, page 2 (The Appraisal Journal, Winter 2009). E

Black Ohio neighborhood unjustly denied water for decades, jury finds, (Christian Science Monitor, July 11, 2008).

Tradable Water Rights, (Brookings Institution/Democracy: A Journal of Ideas, Spring 2008).

The Appraisal of Water Rights: Valuation Methodology, (The Appraisal Journal, Spring 2008). E


Land Use & Water

Water and land use planning, (USA Today, May 9, 2016).

Video: Groundwater: The Hidden Source of Life, (The Groundwater Foundation)

How much do we depend on groundwater?, (The Groundwater Foundation).


Water Quality Issues

Water Quality Standards: Regulations and Resources, (EPA, Aug. 11, 2016).

Common Water Quality Problems, Water Analysis and Testing, (Water Research Center, June 7, 2016).

Water Quality, (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, July 16, 2015).

U.S. Teen Wins Stockholm Junior Water Prize With Cell Phone Test, (Environment News Service, Aug. 24, 2011).

Drinking water contaminants & potential health effectspdf, (Environmental Protection Agency, May 2009).

Tons of released drugs taint US water, (U.S. News & World Report, Apr. 19, 2009).

Video: Storm runoff pollutes drinking water, (PBS News Hour, Oct. 9, 2008).

Local drinking water information, (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Apr. 9, 2008).

Healthy water: real estate sales depend on it, (Realty Times, Sept. 2006).


Related Websites

USGS Water-Quality Information, (U.S.Geological Survey).

A-Z Water Resources Index, (U.S. Geological Survey).

Water Quality "Glossary" (U.S. Geological Survey)

American Water Resources Association

National Groundwater Association Consumer Information

Water Rights Program, (National Park Service).

What Is Groundwater?, (Groundwater.org).

100 Ways to conserve, (WaterUseItWisely, 2009).

U.S. Geological Survey

Water Quiz (U.S. Geological Survey)—U.S. Water Resources

American Water Works Association

Surf your watershed, (Environmental Protection Agency)—search by zip code


eBooks & Other Resources

Books, Videos, Research Reports & More

The resources below are available for loan through Information Services. Up to three books, tapes, CDs and/or DVDs can be borrowed for 30 days from the Library for a nominal fee of $10. Call Information Services at 800-874-6500 for assistance.

Understanding water rights and conflicts, (Denver, CO: Burg Young Publishing, 2003). TD 345 Y9

Water wars: drought, flood, folly and the politics of thirst, (New York, NY: Riverhead Books, 2002). TD 345 W257

Water follies: groundwater pumping and the fate of America’s fresh waters, (Washington, D.C.: Island Press, 2002). TD 223 G58

When the Rivers Run Dry, Adobe eReader

The Clean Water Act handbook, 2nd Ed., (Chicago, IL: American Bar Association, 2003). KF 3790 C54

Field Guides & More

These field guides and other resources in the Virtual Library may also be of interest:

Field Guide to Green Property Management

Field Guide to Effects of Hazardous Waste on Property Values

Field Guide to Effects of Underground Storage Tanks

Field Guide to Agricultural/Farm Land

Information Services Blog


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