Nearly 16 billion gallons of bottled water were sold in the US in 2022. That comes out to 47.5 gallons, or 360 16.9-ounce bottles, per person for the year. In other words, the United States produces and sells a lot of bottled water. Before reaching a consumer, however, the water must first be bottled. And before that, it must be withdrawn from a source. But where does that happen? And where is the water coming from?
After conducting an inventory of water bottling facilities in the US, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Water Use Program set out to answer those, and other, questions. The results of this work are shown in a graphically-rich article by the USGS Vizlab. A combination of intuitive visual design and lightweight load times make these graphics an exemplary experience for public communication.
The article documents 10,192 bottled water facilities, shown on the map above. This is one of several graphics—some of which are interactive—that the USGS Vizlab created to explain where these facilities are and how they source water. Most of the facilities use a public supply, but there are differences across facility types and the source of self-supply water being drawn (surface water, spring water, or from a well).
While the Vizlab reports data about these facilities and their water sources, the lab notes that less is known about how much water is actually used. Of the 10,000+ facilities in the inventory, water-use data is available for only 0.6 percent of them. Differing regulations from state to state make it a challenge to pair usage to any specific facility or site.
The water cycle is an important process, and any influence on the water cycle can have wide-reaching effects. An inventory like this is a key step in understanding who is using water and where that water comes from.
