Water Use Data Exchange

The Western States Water Council (WSWC), in cooperation with the Western Governors' Association (WGA), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the DOE National Labs (led by the Sandia National Lab), and the Western Federal Agency Support Team (WestFAST) are undertaking a data exchange project to provide better access to water allocation, supply, and demand data that are maintained by the states. Through collaboration with WestFAST, the WSWC will also work with the various Federal Agencies that comprise WestFAST to develop standard methods for accessing Federal data that support state-federal planning efforts and are important components to water supply estimates.

Currently the DOE National Labs are working with the WGA and the WSWC states to collect and analyze the state water allocation, supply, and demand data along with other relevant Federal data to support an analysis of water availability and demand for energy production in the West. The National Labs have already evaluated some of the WSWC member states' data and have developed some preliminary reports. In order to support this effort, and to ensure the sustainability and repeatability of this study, the WSWC proposes working with its member states to establish a data exchange framework that will allow for real-time access to state water allocation, supply, and demand data in a common format. Also, since the states vary on what data they collect, how they collect it, and how they store it, the WSWC will work with the states to inventory current practices and make recommendations on policies that will need to be put into place to support such a framework.

Additionally, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is beginning the Water Census which will replace USGS's Water Use and Availability report (the most recent being the 2005 report). As funds allow, the USGS intends to engage the states on developing a data exchange for water allocation, supply, and demand data that will help support the Water Census. One of the key gaps that the Water Census will need to address is getting a better estimation of consumptive use (especially for agriculture). The western states are in a unique position to provide this information, and this information is also key to the DOE National Lab efforts. The potential synergy between these projects and the emerging needs of water planners to have a better understanding of water availability provides an excellent opportunity to engage in these efforts and help define a framework that supports the western states' needs and helps promote better state and regional water management.

For more information: see the Water Use Data Exchange Factsheet