Friday, Jun 24 2011 3:46PM
Much of the drinking water for residents living in the western U.S. comes from the Colorado River Basin.
Residents living in western U.S. states who get their water from the Colorado River Basin are using their water more efficiently, a new report by the Pacific Institute states.
According to the report, the number of residents living in the U.S. and Mexico who use Colorado River Basin water has risen by more than 10 million in the last two decades. However, the per capita use of water from the basin has decreased by an average of 1 percent per year from 1990 to 2008.
"Although population growth has increased very quickly, the amount of water delivered has not kept pace. That shows that people have been getting much more efficient with their use of water," said Michael Cohen, the study's author.
Nearly all of the 100 water agencies surveyed showed lower water use in recent years, the report shows. Three agencies in California, including two Coachella Valley water districts, had the highest per-capita water use since 1990.
Cohen stated a number of homes with lawns in drier areas of California require constant watering, which may be a reason for the region's extensive water use.