Thursday, Apr 4 2013 3:51PM

A new National Water Census report may help lawmakers manage water supply and demand.

The Department of the Interior (DOI) released its National Water Census progress report to Congress, the results of which will help the government address the water needs of the nation and develop solutions to prevent water shortages. 

The National Water Census can measure different locales access to water system services and help manage competition between crop irrigators, urban and rural residents, environmental initiatives and energy projects, the agency explained. The Census will enable water and resource managers to quantify water needs, measure demand and find sustainable solutions to current and potential shortages in several states.

"It's true in other fields and no less so for water: you can't manage what you don't measure," said Anne Castle, DOI Assistant Secretary for Water and Science. "The Water Census will quantify water supply and demand consistently across the entire country, fill in gaps in existing data, and make that information available to anyone who needs it - and that represents a huge step forward on the path toward water sustainability."

Several states across the country are already engaged in legal battles over water rights that may be crucial in helping them avoid shortages, including Utah, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado. However, many of these cross-border disputes will play out in a federal arena, and may take years to resolve.

For more information, check out this resource: The Department of the Interior