Abstract |
A report is presented for the committee covering present and projected future use of water for municipal purposes in the United States for the years 1980 and 2000. The report prepared by the Public Health Service shows that from a recorded figure of 16 2/3 billion gallons per day in 1954, with per capita use of 147 gallons, anticipated water use from municipal systems in the continental United States, under assumed medium rates of population growth, may be conservatively projected to 29 billion gallons a day in 1980, and to 43 billion gallons a day in the year 2000. Under assumptions calling for a high rate of population increase, this water use is projected to about 33 billion gallons per day in 1980 and 58 billion gallons per day by 2000, at slightly lower per capita rates. The report goes on to point out that if certain stimulants of municipal use continue to occur, these figures may increase to as high as 43 billion gallons a day in 1980 and 88 billion gallons a day in the year 2000, with per capita use of 185 gallons per day in 1980 and 225 in the year 2000. |