PS 21-30 - Understanding water use and rural water supply and the impact on natural resources: a case study of North Dakota and the Bakken region

Abstract: Little is known about municipal, industrial, and rural water use in much of the United States beyond a yearly total reported to a water agency, or billing held at the municipal level. Information regarding water management is valuable due to its potential application in improving water use efficiency and therefore water conservation and impact on ecological systems. Because water conservation must consider human needs alongside natural ecosystem needs water use data can be applied in conservation efforts. In recent years the USGS has attempted to increase water use information at the state and national level through the Water Use Data and Research efforts. Recent research in North Dakota has sought to determine per capita coefficients for municipal and industrial categories across different size cities, as well as investigate the impact of oil development on municipal and industrial water in the Bakken region. During this research, it was revealed there is a lack of information on rural water use. As more water goes to a single water use distributor, it makes it harder for governing bodies to assess use, per capita coefficients, and plan for future water needs. This project is the culmination of eight years of research, with the goal of assessing water use in the Bakken oil region, rural water use, the organizations governing water distribution, and how rural water use impacts the larger story of water use in an area. A survey was conducted of all municipalities over 1,000 residents and all rural water managers to assess sources of water, how it is used, and analyze communication using social network analysis. Results indicate a loosely centralized social network among districts, with most districts interacting with a few major network actors. Results in the Bakken region show that water use allotted to oil development was often came from municipal and rural water use as opposed to commercial water use. Results highlight a wide range of customers of rural water, which makes planning for water needs and water conservation challenging when this is only reported as rural water use. Information from this study can be used by water managers across the United States and semi-arid areas of the world to better understand the impacts of water use and management on conservation efforts and ecological systems.