Water Use in the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula
|
Water plays a significant role in human well-being and as a driver for development, thus, we must conserve and protect freshwater resources and related ecosystems. Climate change has disproportionately impacted freshwater resources in coastal areas. Stressors such as sea-level rise, flooding, and extreme events constitute a constant threat to low-lying coastal communities. Communities such as the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula (APP), where continuous supply of freshwater resources is required to safeguard the future welfare of the people who live, work and recreate in the region.
|
Water management is a challenge, as it is inherently multi-jurisdictional. Decisions made upstream will impact the quality and quantity of water resources downstream. Understanding past trends in water use at regional and local scales is key to project demand and better plan for future requirements. The infographic presented below provides historical water-use data derived from USGS county-level records for the periods of 2010, 2000, and 1990. We can see how different categories of use has changed demand across time. For example, Beaufort county, by exploring the infographic we can see how water supply for industrial use has significantly grown in the past two centuries. This type of information is helpful to identify potential opportunities to improve efficiency and develop strategies to ensure infrastructure expansion that will sever the region’s futures needs.
Data collected from the South Atlantic Water Science Center - North Carolina Office |
Historical water-use data for North Carolina
Source: http://nc.water.usgs.gov/infodata/wateruse.html |