Industries that consume the most surface water and why it matters.
Surface water—from rivers, lakes, and reservoirs—is a vital resource for many of the world’s largest industries. Understanding how much each sector uses and why is crucial for developing sustainable practices and mitigating water stress around the globe.
Below is a detailed look at the industries that consume the most surface water, with figures and examples to illustrate their impact, mostly inspired by us coming across an article on Zipdo.co that is quoted below.
Agriculture is by far the dominant consumer of surface water globally. It accounts for about 70% of all freshwater withdrawals worldwide according to UNESCO (https://www.unesco.org/reports/wwdr/en/wwdr/en/2024/statistics). In Europe, agriculture uses roughly 44% of freshwater resources (https://2030.builders/world-water-day). The majority of this water is used for irrigation, as well as fertilization, pesticide application, crop cooling, and frost control. Particularly water-intensive crops include rice, cotton, sugarcane, and almonds. In fact, almond farming in California alone consumes as much water as all urban households in the state combined (https://www.investopedia.com/connection-between-nut-farming-and-fire-risk-8779589).
The energy sector, particularly thermoelectric power generation, is another major water user, responsible for about 10% of global withdrawals (https://www.worldmetrics.org/water-consumption-by-industry-statistics). Water is essential in this sector primarily for cooling processes in power plants that use coal, natural gas, or nuclear energy. These facilities typically draw water from nearby rivers or lakes and return it after use, often at elevated temperatures—a practice known as thermal pollution, which can severely impact local ecosystems.
The textile and fashion industry is the second-largest industrial consumer of water, using around 79 billion cubic meters annually (https://zipdo.co/water-consumption-by-industry-statistics). Water is used throughout production, especially in dyeing, washing, and finishing fabrics. This sector alone produces approximately 20% of the world’s industrial wastewater, much of which is related to dyeing processes. Some companies, like LVMH, have committed to reducing their water usage by 30% by 2030, using methods such as regenerative agriculture and more efficient production systems (https://www.voguebusiness.com/sustainability/water-is-a-resource-under-stress-says-lvmh-as-it-vows-to-cut-usage).
Chemical and petrochemical industries use about 3.2% of total global water withdrawals (https://zipdo.co/water-consumption-by-industry-statistics). In these sectors, water is needed for cooling, chemical reactions, dilution, and cleaning. If wastewater from these processes is not treated effectively, it can contribute to severe surface water pollution.
The pulp and paper industry accounts for about 9% of global industrial water withdrawals (https://zipdo.co/water-consumption-by-industry-statistics). It requires approximately 10,000 liters of water to produce just one ton of paper. Because of their high water demands, pulp and paper plants are usually located near abundant water sources. However, the discharge from these facilities can impact water quality if not properly managed.
The food and beverage industry is also a significant user of surface water, accounting for 55% of industrial water use globally (https://zipdo.co/water-consumption-by-industry-statistics). Producing one liter of beer, for example, can require up to 25 liters of water. In water-stressed regions like northern Mexico, some breweries have faced pressure to relocate due to their high water consumption (https://www.ft.com/content/e59f2c28-d7d1-49c4-b2e5-634631b764d9).
Semiconductor and electronics manufacturing is another water-intensive sector, although on a more localized scale. This industry uses about 60 billion liters of water annually (https://zipdo.co/water-consumption-by-industry-statistics), primarily for manufacturing microchips. Ultra-pure water is essential for these processes, and some facilities can consume up to 2 million gallons per day. The environmental risk lies not only in consumption but also in the chemical-laden wastewater that can be discharged if not properly treated.
Mining and mineral processing, especially in certain regions, can account for over 90% of local water withdrawals (https://zipdo.co/water-consumption-by-industry-statistics). Water is used in ore processing, dust suppression, and slurry transport. Without adequate safeguards, mining operations can contaminate local surface water with heavy metals and other pollutants.
Data centers and the broader cloud computing industry represent an emerging concern in surface water consumption. These facilities require significant cooling, much of which depends on freshwater. Major tech firms like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have established data centers in water-scarce regions, sparking public concern over local water availability (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/09/big-tech-datacentres-water). While these companies have pledged to become “water positive” by 2030, meaning they aim to replenish more water than they consume, the long-term effectiveness of these initiatives remains uncertain.
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In a nutshell, the most water-intensive industries span agriculture, energy, textiles, chemicals, paper, food production, electronics, mining, and digital infrastructure. Their collective impact on surface water resources underscores the urgent need for sustainable water management strategies to ensure this finite resource remains available for ecosystems, communities, and future generations. One promising tool in this effort is the use of BWI virtual stations, which offer real-time river flow forecasting. These systems can help industries plan water use more efficiently, anticipate shortages, reduce downtime, and manage regulatory compliance by aligning operations with expected water availability. For sectors dependent on uninterrupted water access, predictive tools like BWI’s can significantly enhance resilience and operational planning.
