Our Blue Backyard

March 2026: Scientists have created something that’s might sound kind of basic but is actually a big deal: the first nationwide database tracking how Americans use water. For the first time, researchers have pulled together data on who’s taking water from rivers, lakes, and also underground aquifers. Now we can track water usage from farms, cities, and corporations. Here’s the article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-025-06300-1

Until now, water data in the U.S. has been super fragmented. Different states tracked things differently (or not at all), so it’s been hard to get a clear picture. This new database lets scientists and policymakers see patterns—like where water use is the highest, which areas are using too much groundwater, and how demand is shifting over time. (For CA residents, I created this local water tracker: https://ourbluebackyard.com.

This new nationwide database is important because water threats aren’t just about drought anymore. Even in places that aren’t obviously dry, overuse can drain resources (see my earlier post on AI data centers). And with climate change making rainfall more unpredictable, having accurate data in one centralized location will be critical If we don’t understand how we’re using water, there’s no way to manage it sustainably.