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SUMMARY Water-use data for 1985 were compiled for the State of Colorado as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Use Information Program. The data, summarized by county and hydrologic subregion, are presented in this report. Seven water-use categories were examined: commercial, domestic, industrial, irrigation, livestock, mining, and power. For each water-use category, data about water source and water disposition are presented. An estimated 20,800 million gallons per day of water was used in Colorado during 1985; of this quantity, 89 percent came from surface-water sources, and 11 percent tame from ground-water sources. Public-supply systems provided only 4 percent of all water used in Colorado during 1985 but provided 80 percent of all domestic, commercial, and industrial water used. Ninety- three percent of the people in Colorado obtained their domestic water from public-supply systems. Of all water used, 60 percent was used for irrigation, 35 percent for hydroelectric power generation, and the remaining 5 percent for commercial, domestic, industrial, livestock, mining, and other uses. For the entire State, an estimated 4,840 million gallons per day of water was consumptive use during 1985; return flows were 16,000 million gallons per day. Commercial water use was 120 million gallons per day. Ninety-three percent of this quantity was supplied by public-supply systems, and about 20.8 million gallons per day was consumptive use. Domestic water use was 473 million gallons per day or an average of 146 gallons per person per day. About one-third of this water was consumptively used, mostly by lawn watering. Industrial water use was 138 million gallons per day. Eighty-seven percent of this quantity was self supplied, and 21 percent was consumptive use. Irrigation water use was 12,400 million gallons per day, making it the largest use in the State. Eighty-three percent of this water was surface water, 37 percent was consumptive use, and 23 percent was lost in conveyance. Livestock water use was 61 million gallons per day. gallons per day of water was consumptive use. The State 3.5 million cattle, sheep, pigs, and hogs. About 31 million produced about Mining water use was 91.3 million gallons per day. Six percent of this quantity was used by coal mining, 46 percent by hardrock mining, 10 percent by sand and gravel quarrying, and 38 percent by oil production. All of the water was self supplied, and 23 percent was consumptive use. 27