Daily Archives: October 5, 2026

A water year is used in hydrology to describe the 12-month period for which precipitation totals of an area are determined.

The U.S. Geological Survey, or USGS, operates a nationwide system of instruments to monitor discharge in rivers and issues comprehensive reports on the use of water resources. The USGS defines a water year as the 12-month period from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30 of the following year. This definition standardizes the reporting of water statistics in their publications. The water year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends, so on Oct. 1 we entered water year 2027. Continue reading →