Water and energy are critical and interdependent resources. The production and use of energy requires both the withdrawal and consumptiona of water and represents one of the largest demands on fresh water in the United States. In 2005, U.S. power plant cooling systems withdrew 143 billion gallons of fresh water per day, accounting for 41 percent of domestic fresh water withdrawals. Mining and fuel extraction withdrew an additional 2 billion gallons per day. 1 Fresh water in turn requires energy to be pumped, treated, and transported before it can be used.