Quick Answer
It takes around 4.29 gallons of water to grow a single almond in California. The exact amount can vary depending on factors like climate, irrigation methods, and soil conditions. Most of California’s almonds are grown in the arid Central Valley which requires irrigating the orchards.
How Many Gallons of Water Per Almond?
Almonds are California’s largest agricultural export and the state produces about 80% of the world’s almonds. Most almond orchards are located in the fertile but dry Central Valley which necessitates irrigation. On average, California almond orchards use about 1.1 trillion gallons of water per year to produce 2.3 billion pounds of almonds. That breaks down to:
- 4.29 gallons of water per almond
- 1,028 gallons of water per pound of almonds
However, the precise water usage can vary considerably depending on factors such as:
- Climate and weather patterns – Drier years require more irrigation.
- Irrigation method – Flood irrigation uses more water than drip irrigation.
- Age of trees – Younger orchards use less water.
- Soil conditions – Sandy soil drains faster than clay.
- Practices like cover cropping which retains soil moisture.
Water Usage in Context
To put that water usage into context:
- It takes about 48.5 almonds to equal 1 gallon of water
- 1 pound (about 500 almonds) requires over 120 gallons of water
- 1 ounce (about 30 almonds) takes nearly 8 gallons of water
The water usage adds up quickly for a crop that is highly water-intensive. However, California almond farmers have been adopting more sustainable practices to increase efficiency and reduce water usage.
Almond Milk Water Usage
Many consumers are switching to almond milk as a more sustainable option than dairy milk. But it still takes significant amounts of water to produce almond milk:
- 1 gallon of almond milk requires around 37 gallons of water to grow the almonds
- In comparison, 1 gallon of cow’s milk uses around 48 gallons of water
So while almond milk reduces emissions and land usage versus dairy milk, its water footprint remains high due to the water demands of almonds.
Water Usage Changes Over Time
As California’s almond acreage expanded in recent decades, so did water usage:
| Year | Bearing Acres | Total Water Use (gallons) | Water Use Per Acre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 390,000 | 114 billion | 292,000 |
| 2000 | 470,000 | 132 billion | 281,000 |
| 2005 | 590,000 | 174 billion | 295,000 |
| 2010 | 760,000 | 245 billion | 322,000 |
| 2015 | 880,000 | 317 billion | 360,000 |
However, water use per acre has stabilized in recent years due to irrigation improvements. And the industry has committed to reducing water usage 20% by 2025.
Breakdown of Almond Water Usage
The 4.29 gallons per almond reflects the total water usage over the entire lifecycle of the tree. Here is how that water is actually used:
- Evapotranspiration – The water that evaporates from the soil and transpires through the tree’s leaves. Accounts for about 80-85% of usage.
- Inefficiency – Water lost to factors like runoff, evaporation, and wind drift. 10-15% of the total.
- Hulling and Processing – Water used to harvest, hull, and process the almonds. 5-10% of usage.
The precise percentages vary across different orchards and growing regions. But the majority of water is used simply to keep the trees alive during the dry California summers.
Water Usage Changes By Age
Younger almond trees use markedly less water than mature orchards. The water usage over the lifecycle of an almond orchard is:
- Year 1 – Roughly 1.5 gallons per tree as it becomes established.
- Years 2-3 – Up to 5 gallons per tree as the canopy develops.
- Years 4-6 – Around 30-40 gallons per tree as yields increase.
- Mature Orchard – Over 55 gallons per tree at full production.
Managing orchard age and expanding plantings with younger trees has helped reduce water usage. But most efforts have focused on irrigation methods.
Improving Water Efficiency
Since the 1990s California almond farmers have made major strides in water conservation:
- Shifting to micro and drip irrigation – Reduces water waste compared to flood irrigation.
- Leveling fields – Allows for more uniform irrigation.
- Switching to pressurized systems – More precisely control water applications.
- Monitoring soil moisture – Better match irrigation to plant needs.
- Adopting cover crops – Fix nitrogen and reduce soil evaporation.
In just the past two decades, these changes have reduced average water use per acre of almonds by 33%. Ongoing improvements will further increase efficiency.
Almond Irrigation Sources
The vast majority of water used comes from river diversions and underground aquifers:
- Surface water – Accounts for 30-40% of irrigation supply.
- Groundwater – Makes up 60-70% of supply in most years.
- Reused water – A small but growing percentage of the total.
In wet years, the balance shifts towards more surface water. In droughts, farmers rely more heavily on pumped groundwater. Some use recycled municipal wastewater as it becomes more available.
Water Challenges During Drought
California’s frequent droughts significantly affect almond farmers:
- Reduced surface water availability from reservoirs and rivers.
- Increased groundwater pumping causes overdraft.
- Higher irrigation needs due to hotter, drier conditions.
- State cutbacks to water rights holders.
To cope with droughts, farmers use practices like:
- Drawing on groundwater reserves.
- Creating on-farm storage ponds.
- Purchasing water rights.
- Fallowing fields or removing orchards.
But production and total water use still decreases during extended droughts. Severe droughts in 2014-15 and 2020-21 reduced California’s almond output by over 10%.
Case Study: Sacramento Valley Almond Orchard
Here is a breakdown of water usage in a typical 100 acre almond orchard in California’s Sacramento Valley:
- Annual precipitation: about 18 inches of rainfall
- Supplemental irrigation water used: 48 inches per acre
- Acre feet of water per acre: 4.0
- Acre feet for orchard: 400
- Total gallons used: 130 million
- Breakdown:
- River water: 35%
- Groundwater: 55%
- Reused water: 10%
- Yield: 60,000 pounds of almonds
- Water usage: 130 gallons per pound of almonds
This demonstrates how even an efficient orchard in a prime growing region still requires substantial irrigation from multiple sources.
Water Usage Compared to Other California Crops
Among major California commodity crops, almonds have a relatively high water footprint:
| Crop | Water Usage (gallons per pound) |
|---|---|
| Almonds | 1,020 |
| Pistachios | 1,020 |
| Walnuts | 320 |
| Rice | 240 |
| Tomatoes | 160 |
| Corn | 110 |
| Wheat | 120 |
| Grapes | 80 |
However, the value per gallon of water is higher for almonds than many field crops. So farmers have incentive to maximize productivity and efficiency.
Global Almond Production
Nearly 70% of global almond production comes from California orchards. But almonds are also grown in:
- Mediterranean regions like Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Morocco
- Middle East countries including Iran and Saudi Arabia
- Chile, Argentina, and Australia
- South Africa and China at smaller scales
These regions generally require less irrigation than California’s Central Valley but have lower yields per acre. As global demand for almonds grows, production is expanding in water-rich areas like these.
Water Management Regulations
California almond farmers face growing regulatory oversight over water usage including:
- Reporting groundwater pumping to agencies like GSAs
- Restrictions on pumping from depleted aquifers
- Metering of most irrigation wells
- Water diversion limits and usage cutbacks
- Required participation in Groundwater Sustainability Plans
Growers also work cooperatively through organizations like the Almond Board of California to increase efficiency and document progress through regular reporting.
Consumer Role in Water Usage
While almond farming uses significant water, consumers also play a role through their diets. Some ways individuals influence water usage include:
- Choosing plant-based milk alternatives like almond milk.
- Eating meat and dairy products, which require more water.
- Picking other water-intensive nuts like cashews and pistachios.
- Opting for relatively lower water tree nuts like pecans and macadamias.
Shifting consumption towards more water-efficient foods can incrementally reduce water usage. But the biggest gains come from improving irrigation practices and acreage density.
Water Usage Controversies
Almond water consumption is frequently criticized, especially during drought years:
- High absolute water usage raising sustainability concerns
- Farmers accused of overexploiting rivers and aquifers
- Arguments that arid regions are unsuitable for water-intensive crops
- Questions about whether nuts justify using water needed for other foods or people
But farmers respond that almonds generate vital economic activity and that water usage efficiency is steadily improving. This debate seems likely to continue as competition over water increases.
Efforts to Improve Sustainability
The almond industry recognizes the need to strengthen its sustainability credentials around water use including:
- Voluntary water conservation and efficiency programs
- Monitoring and reporting to document progress
- Investing in research on irrigation methods and tree genetics
- Promoting high-value uses of water in food production
- Adding groundwater recharge and reuse projects
Achieving sustainable outcomes for almond irrigation will require collaboration between growers, regulators, conservation groups and consumers.
Conclusion
The water intensity of almond production has led to increasing scrutiny, especially in drought-prone California which supplies about 80% of global almonds. At around 4.3 gallons per almond and over 1,000 gallons per pound, almonds do require more water than most other crops. Significant efficiency gains have been made, but further improvements are still needed for California almonds to achieve long-term sustainability. Continued innovation in irrigation methods combined with strategic use of water resources will be key to ensuring almonds remain productive while using water responsibly.
