The quantification of temporal-specific environmental effects holds paramount significance in the context of quantitative sustainability assessments. Life cycle assessments (LCAs) have gained increasing acceptance and utility as an essential environmental management tool for evaluating various impact categories; however, water use data is lacking and, in some databases, nonexistent. The United States (U.S.) faces a critical challenge, with water consumption demands projected to increase by approximately 1% annually and estimated to surge by 25 to 40% by the year 2070. This escalating demand coincides with the intensification of global climate change, leading to more pronounced weather events such as extended dry seasons and frequent, high-intensity rainfall events. In the pursuit of enhanced sustainability in production and development within the U.S., it is imperative to accurately account for water consumption through the utilization of LCAs. However, the existing framework for assessing the impacts of water use heavily relies on static water scarcity determinations, which fail to capture the dynamic fluctuations occurring on a monthly and seasonal basis. Furthermore, these determinations are significantly influenced by the ongoing effects of climate change across the U.S. This study aims to comprehensively assess water availability across the 18 Hydrologic Unit Code regions, as defined by the United States Geological Survey. By employing Monte Carlo simulations, we consider both current and projected future availabilities, enabling a more realistic representation of water availability scenarios. This innovative approach facilitates the integration of dynamic water availability data into LCA databases, resulting in a significant improvement in the accuracy of environmental impact assessments.
