Combination bar and line graph showing trends in U. S. population growth and withdrawals of fresh groundwater from 1950 to 2000. The population of the United States is approximately 150 million in 1950, approximately 180 million in 1960, approximately 205 million in 1970, approximately 230 million in 1980, approximately 252 million in 1990, and approximately 285 million in 2000. Between 1950 and 1980, withdrawals of fresh groundwater increased steadily from approximately 34 billion gallons per day in 1950 to approximately 83 billion gallons per day in 1980. This figure fell to approximately 73.2 billion gallons per day in 1985, then rose to approximately 79.4 billion gallons per day in 1990, then fell to approximately 76.4 billion gallons per day in 1995, then rose to approximately 83.3 billion gallons per day in 2000. Which of the following is a conclusion you could draw from the graph? From 1950 to 2000, groundwater withdrawal increased steadily. As population increases, groundwater withdrawals decrease. Fluctuations in groundwater withdrawals are not in response to increases in population growth. Increased population demands increase groundwater withdrawals every year regardless of precipitation.