The electricity generation consumes around 8% of global water use. The water use for the electricity generation and transmission is defined as the water for energy or the water-energy nexus of the electricity sector. This study went through the literatures that are relevant to this topic from the following aspects: the quantification of the water consumption and withdrawal by various electricity generation types; the analysis of the mismatch between electricity generation/transmission and water resources; and other related environmental issues. This study concluded that: the cooling technologies would have significant influence on the water consumption and withdrawal for the electricity generation; there are tremendous spatial disparities of local water resources and electricity generation; comprehensive management of the water and energy is still lacking and urgently needed.