Geographic Information System Mapping Tool for Rainwater Harvesting in the United States
The Rainwater Harvesting Tool is a publicly available web-based geographic information system tool developed using geospatial analysis in combination with historic ZIP Code level monthly average precipitation and evapotranspiration data across the United States to help select potential locations for harvesting rainwater. Rainwater harvesting can provide a key source of alternative water for a variety of uses including landscape irrigation, vehicle wash, cooling tower makeup, dust suppression, and toilet flushing. Rainwater harvesting can help support institutional, commercial, and residential buildings in diversifying water sources and offset the use of freshwater. This tool aims to help organizations strategically target locations to implement rainwater harvesting systems. The metric used in the tool is called the rainwater harvesting potential, which is a normalized metric, measured in inches per year. The rainwater harvesting potential describes the amount of rainwater that can be reasonably collected and stored at a specific location. This metric was used to rank areas delineated by ZIP Codes across the US, from lowest to highest to show the relative availability of rainwater for harvesting. Two mapping layers are included in the tool that show the general rainwater harvesting potential for all applications and a layer that specifically shows the potential for harvesting rainwater to supply irrigation The Rainwater Harvesting Tool allows users to view overall trends across the United States, while also allowing the user to zoom in to a scale where ZIP Code boundaries are clearly delineated. The tool can be used to help organizations with buildings located in multiple regions to strategically identify where to install rainwater harvesting systems and prioritize locations that may be optimal for rainwater harvesting.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Federal Energy Management Program Office (FEMP)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 2407055
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA--184288
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, Journal Name: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 150; ISSN 0733-9496
- Publisher:
- American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Rainwater Harvesting State Regulations and Technical Resources
Rainwater Harvesting State Regulations and Technical Resources