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Publications— Open-File Report |
By Marla H. Stuckey
View the report in Portable Document Format (PDF) OFR 2008-1106 (155 KB)
The Water Resources Planning Act, Act 220 of 2002, requires the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PaDEP) to update the State
Water Plan by 2008. As part of this update, a water-analysis screening tool (WAST) was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with
the PaDEP, to provide assistance to the state in the identification of critical water-planning areas. The WAST has two primary inputs: net
withdrawals and the initial screening criteria. A comprehensive water-use database that includes data from registration, estimation, discharge
monitoring reports, mining data, and other sources was developed as input into the WAST. Water use in the following categories was estimated
using water-use factors: residential, industrial, commercial, agriculture, and golf courses. A percentage of the 7-day, 10-year low flow is
used for the initial screenings using the WAST to identify potential critical water-planning areas. This quantity, or initial screening criteria,
is 50 percent of the 7-day, 10-year low flow for most streams. Using a basic water-balance equation, a screening indicator is calculated that
indicates the potential influences of net withdrawals on aquatic-resource uses for watersheds generally larger than 15 square miles. Points
representing outlets of these watersheds are colored-coded within the WAST to show the screening criteria for each watershed.
Abstract
Introduction
Development of the Water-Analysis Screening Tool
Inventory of Water-Use Data
Estimated Unregistered Water-Use Data
Residential
Non-Residential
Irrigation
Livestock
Golf Courses
Consumptive Use
Initial Screening Criteria
Water-Analysis Screening Tool
Assumptions
Limitations and Accuracy
Summary
References Cited
Suggested citation:
Stuckey, M.H., 2008, Development of the Water-Analysis Screening Tool used in the initial screening for the Pennsylvania State Water Plan
update of 2008: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1106, 9 p.
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