Comprehensive water resources management through geographic information systems

Abstract

As water and wastewater utilities take on greater responsibility for managing water resources, the tools required to manage them have become increasingly sophisticated and comprehensive. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have taken a central role in analyzing, modeling, and managing a wide range of water resource information. This data ranges from water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure, to surface and groundwater quality and flow, to constructed and natural wetlands, to regional water balances. Clayton County Water Authority (CCWA) manages Clayton County’s water resources using a GIS that includes a comprehensive network of features describing the flow path from intake to discharge. This paper will provide a comprehensive GIS virtual tour through Clayton County’s water cycle and detail how CCWA is using GIS to manage and protect its water resources.