Date of Award

3-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Systems Engineering and Management

First Advisor

Trevor Sleight, PhD

Abstract

The United States continues to face problems of a reduction in quality and quantity of groundwater sources because water extraction exceeds natural source recharge. The Air Force has recognized the importance of these groundwater sources but has put minimal effort into determining their contribution to the depletion of these sources. The purpose of this study is to determine this contribution by determining whether Air Force installations are net zero water. This is done using a geospatial information system to determine the volume of water recharging groundwater sources associated with an Air Force installation. This volume is then compared to the consumption of the Air Force installation to determine if their volume of recharge is greater than their consumption making the installation net zero water. From this study it was found that Air Force installations are likely to achieve being net zero water because of their low consumption to land area ratio and that installations at risk of not achieving net zero are those with a low recharge depth and installation area.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-ENV-MS-23-M-209

Comments

A 12-month embargo was observed.

Approved for public release: 88ABW-2023-0364

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