Catchment Area

A catchment area refers to the geographic region where water drains into a particular body of water, such as a river, lake, or reservoir. It includes all the land where rainfall collects and flows towards that water source. In broader terms, catchment areas can also describe regions that a service or facility, like a school or hospital, serves. For example, the catchment area for a school includes all the neighborhoods whose children are eligible to attend. Understanding catchment areas helps in resource management, urban planning, and assessing environmental impacts.