The interactive Water Analysis Tool for Energy Resources (WATER) modeling system first released by U.S. Source: U.S. Argonne National LaboratoryArgonne National Laboratory in 2012 has been updated to improve sustainable water use in bioenergy development.

The initial pathway-based platform calculated the water footprint of a biofuel from the feedstock growing stage to the fuel production stage at the county, state and regional level. Model emphasis was on conventional corn grain, soybean and other basic U.S. feedstock options. A second version issued in 2014 encompassed bioenergy production pathways from perennial grasses, including switchgrass and miscanthus. The release of WATER 2015 included forest wood residue and short rotation woody crops.

The new WATER 4.0 version estimates the amount of water available in different U.S. regions at the county level, and estimates the freshwater available for non-bioenergy sectors such as agriculture, power, municipal and other industries — in addition to ecosystem services after bioenergy feedstock water demand is met.