catchment area / service area
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service area
The geographic area from which an institution such as a school, shop, or hospital draws its students, customers, or patients.
Das Einzugsgebiet der neuen Supermarktfiliale umfasst mehrere umliegende Dörfer.
The service area of the new supermarket branch includes several surrounding villages.
catchment area
In geography and hydrology, the area from which a water system receives all its inflow through precipitation.
Das Einzugsgebiet des Amazonas ist das größte der Welt.
The catchment area of the Amazon is the largest in the world.
The word consists of 'Einzug' (from 'einziehen', to move in / draw in) and 'Gebiet' (area). So it literally describes an area from which something is 'drawn in' or collected, whether customers or water.
Unsere Schule hat ein sehr großes Einzugsgebiet.
Our school has a very large catchment area.
You can easily recognize the meaning from the context. If the sentences talk about schools, shops, or doctors, the social or economic area is meant. If they are about rivers, lakes, or geography, the hydrological area is meant.
Diese Klinik versorgt Patienten aus einem Einzugsgebiet von über 100 Kilometern.
This clinic serves patients from a service area of over 100 kilometers.
In a social or economic context, the preposition 'in' is often used, or belonging is expressed with 'zu'. Typical phrases are 'im Einzugsgebiet liegen' (to be located in the service area) or 'zum Einzugsgebiet gehören' (to belong to the service area).
Alle Familien, die im Einzugsgebiet der Schule wohnen, erhalten einen Brief.
All families who live in the school's service area receive a letter.
The geographical meaning is used mainly in the technical language of hydrology, geography, and environmental science.
Forscher analysieren die Wasserqualität im gesamten Einzugsgebiet des Flusses.
Researchers are analyzing the water quality throughout the river's catchment area.
