Integrating runoff map of a spatially distributed model and thematic layers for identifying potential rainwater harvesting suitability sites using GIS techniques

Abstract

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is one of the major techniques that is investigated in the present study using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) methods as two tools for decision-making, weighting and combining different thematic layers include land use, slope, drainage density and hydrological soil groups (HSG). The runoff map obtained by the distributed spatial-physical WetSpa model is considered as a useful layer that is integrated with other thematic layers in the geographic information system (GIS) environment for identifying RWH sites. Kakareza watershed (1132 km²) in Iran was selected as a study area to carry out the foregoing approach. The results showed that 256 km² of the study area is good for RWH, 360 km² is moderate and 516 km² is poor. Thus, about 22.61% (256 km²) of Kakareza watershed is highly suitable for farm ponds. This article recommends the RWH suitable sites to a judicious decision for better water management in the area.

Keywords:

• Kakareza watershed
• RWH
• WetSpa model
• GIS
• AHP
• WLC

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.