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<p>Water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions is intensifying because of climate variability, increasing water demand, and unsustainable groundwater abstraction, highlighting the need for effective rainwater harvesting (RWH) planning. This study developed an Innovative Conceptual Framework (ICF) that integrates the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), and Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) to identify suitable RWH sites in the Potohar Plateau, Pakistan. The framework combines seven climatic, hydrological, topographic, and land-use criteria within a weighted spatial analysis and validates the results through field investigations, spatial comparison with existing RWH structures, and a household survey. The suitability assessment revealed that 5.9% of the study area is optimally suitable, 21.6% is moderately suitable, 51.6% is marginally suitable, and 20.9% is unsuitable for RWH implementation. Annual rainfall ranged from 504 to 1266&#xa0;mm, indicating considerable potential for rainwater harvesting. The AHP weighting process achieved an acceptable consistency ratio (CR = 0.08), demonstrating the reliability of expert-derived criterion weights. Validation showed that 75% of existing RWH structures are located within moderately suitable or optimal zones, while 82% of surveyed households expressed willingness to support future RWH implementation. The proposed ICF provides a robust, climate-responsive, and transferable decision-support framework for identifying priority RWH locations in arid regions and can support policymakers in improving water security, reducing groundwater dependence, and guiding sustainable watershed planning.</p>

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An Innovative conceptual framework to identify the potential sites for rainwater harvesting in arid regions

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年8月3日

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  • Muhammad Shahid,
  • Muhammad Waseem,
  • Khalil Ur Rahman,
  • Sajjad Haider,
  • Hamza Farooq Gabriel

摘要

Water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions is intensifying because of climate variability, increasing water demand, and unsustainable groundwater abstraction, highlighting the need for effective rainwater harvesting (RWH) planning. This study developed an Innovative Conceptual Framework (ICF) that integrates the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), and Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) to identify suitable RWH sites in the Potohar Plateau, Pakistan. The framework combines seven climatic, hydrological, topographic, and land-use criteria within a weighted spatial analysis and validates the results through field investigations, spatial comparison with existing RWH structures, and a household survey. The suitability assessment revealed that 5.9% of the study area is optimally suitable, 21.6% is moderately suitable, 51.6% is marginally suitable, and 20.9% is unsuitable for RWH implementation. Annual rainfall ranged from 504 to 1266 mm, indicating considerable potential for rainwater harvesting. The AHP weighting process achieved an acceptable consistency ratio (CR = 0.08), demonstrating the reliability of expert-derived criterion weights. Validation showed that 75% of existing RWH structures are located within moderately suitable or optimal zones, while 82% of surveyed households expressed willingness to support future RWH implementation. The proposed ICF provides a robust, climate-responsive, and transferable decision-support framework for identifying priority RWH locations in arid regions and can support policymakers in improving water security, reducing groundwater dependence, and guiding sustainable watershed planning.