CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF SUITABLE SITES FOR RAINWATER HARVESTING IN THE MIDDLE EAST FOR AGRICULTURE USE: A REVIEW STUDY

In arid and semi-arid regions, rainwater harvesting represents an important alternate source of water supply around the globe. The middle east is an integrally dry zone and due to climate change, it has experienced a severe drought for the last decade that made the situation worse. Many countries are suffering from awful water crises due to increasing water demand for agriculture and rapid urbanization. Therefore, unconventional water supply resources practices such as using rainwater harvesting for agricultural purposes can be possibly used to tackle water scarcity. Numerous researchers have established different criteria and methods to identify suitable sites selection techniques for rainwater harvesting (RWH). The main objective of this study was to determine the most commonly effective methods and techniques that have been practiced in the middle-east region to summarize the best methods for rainwater harvesting site selection. These effective common methods of multi-criteria analysis (MCA) were discussed accordingly in this review paper and based on the previous studies the best applicable method was the integration between (MCA) method and the GIS technique. The study employed a method of gathering and recording the main criteria and techniques which were established in the last thirty years. It compared and categorized the main methodologies from previous studies and practices from international organizations and scientific research and identified the most common characteristics and sets of criteria suitable for use in arid and semi-arid regions. The techniques were diverse based on biophysical criteria to methods including socio-economic criteria, precisely in the last two decades. The most effective and significant criteria for suitable site selection of RWH in the arid and semi-arid regions found are: land use/land cover, slope, type of soil, rainfall intensity, streams distant and the cost. The success of RWH selection sites tended to increase when these criteria are measured and based on these criteria. KEYWORDS: RWH Selection Suitability, Arid and semi-arid zones, Middle East, Agriculture, GIS, Multi-criteria analysis.