Identifying Potential Sites for Rainwater Harvesting Structures in Ghazi Tehsil, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, Using Geospatial Approach

Rainwater harvesting is an important step towards maximizing the water availability and land productivity in arid semi-arid areas. The present study shows that area of Ghazi Tehsil within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan, has great potential for rainwater due to its feasible climatic topographic conditions. This 348 km2 normally receives high rainfall annually, but, hilly terrain, bulk lost runoff process. In order enhance agricultural output such a large area, practice sustainable decisive approach. However, selection appropriate sites on scale presents critical challenge. areas, geospatial technology proved very identification sites. this study, we have used HEC-GeoHMS tool (ArcGIS 9.3) compute curve number represent effects against hydrological soil group landcover. Subsequently, was as input parameter conservation service runoff-curve (SCS-CN) method estimate surface different combinations landcover groups. It observed higher mountainous areas relatively low plain Finally, identify harvesting, weighted overlay analysis-based related thematic map layers were further reclassified, weights assigned according technical guidelines suggested international standards under consideration area’s topographic, hydrological, factors. As result, about 20% found suitable, 52% less 29% not suitable. Furthermore, relative suitability results suitable storage structures. These show 10% farm ponds, 5.74% check dams, 21.5% Nigarims, 8.9% be gully plugs. comparison our GIS-derived field-based spatially affirms analyzed agreeably overlaid context spatial plugs, Nigarims.