Identifying Suitable Locations for Small Dam Construction and Rainwater Harvesting in Khanaqin District Center
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14500/kujhss.v9n1y2026.pp94-103Keywords:
Rainwater harvesting (RWH), Small dams, Dry and semi-arid regions, Water resource management, Climate changeAbstract
Facing the impacts of global climate change, the Khanqin District Center—like many other regions in Iraq—has encountered the problem of diminishing water resources. This issue directly affects citizens' daily lives and local agriculture. Due to the construction of large dams on the Tigris River and the effects of climate change, this area has faced a water crisis. This research was conducted as an important factor for determining suitable locations for rainwater harvesting and the construction of small dams in the center of Khanaqin district. In this study, the Multi-Criteria Analysis) methodology, along with GIS and RS techniques and Model Builder in ArcGIS 10.8 for Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) site selection was used, which consisted of four steps: selection of suitable criteria, appropriate classification for each criterion, spatial analysis for creating suitability maps, and site identification. Five main factors, including slope, groundwater depth, land use, soil composition, and watershed drainage, were used as evaluation criteria. The results showed that the southern areas and parts of the central and northwestern areas of Khanaqin district center are the most suitable locations for constructing small dams. Three specific points have been identified in these areas, namely points (14, 16, 22), which can collect a suitable amount of rainwater and help solve the water shortage problem in the region. This research is an effective and necessary tool for regional planners for managing water resources in arid and semi-arid regions such as Khanaqin.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Diyar J. Jaafar, Saryaz S. Hussein, Frmesk R. Abdollah
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