Potential Water Harvesting Sites Selection Using Spatial Multi-Criteria Modeling in Wadi Al Mujib Basin in Southern Jordan

Abstract

This study aims to select potential sites for water harvesting by using Spatial MultiCriteria modeling in the Wadi Al-Mujib basin as this method is one of the most suitable methods applied in arid and semi-arid areas to take advantage of rainwater. The significance of the study is to identify the best sites of pits and dams suitable for collecting rainwater in the Wadi Mujib basin through developing a spatial model based on the technology of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS). In analyzing and identifying the best suitable sites in the Wadi Mujib basin, this paper uses an integrated methodology based on descriptive data such as mapping data for natural and human resources in the basin, aiming to produce digital maps needed for spatial analysis and to construct a spatial model for the optimal positioning for water harvesting projects. The research concludes by identifying the appropriate sites for water harvesting projects. The appropriateness has been divided into four levels (very appropriate (4.92%), appropriate (17.26%), moderately appropriate (32.64%), inappropriate (45.18%)), where the number of proposed dams, (2) dams can be built on an area of 183.58 km², and the establishment of (10) pits with an area of 192.57 km² of the area of the total Basin. The study recommends the need to build water basin management strategies in arid areas based on the development of land and water management in the basin by having a conscious plan for the integrated management of water resources in the Wadi Mujib basin which meets the requirements of sustainable development. Keywords: Water Harvesting, Multi-Standard Spatial Modeling, Geographic Information Systems, Wadi Mujib Basin.