Multicriteria GIS-Based Approach to Locate Suitable Rainwater Harvesting Sites in Bhilwara City

The depletion and pollution of water resources due to urbanisation and climate change present significant challenges for urban communities. This study focuses on Bhilwara City in Rajasthan, which suffers from water scarcity worsened by water-intensive textile industries. The Study uses a Multicriteria GIS-based approach to locate suitable Rainwater Harvesting sites in Bhilwara for effective rainwater collection to mitigate water scarcity and promote sustainable urban water management. The study selects different factors for GIS suitability analysis to investigate the rainwater harvesting potential, select or eliminate sites based on their rainwater harvesting potential and identify the most suitable sites for Rainwater Harvesting in Bhilwara city of Rajasthan. This research provides valuable insights into the feasibility, benefits and site selection process for rainwater harvesting in Bhilwara City. The strategically proposed rainwater harvesting structures in the identified sites will have a better potential for rainwater collection and can support the water demand of the neighbourhood. The novelty of the present research lies in the factor selection process through rigorous literature required for selecting potential rainwater harvesting sites and eliminating the sites that cannot be used for rainwater harvesting. The study aims to improve the resilience and liveability of the city while ensuring the sustainable use of water resources.