Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Feasibility Assessment and Environmental Benefits of Developing Rainwater Retention Ponds Across Najran Valley

  • Research Article-Civil Engineering
  • Published:
Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Water resources in arid and semi-arid regions are constrained by several critical problems, including scarcity of water resources and extensive use of groundwater. Climate change and population growth will certainly result in a decline in water tables and degradation of groundwater quality. The purpose of this study is to create rainwater retention ponds in the Najran Valley located at the southern border of Saudi Arabia. Over the past decade, various researchers have reported a sharp decrease in the availability of water in the area. In addition to urban sprawl, excessive groundwater extraction is the primary cause of the decrease. Even though the valley receives a sufficient amount of rainfall throughout the year, there is no adequate rainwater management system in place. As a result of this combined water management issue, the authorities are seeking additional water storage options in addition to the Najran dam reservoir. To evaluate the flood characteristics of the region, an extensive GIS-based hydrological study is conducted. To estimate flood volumes, the critical flood-prone areas are identified and their catchments are calculated. To store rainwater generated by these catchments during rainfall events, a variety of suitable locations have been proposed for retention ponds. The construction of retention ponds would have numerous environmental benefits in addition to solving the problem of water scarcity. As a result of the study, the authorities will be able to implement a management strategy that maximizes the use of the region's water resources.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability Statement

The datasets generated and analyzed during the research are available with the corresponding author and can be furnished upon request.

Abbreviations

CN:

Curve number

DEM:

Digital elevation model

DTM:

Digital terrain model

DW:

Diffusion wave

IDF:

Water distribution network

IWRM:

Integrated water resources Mgmt.

KW:

Kinematic wave

SCS:

Soil conservation service

SRTM:

Shuttle radar topography mission

SWE:

Shallow water equations

d :

Water depth for SWE

f :

Coriolis parameter for SWE

h :

Water level for SWE

I a :

Initial abstraction

L :

Length of drainage basin (km)

P :

Accumulated depth of rainfall (mm)

q :

Source flow for SWE

R:

Depth of runoff (mm)

S :

Function of CN value (mm)

S B :

Slope of drainage basin (m/m)

S o :

Bed slope variation for SWE

T C :

Time of concentration (min.)

u, v :

Average velocities of flow

References

  1. UNHSP: Najran City Profile, Future Saudi Cities Program, Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and United Nations Human Settlements Program, ISBN: 978–603–8279–32–8 (2019)

  2. Alyami, S.H.; Alqahtany, A.; Ghanim, A.A.; Elkhrachy, I.; Alrawaf, T.I.; Jamil, R.; Aldossary, N.A.: Water resources depletion and its consequences on agricultural activities in Najran Valley. Sustainability 11, 122 (2022)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Al-Ghobari, H. M.: The effect of chemical application and excessive extraction of water resources on groundwater quality and environment in Saudi Arabia Najran Region as study case. In: Proceedings of International Conference of Water, Energy and Environment – ICWEE-‘2011, Sharjah, UAE, pp. 57–63 (2011)

  4. Ghanim, A.A.: Water resources crisis in Saudi Arabia, challenges and possible management options: an analytic review. Int. J. Environ. Ecol. Eng. 13(2), 51–56 (2019)

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  5. Youssef, A.M.; Sabtan, A.A.; Maerz, N.H.; Zabramawi, Y.A.: Earth fissures in Wadi Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Nat. Hazards 71(3), 2013–2027 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Zhong, Q.; Tong, D.; Crosson, C.; Zhang, Y.: A GIS-based approach to assessing the capacity of rainwater harvesting for addressing outdoor irrigation. Landsc. Urban Plan. 223, 104416 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Jamil, R.: Reduction in Fresh Water Consumption by Grey Water Reuse for Flushing and Irrigation: A Case Study of a Multistorey Hotel Building, Proceedings of the 1st Conference on Sustainability in Civil Engineering – CSCE’2019, Islamabad, Pakistan, pp. 294–300 (2019)

  8. Carollo, M.; Butera, I.; Revelli, R.: Water savings and urban storm water management: Evaluation of the potentiality of rainwater harvesting systems from the building to the city scale. PLoS ONE 17(11), e0278107 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Chaudhry, M. H.: Open-Channel Flow, ISBN: 978–3–030–96449–8 (2022)

  10. Néelz, S., Pender, G.: Desktop review of 2D hydraulic modelling packages, Science Report SC080035. Joint Defra/Environment Agency Flood and Coastal Erosion—Risk Management R&D Program. ISBN: 978–1–84911–079–2 (2009)

  11. Evans, E.P.; Wicks, J.M.; Whitlow, C.D.; Ramsbottom, D.M.: The evolution of a river modelling system. Proc. Inst. Civil Engineers Water Manage. 160(1), 3–13 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Leandro, J.; Chen, A.S.; Djordjević, S.; Savić, D.A.: Comparison of 1D/1D and 1D/2D coupled (sewer/surface) hydraulic models for urban flood simulation. J. Hydraul. Eng. 135(6), 495–504 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Aronica, G.T.; Lanza, L.G.: Drainage efficiency in urban areas: a case study. Hydrol. Process. 19(5), 1105–1119 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Seyoum, S.D.: Framework for Dynamic Modelling of Urban Floods at Different Topographical Resolutions. TU Delft University, CRC Press (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  15. USACE: Engineering and Design: River Hydraulics, US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Manual CECW-EH-Y 1110–2–1416 (1993)

  16. Staccione, A.; Broccoli, D.; Mazzoli, P.; Bagli, S.; Mysiak, J.: Natural water retention ponds for water management in agriculture: A potential scenario in Northern Italy. J. Environ. Manage. 292, 11249 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Birkinshaw, S.J.; Krivtsov, B.: Evaluating the effect of the location and design of retention ponds on flooding in a Peri-Urban River catchment. Land 11, 1368 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Acheampong, J.N.; Gyamfi, C.; Arthur, E.: Impacts of retention basins on downstream flood peak attenuation in the Odaw river basin, Ghana. J. Hydrol. Regional Stud. 47, 101364 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Ferk, M.; Ciglič, R.; Komac, B.; Lóczy, D.: Management of small retention ponds and their impact on flood hazard prevention in the Slovenske Gorice Hills. Acta Geogr. Slov. 60(1), 107–126 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Al-Hetari, M.; Haider, H.; Ghumman, A.R.; Al-Salamah, I.S.; Thabit, H.; Shafiquzzaman, M.: Development of a water quality management model for dry rivers in arid regions: application on Wadi Rumah, Saudi Arabia. Ecosyst. Sustain. 9, 0001 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. El Bastawesy, M.; Al Ghamdi, K.: Assessment and management of the flash floods in Al Qaseem Area, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Int. J. Water Resources Arid Environ. 2(3), 146–157 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Elkhrachy, I.: Flash flood hazard mapping using satellite images and GIS tools: a case study of Najran City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Egypt. J. Remote Sens. Space Sci. 18(2), 261–278 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  23. El Osta, M.; Niyazi, B.; Masoud, M.: Groundwater evolution and vulnerability in semi-arid regions using modeling and GIS tools for sustainable development: Case study of Wadi Fatimah,Saudi Arabia. Environ. Earth Sci. 81(9), 248 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Al-Homaidan, A.A.; Al-Otaibi, T.G.; El-Sheikh, M.A.; Al-Ghanayem, A.A.; Ameen, F.: Accumulation of heavy metals in a macrophyte Phragmites australis: Implications to phytoremediation in the Arabian Peninsula wadis. Environ. Monit. Assess. 192, 1–10 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Jamil, R.: GIS-based watershed analysis for water storage facilities in underdeveloped areas: case of a Gravity Hill in Saudi Arabia, Chapter 7, Handbook of Research on Driving Transformational Change in the Digital Built Environment, pp. 164–178 (2021)

  26. Cui, D.; Liang, S.; Waang, D.: Observed and projected changes in global climate zones based on Köppen climate classification. WIREs Clim. Change 12(3), e701 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. MEWA: The General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Environment Water and Agriculture, Saudi Arabia (2023)

  28. < https://www.mewa.gov.sa/en/InformationCenter/OpenData/Pages/Home.aspx >

  29. NEH: Hydrology, Section 4. United States Soil Conservation Service, University of Minnesota, National Engineering Handbook (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Gorr, W. L.; Kurland, K. S.: GIS Tutorial for ArcGIS Desktop 10.8, Environmental System Research Institute (ESRI), ISBN: 9781589486140 (2020)

  31. Kirpich, Z.P.: Time of concentration of small agricultural watersheds. Civ. Eng. 10(6), 362 (1940)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Wheater, H.; Al-Weshah, R.: Hydrology of Wadi Systems, IHP Regional Network on Wadi hydrology in the Arab Region. IHP-V UNESCO, Technical Documents in Hydrology, No. 55 (2002)

  33. El-Hames, A.S.; Al-Wagdany, A.S.: Reconstruction of flood characteristics in urbanized arid regions: case study of the flood of 25 November 2009 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Hydrol. Sci. J. 57(3), 507–516 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Hagras, M.A.; Elmoustafa, A.M.; Kotb, A.: Flood plain mitigation in arid regions case study: South of Al-Kharj city, Saudi Arabia. Int. J. Recent Res. Appl. Stud. 16, 147–157 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  35. MOC: General Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, Ministry of Communications, Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON) (1998)

  36. < https://www.modon.gov.sa/en/Systems/Pages/StandardsGuide.aspx >

  37. Garcia-Navarro, P.; Brufau, P.: Numerical methods for the shallow water equations: 2D approach, Chapter 20. In: River Basin Modeling for Flood Risk Mitigation, pp. 409–428 ISBN: 9781439824702 (2005)

  38. Garcia-Navarro, P.; Burguete, J, Numerical methods for the shallow water equations: 1D approach, Chapter 19. River Basin Modeling for Flood Risk Mitigation, pp. 387–408 ISBN: 9781439824702 (2005)

  39. USGS: United States Geological Survey Earth Explorer, < https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/ > (2023)

  40. Janke, B.D.; Finlay, J.C.; Taguchi, V.J.; Gulliver, J.S.: Hydrologic processes regulate nutrient retention in stormwater detention ponds. Sci. Total. Environ. 823, 153722 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Keyvanfar, A.; Shafaghat, A.; Ismail, N.; Mohamad, S.; Ahmad, H.: Multifunctional retention pond for stormwater management: A decision-support model using Analytical Network Process (ANP) and Global Sensitivity Analysis (GSA). Ecol. Ind. 124, 107317 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Valenca, R.; Garcia, L.; Espinosa, C.; Flor, D.; Mohanty, S.K.: Can water composition and weather factors predict fecal indicator bacteria removal in retention ponds in variable weather conditions? Sci. Total. Environ. 838(3), 156410 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Egemose, S.; Sønderup, M.J.; Grudinina, A.; Hansen, A.S.; Flindt, M.R.: Heavy metal composition in stormwater and retention in ponds dependent on pond age, design and catchment type. Environ. Technol. 36(8), 959–969 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Thiel, R.; Giroud, J.P.: Important considerations for leakage control of exposed geomembrane-lined ponds. In: Proceedings of the 13th International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, Santa Margherita di Pula, Cagliari, Italy, pp. 3–7 (2011)

  45. Dodd, J.C.: Elements of pond design and construction. Handbook of Microalgal Mass Culture, CRC Press, pp. 265–284, ISBN: 9780203712405 (2017)

  46. Hamer, A.J.; Smith, P.J.; McDonnell, M.J.: The importance of habitat design and aquatic connectivity in amphibian use of urban stormwater retention ponds. Urban Ecosystems 15, 451–471 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Kinas, H.; Sinnatamby, N.; Randall, L.; Jordan-McLachlan, S.: Operational beneficial management practices to support urban wetland biodiversity in the City of Calgary. https://rockies.ca/ (2023)

  48. Hill, M.J.; Greaves, H.M.; Sayer, C.D.; Hassall, C.; Milin, M.; Milner, V.S.; Marazzi, L.; Hall, R.; Harper, L.R.; Thornhill, I.; Walton, R.: Pond ecology and conservation: research priorities and knowledge gaps. Ecosphere 12(12), e03853 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the Ministry of Education and the Deanship of Scientific Research—Najran University—The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their financial and technical support under code number NU/DRP/SERC/12/52.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Najran University, 55461, Najran, Saudi Arabia

    Saleh H. Alyami & Abdulnoor A. Ghanim

  2. Department of Building Engineering, College of Architecture and Planning, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, 31441, Dammam, Saudi Arabia

    Rehan Jamil

Authors
  1. Saleh H. Alyami
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rehan Jamil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Abdulnoor A. Ghanim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rehan Jamil.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

There is no conflict of interest to declare.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Alyami, S.H., Jamil, R. & Ghanim, A.A. Feasibility Assessment and Environmental Benefits of Developing Rainwater Retention Ponds Across Najran Valley. Arab J Sci Eng (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-024-08916-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-024-08916-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation