Rainwater harvesting systems and flood water management in rural areas: A systematic review
In a climate marked by prolonged drought, observed mainly in arid and semi-arid areas, the installation of hydraulic systems for rainwater collection and storage in rural and isolated areas is becoming a necessity to preserve livestock and ensure water security for the local popula-tion. For this purpose, this review synthesizes recent studies on the various hydraulic systems used for rainwater harvesting (RWH) in rural areas to support agriculture, livestock, and households. This review examines 66 relevant studies published in journals indexed in ScienceDirect and Scopus over a period of five years (January 2021 – December 2025). It emphasizes the importance of design based on the specific characteristics of each location or country, the criteria for selecting implementation sites, the impact of RWH systems on agricul-ture, livestock, and rural households, existing challenges, and proposes some guidelines for sustainable rainwater management and flood reduction.
