A Preliminary Assessment of Community Knowledge and River Hydraulic Characteristics in Supporting Rainwater Harvesting Systems for Flood Mitigation

HRMARS - Economic development inevitably leads to the construction of buildings and infrastructure, which can have negative impacts on the environment and give rise to natural disasters. Major floods are critical calamities capable of crippling a nation's economy and causing loss of life. Through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK-12), Rainwater Harvesting Systems (RWHS) have been introduced as an alternative measure to address flood risks. However, this approach remains less effective due to limited community understanding of the system's implementation and benefits. Therefore, this study examines community knowledge regarding RWHS implementation and its influence on flood occurrence. A quantitative method was employed through questionnaire surveys of the Kampung Gudon community, alongside hydraulic analysis of the Gudon River. Findings indicate that community knowledge of RWHS effectiveness in reducing floods increases with educational level, although RWHS adoption among residents remains low. Hydraulic analysis reveals significant variation in depth, flow velocity, and discharge rate, whereby deeper and wider river sections function as hydraulic buffer zones, while shallower and narrower sections produce higher velocities and discharge. These findings demonstrate that an integrated approach combining community acceptance of RWHS with an understanding of river hydraulic characteristics is essential for more effective flood risk mitigation. While RWHS has potential as an alternative flood reduction measure, further research is still needed given its current application is typically limited to a small scale. Awareness campaigns should be continued to ensure communities better understand the benefits and importance of adopting RWHS at their residences.