Major problems and solutions on surface water resource utilisation in karst mountainous areas

•Surface leakage and low runoff coefficient cause water shortage in karst areas.•Increase the artificial catchment surface is the effective ways to solve the low runoff coefficient.•Lithologies differences cause surface water occurrence and cycle law varies considerably.•Differences of surface hydrogeological structures are the key to rainwater harvesting technology. Water shortage in karst mountainous areas is a difficult problem faced worldwide. Serious surface water leakage, which is a karst characteristic, has puzzled global scientists for a long time. Local climate and hydrology play important roles in water resources occurrence and behaviour, which in turn affects surface and groundwater management. The objectives of this study were as follows: to conduct in-depth analysis of the major problems in the current utilisation on the surface water resources in karst areas; to reveal the differences in surface hydrogeological structures that grew and formed under the control of different lithological characters, surface water occurrence conditions and its cyclical rules; to propose strategies for development and effective utilisation of water resources. A series of technologies for karst surface water resource use on the basis of karst hydrogeological features and development law is proposed. These technologies include gully section runoff confluence water harvesting technology, surface karst spring directional diversion technology, sunken geomorphology ecotype cistern design technology, road rainwater-harvesting and effective utilisation technology, effective comprehensive and utilisation of rooftop rainwater harvesting technology and other surface water resource optimal allocation technologies. Thus, this study offers research-driven technological solutions to ease water shortage, facilitate modern agriculture and regional economic development in karst mountainous areas.