Perception of coastal citizens on the prospect of community-based rainwater harvesting system for sustainable water resource management

•Natural disasters, financial constraints, and lack of technical expertise were the barriers to CBRWHS adoption.•Provision of technical instructions, data transparency, and motivation of individuals were identified as crucial factors for ameliorating CBRWHS adoption.•Institutional engagement and collaboration among organizations were perceived as important for RWHS adoption.•Local residents expressed concerns about poor quality of supplied water, frequent water scarcity, and high prices.•Regulations mandating RWHS installation in new and existing buildings were deemed significant for widespread adoption.