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Rainwater harvesting refers to structures which catch rainwater and store it in underground or above-ground tanks for later use. Any suitable roof surface — tiles, metal sheets, plastics, but not grass or palm leaf — can be used to intercept the flow of rainwater and provide a household with high-quality drinking water. Rainwater harvesting systems have been used since antiquity, and examples abound in all the great civilizations throughout history.
[[Image:akkerman.jpg|thumb|centerright|300px|A women using her water storage tank in Guinnee-Bissau. Photo: Paul Akkerman]]
In many cases, groundwater or surface water may be unavailable for drinking water. The groundwater level may be too deep, groundwater may be contaminated with minerals and chemicals such as arsenic or salt, surface water may be contaminated with faeces or chemicals. In these cases, rainwater harvesting can be an effective and low-cost solution.