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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.
Different catchment types are used, such as roof catchment, paved surface catchment, surface catchment and riverbed catchment. Water can be stored during the wet season using one of several methods, eg. an [[underground tank]], [[wire-cement tank]], sand dam or [[plastic-lined tank]], until the water is needed in the dry season.
==History and social context==
Rainwater falls on your own roof, and is almost always of excellent quality. It enables people to manage their own water supply and provides the luxury of “water without walking”, relieving the burden of water carrying, particularly for women and children. This convenience is available at every house on which rain falls, whether on a mountain top or an island in a salt sea.
==Suitable conditions ==
