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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|right|300px|A women using her water storage tank in Guinnee-Bissau. Photo: Paul Akkerman]]