Water that evaporates ‘leaves’ the system and can no longer circulate in it. One should rather try the opposite and capture air moisture, such as dew where possible. Another process is the management of water quality – to make sure that water can move from one use to another, even as water quality changes along the chain of uses.
[[Image:Kenya and 3R.png|thumb|none|400px|Source: [http://www.nwp.nl/_docs/Smart-solutions-3R.spread.pdf 3R Smart Solutions]]]
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===Major 3R benefits===
'''There are three important arguments in support of 3R:'''
'''1. Climate change adaptation'''<br>
Changes in rainfall may influence the livelihood of people and their economy. Water storage plays a deciding factor in the ability to adapt to climate change. Water storage is a key component in bridging momentary gaps between demand and availability of water. Many advantages are to be found in making use of the buffer function of groundwater, surface water and storage systems. These systems have the ability to offer people sufficient access to drinking water and provide water for cattle, agricultural purposes and other productive purposes. Access to water also benefits the environment and the wider ecosystem. Storage of water allows for secure levels of reserves that can be used in times of need.
'''2. Recirculation in the water chain'''<br>
Water management is often limited to the paradigm of water resource allocation, availability and efficiency. It often fails to take into consideration the buffer capacity, water circulation or the re-use of buffered water. 3R can substantially contribute to increasing the quantity and quality of water resources. The use and reuse of buffered water allows for the increased availability of water, as it circumvents water allocation conflicts through simply using and re-circulating the water.
'''3. Green water management'''<br>
Buffering water in groundwater results in improved soil moisture and increases the availability of shallow groundwater. This way of buffering makes an important
contribution to ‘green water management’. Green water management is the management of soil moisture based on improved tillage, mulching, physiochemical
and biological processes. By infiltrating water into the soil, 3R contributes to green water management in a way that leaves a positive footprint on both ecosystems and agricultural production.
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[[File:3R diagram.png|thumb|none|500px|Different ways to use water, 3R. Graphic: [http://bebuffered.com/ bebuffered.com]]]
[[File:3R methods.png|thumb|none|500px|Specific 3R methods. Graphic: [http://bebuffered.com/ bebuffered.com]]]
* [http://www.indiawaterportal.org/articles/water-quality-study-and-cost-benefit-analysis-rainwater-harvesting-kuttanad-kerala Water quality study and cost-benefit analysis of rainwater harvesting in Kuttanad, Kerala.] India Water Portal.
===Other field experiences===
The following projects utilize 3R in some way.
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[[Image:project 394.png |thumb|center|140px|<font size="2"><center>[http://rsr.akvo.org/project/394/ RSR Project 394]<br>Ethiopia - Introducing 3R in impact area of DWA</center></font>|link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/394/]]
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[[Image:project 572.png |thumb|center|140px|<font size="2"><center>[http://rsr.akvo.org/project/572/ RSR Project 572]<br>Kenya - Introducing 3R in impact areas of DWA</center></font>|link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/572/]]
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[[Image:project 367.png |thumb|center|140px|<font size="2"><center>[http://rsr.akvo.org/project/367/ RSR Project 367]<br>SWASH in Birendranagar, Surkhet</center></font>|link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/367/]]
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|[[Image:akvorsr logo_lite.png|center|60px|link=http://akvo.org/products/rsr/]]<br>
[[Image:project 439.jpg |thumb|center|140px|<font size="2"><center>[http://rsr.akvo.org/project/439/ RSR Project 439]<br>Wetland Management & Water Harvesting</center></font>|link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/439/]]
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{|style="background-color: #efefef;"
|<font size="3">Read more about the different methods of 3R: [http://bebuffered.com/3rbook.htm Profit from Storage - The cost and benefits of water buffering].</font><br><font size="3">Also this: [http://www.nwp.nl/_docs/Smart-solutions-3R.spread.pdf 3R Smart Solutions].</font>
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