What is rainwater harvesting?

Concept

Rainwater harvesting is a water-conservation practice in which precipitation is captured from a catchment before it is lost as runoff.

The captured water is stored for later use or directed into the ground to recharge an aquifer.

Application

The phrase “collection and storage of rainwater” contains the two defining actions: capturing rainfall and retaining it for use or recharge.

Contrast

• “Collection and storage of used water” concerns wastewater reuse, because the water has already been used.

• “Distribution of water” concerns supplying or conveying water, not capturing rainfall.

• “None of the above” does not apply because the standard definition is present among the choices.

Cross-check

The Central Ground Water Board defines rainwater harvesting as the collection and storage of rainwater at the surface or in subsurface aquifers before it is lost as runoff. This matches collection and storage of rainwater.

Therefore, rainwater harvesting is the collection and storage of rainwater.