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Rainwater, Snow and Fog

Rainwater, snow and fog constitute significant sources of atmospheric water that could augment groundwater resources, particularly in arid areas where groudnwater is scarce. Rainwater harvesting systems can provide water at or near the point where water is needed or used. The systems can be both owner and utility operated and managed.

Rainwater collected using existing structures (i.e., rooftops, parking lots, playgrounds, parks, ponds, flood plains, etc.), has few negative environmental impacts compared to other technologies for water resources development. Rainwater is relatively clean and the quality is usually acceptable for many purposes with little or even no treatment. The physical and chemical properties of rainwater are usually superior to sources of groundwater that may have been subjected to contamination.

UNEP-IETC: Framework for the Inclusion of Rainwater Harvesting in National Water Legislation in Sub-Saharan Africa (Online document)
There are lots of often isolated experiences in the practice of domestic Rainwater Harvesting everywhere, but a major framework for legal and policy issues, and thus for the mainstreaming and integration of Rainwater Harvesting in public water supply is still missing. Until now, the perception of the impacts of the water sector organisation on the spread of drwh is weak and there is little experience in legal matters.
http://www.unep.or.jp/ietc/Focus/RWH1.asp

UNEP-IETC: Rainwater Harvesting and Utilization (Guide)
Among the various alternative technologies to augment freshwater resources, rainwater harvesting and utilisation is a decentralised, environmentally sound solution, which can avoid many environmental problems often caused in conventional large-scale projects using centralised approaches.
http://www.unep.or.jp/ietc/publications/urban/urbanenv-2/index.asp

UEMRI: Rainwater Harvesting (Thematic pages)
Rainwater harvesting is a technology used for collecting and storing rainwater from rooftops, the land surface or rock catchments using simple techniques such as jars and pots as well as more complex techniques such as underground check dams.
http://www.gdrc.org/uem/water/rainwater/index.html