The collection of rainwater from a catchment area which is usually the roof of a house, distributed through a piping system and finally stored for future use is typically known as rainwater harvesting.
The accumulated rainwater can be repurposed as an alternative source for safe drinking water, cooking and dishwashing purposes etc.
One of the most practical solutions for providing water in the coastal areas of Bangladesh is rainwater harvesting.
It is also a potential solution for supplying water to areas where arsenic contamination exists.
Groundwater salinity is prevalent because of the long-term use of groundwater which is depleting over time. According to the ADB report 2011, salinity level in Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira district has drastically increased in the recent years. In such cases rainwater harvesting is a viable solution.
Challenges such as groundwater depletion, soaring population, climate change, pressure on available surface water sources etc. will be responsible for future insufficiencies of water which can be prevented by the application of rainwater harvesting as rainwater is abundant in the monsoon season.
Hence, in areas where water sources are insufficient or contaminated, rainwater harvesting holds a major importance owing to the fact that rainfall is plentiful in Bangladesh.