What is one method used in rainwater harvesting?

Rooftop catchment systems are a fundamental method used in rainwater harvesting. This technique involves collecting rainwater that falls on rooftops and directing it into storage tanks or cisterns for future use. The collected rainwater can be used for various purposes, such as irrigation, flushing toilets, and even potable water supply, provided it is appropriately filtered and treated.

This method is particularly effective because rooftops typically provide a clean surface area for water collection, minimizing contamination. Additionally, the design of rooftop catchment systems can be quite flexible, allowing them to be adapted to different building types and local climates. This versatility makes it a popular choice in both urban and rural settings where water scarcity may be an issue or where there is a need to reduce reliance on conventional water sources.

In contrast, while options like drip irrigation systems, wells and boreholes, and gravity-fed irrigation are important in the wider context of water management and conservation, they do not specifically address the collection of rainwater from roofs, which is the primary aim of rainwater harvesting.