Rainwater harvesting (RWH) has been practised over many decades for various purposes, including domestic use. The practice contributes largely to sustainable development in terms of providing ‘free’ water to many people. This study assessed the primary uses and benefits of rainwater to rural residents by conducting a questionnaire survey of 48 households actively practising RWH. Samples of the rainwater were also tested in the laboratory to examine the quality and potential health risks. The results show that rainwater was used for potable and non-potable purposes by the locals particularly in the rainy season. Bathing accounted for the most use (53%), while the potable use was just 7%. The majority of users (73%) reported a positive impact of the practice on their lives, and the reliability of rainwater was highly ranked. The physicochemical properties of rainwater were good, but the study highlights the need for better management of the technology to ensure optimal quality. Overall, the findings provide substantial evidence on the benefits of harvesting rainwater and recommend greater use of rainwater, especially in areas with no or limited access to a public water supply.

雨水收集（RWH）已用于多种用途，包括家庭使用。这种做法在向许多人提供“免费”水方面，极大地促进了可持续发展。这项研究通过对48个积极从事RWH的家庭进行问卷调查，评估了雨水对农村居民的主要用途和收益。还在实验室中测试了雨水样品，以检查其质量和潜在的健康风险。结果表明，雨水被当地人用于饮用水和非饮用水目的，尤其是在雨季。沐浴占最大的使用量（53％），而可饮用水的使用仅为7％。大多数用户（73％）报告说，这种做法对他们的生活产生了积极影响，并且雨水的可靠性受到高度评价。雨水的理化特性良好，但研究强调需要对技术进行更好的管理以确保最佳质量。总体而言，调查结果为收集雨水带来的好处提供了大量证据，并建议更多地使用雨水，尤其是在没有公共供水或公共供水有限的地区。