 The way land is currently used increases flood risk and soil erosion and causes water scarcity among other problems. A proposed solution to tackle these negative effects is to make use of rainfall in an easy three-step process. Collect it, store it and use it either immediately or later when water is scarce. This three-step technology is known as rainwater harvesting and has been an integral part of human settlements and farming for thousands of years. The collection of rainwater in rural and urban areas can be done through different elements. Ponds or swales, permeable streets, reels and channels, rock and sand catchments and rooftops, among others. Once rainfall is collected, it can be stored directly where it falls, the soil. The main advantage is its low cost and the easiness of pollutant removal. The main disadvantage are the evaporation losses. Collected rainfall can also be stored externally in tanks, which can be located outside or underground. The main materials for the construction of these tanks are concrete, steel and plastic. Usage of tanks helps to reduce the overall need for underground water. However, they have a higher initial cost than swales or ponds. By implementing these capturing and storing methods, cities help to reduce the demand for water from rural areas. Thus, rural areas can focus on increasing the efficiency of their internal water usage. One key method to do this are key lines. Key lines are a rainwater harvesting method that makes use of natural topography of the land to improve soil fertility. This system stores water directly in the soil, thus reducing overall runoff and soil erosion by building up aquifers. Water collected and stored in cities and rural areas can be used immediately or later for crop irrigation, increased water access for livestock and or domestic purposes such as flushing toilets, showering, doing laundry and in certain cases as drinking water. The challenges of scaling up and broadening the use of rainwater harvesting systems can be tackled with four tools. Inclusion of rainfall as part of water management plans. Provision of subsidies to help lower the system's initial cost. Positive synergies between governments and local communities. And education as a powerful tool to create awareness. If applied, this three-step technology – collection, storage and usage – may benefit rural and urban communities. As a decentralized system that embeds local knowledge, skills, materials and equipment, rainwater harvesting implementation empowers households and communities. It provides users with the direct management of the systems, but most importantly increases the amount of accessible water.