Rainwater harvesting in Salfit, Palestine

In Salfit, a city in the West Bank, water security is shaped by a paradox. Despite receiving relatively high annual rainfall compared to other parts of the West Bank, nearly 60 per cent of Salfit’s drinking water is imported. This dependency makes the local water system vulnerable to supply disruptions, climate variability and increasing pressure on shared water resources.

World Waternet examined this challenge in a white paper that explores how rainwater harvesting can strengthen water independence in Salfit while remaining technically and economically viable. The research was cofunded Rby the NWB Fund. Rather than presenting rainwater harvesting as a universal solution, the paper focuses on the conditions under which rainwater harvesting systems can effectively complement existing water services.

From September 2024 to August 2025, World Waternet and its partners tested three rainwater harvesting system types tailored to Salfit’s landscape, economy, rainfall patterns and local construction capacity. The pilot covers households, agriculture and schools. A 30 m³ underground well supports a woman managing crops and livestock, improving water reliability during dry months. A 110 m³ agricultural pool helps greenhouse farmers buffer irrigation demand, while school systems reduce water consumption and connect water security and the water cycle to everyday learning.

Beyond technical performance, the pilot placed people at the centre. Through household visits, farmer workshops and school engagement, the project confirmed that rainwater harvesting is most effective when introduced as a complementary water source aligned with local needs and user acceptance.

We strongly encourage you to read the full report: https://vist.ly/4nb2k 

Want to know more? Contact Pepijn van Loon, project manager at World Waternet (pepijn.van.loon@waternet.nl)

Comment by Basema M. Bashir: " This post highlights an important paradox, but the lived reality goes deeper. In places like Salfit, rain is not the missing resource. Control is. After three decades working in Palestinian water systems, I have seen how dependence on imported water turns even “water-rich” areas into fragile ones, especially as climate variability increases. What makes this pilot credible is not only the volumes stored, but the way it reconnects people to water through systems that fit local knowledge, livelihoods, and dignity. Rainwater harvesting here is not a technical fix. It is a resilience practice that reduces exposure to political and climatic shocks. Still, it should be clear: complementary solutions can strengthen resilience, but they cannot replace the need for water justice and real local control over resources. Thank you for your work and for supporting Palestinian communities." [source: Linked-In]