Since 1996, the Italian NGO Progetto Mondialita has been implementing an Alternative Loan Program using a Revolving Fund system for the construction of home water tanks in the semiarid region of Paraiba state. The Program's goal is to increase capacity for catchment and storage of drinking water in peasant communities. Home water tank construction is being developed as these tanks represent the most appropriate reservoirs for drinking water storage in the region. So far, almost 200 home water tanks have been built, an average of more than 50 per year, with an initial investment of about $12,000. The Program is an initial incentive, revolving fund investment, providing financial assistance adequate to support the first steps of building home water tanks. The people from the community organize work parties to build their own cisterns. At the same time, they start to pay off the costs of the water tanks in small monthly payments. Once the initial investment starts dripping back into the fund through these monthly payments, other communities start to make their own construction plans. Beyond providing water tanks, the project also gives employment to a technical assistant for every 25 water tanks per year built, and turns into a tool for professional training within the communities. After four years of activities, the Revolving Funds have proven to be self-sufficient, and could be easily implemented in other communities across the semiarid zones of Brazil. 

The issue of water conservation and management is going to be a priority for the future, not just in the semi-arid areas of the world. Finding ways to enable people to catch and store the water they need near their homes will be one of the main challenges for National and International Policies. Small scale simple projects, like the one presented in this case study, do exist and work in many countries of the world. Adapted, cheap technologies have been developed in many different environments, and have been implemented successfully. Although these projects have improved the quality of life of the peasant communities, they should not be isolated from the general context of rural sustainable development as they represent an important tool for strenghtening the linkage between the farmers and their land. 

Conserve Resources

Catching and storing water from the houses' rooftop makes use of water that would be otherwise lost and reduces the use of water from other sources (e.g. groundwater).

Adjust to Local Environments

Building home water tanks represents an important adjustment of the rural households system to their environment by increasing the water reservoir available for human and animal consumption.

Empower People

By having their own home water tanks near their houses peasants are able to manage and control water resources at a local scale. The Revolving Fund mechanism facilitates a rapid scaling-up process from the household to the regional level by multiplying the number of peasants involved in the project.

Maximize Long-Term Benefits

Home water tanks represent long-term investments that improve quality of life for peasants families, increase the value of the households, and are passed down through multiple generations.

Value Health

By enhancing the quality of the water consumed by the population, the home water tanks are proven to improve the health of rural populations.