In schools where water supply is either unavailable or insufficient, rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems may be a low-cost solution. We piloted large-scale RWH systems in rural primary schools in Nyanza Province, Kenya to investigate the sustainability of these systems several years post-implementation. This paper discusses the main findings of our pilot and, to our knowledge, is the only published study on school RWH performance in a low-income setting.

Adams, J., Bartram, J., Chartier, Y. and Sims, J. (2009) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Standards for Schools in Low-cost Settings, Geneva: World Health Organization.

Freeman, M., Greene, L.E., Dreibelbis, R., Saboori, S., Muga, R., Brumback, B. and Rheingans, R. (2011) ‘Assessing the impact of a school-based water treatment, hygiene and sanitation programme on pupil absence in Nyanza Province, Kenya: a cluster-randomized trial’, Tropical Medicine and International Health 17, 380–91 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3156.2011.02927.x≯.

Skinner, J. (2009) Where Every Drop Counts: Tackling Africa's Water Crisis, London: International Institute for Environment and Development.

UNICEF (2010) Raising Clean Hands: Advancing Learning, Health, and Participation through WASH in Schools, New York: UNICEF.

Adams, J., Bartram, J., Chartier, Y. and Sims, J. (2009) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Standards for Schools in Low-cost Settings, Geneva: World Health Organization.

Freeman, M., Greene, L.E., Dreibelbis, R., Saboori, S., Muga, R., Brumback, B. and Rheingans, R. (2011) ‘Assessing the impact of a school-based water treatment, hygiene and sanitation programme on pupil absence in Nyanza Province, Kenya: a cluster-randomized trial’, Tropical Medicine and International Health 17, 380–91 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3156.2011.02927.x≯.

Skinner, J. (2009) Where Every Drop Counts: Tackling Africa's Water Crisis, London: International Institute for Environment and Development.

UNICEF (2010) Raising Clean Hands: Advancing Learning, Health, and Participation through WASH in Schools, New York: UNICEF.

Adams, J., Bartram, J., Chartier, Y. and Sims, J. (2009) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Standards for Schools in Low-cost Settings, Geneva: World Health Organization.

Freeman, M., Greene, L.E., Dreibelbis, R., Saboori, S., Muga, R., Brumback, B. and Rheingans, R. (2011) ‘Assessing the impact of a school-based water treatment, hygiene and sanitation programme on pupil absence in Nyanza Province, Kenya: a cluster-randomized trial’, Tropical Medicine and International Health 17, 380–91 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3156.2011.02927.x≯.

Skinner, J. (2009) Where Every Drop Counts: Tackling Africa's Water Crisis, London: International Institute for Environment and Development.

UNICEF (2010) Raising Clean Hands: Advancing Learning, Health, and Participation through WASH in Schools, New York: UNICEF.

Adams, J., Bartram, J., Chartier, Y. and Sims, J. (2009) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Standards for Schools in Low-cost Settings, Geneva: World Health Organization.

Freeman, M., Greene, L.E., Dreibelbis, R., Saboori, S., Muga, R., Brumback, B. and Rheingans, R. (2011) ‘Assessing the impact of a school-based water treatment, hygiene and sanitation programme on pupil absence in Nyanza Province, Kenya: a cluster-randomized trial’, Tropical Medicine and International Health 17, 380–91 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3156.2011.02927.x≯.

Skinner, J. (2009) Where Every Drop Counts: Tackling Africa's Water Crisis, London: International Institute for Environment and Development.

UNICEF (2010) Raising Clean Hands: Advancing Learning, Health, and Participation through WASH in Schools, New York: UNICEF.