Tanks should also be covered and screened to keep out dirt, rats and mosquitos. The weather can sometimes be very strange, and some years many islands may not have enough rain. Wells can be low, rivers may dry up, and water can be very hard to get. Even in normal years there is often a long dry season. So it is important to think about ways to store water and use it carefully.
Water is a precious resource.
The water flow in streams and rivers depends on the land that catches the rain. If the land is covered by forest, the forest holds the rainwater like a sponge for drier periods, but if the forest has been replaced by gardens, grassland or scrub, the rain runs off faster and there is less left for the dry season. Replanting trees takes a long time, but it may help to bring water back to a dry stream. It is much easier to protect the forest in important watersheds. People who put in holding systems or pipes or pumps should keep thinking about the need to conserve water.