The current drought conditions in the United States are correlated with inadequate infrastructure, a drop in the levels of the Great Lakes, desertification, and migration. Taken individually, none of these problems may seem alarming. However, in combination, freshwater shortages are a crisis in many areas of the United States. In order to develop student awareness about the importance of water as a resource, this column is the first of a two-part series on the topic of water harvesting.