For drinking water, they depend on cisterns that collect scarce rainwater and on wells.

NPR: Chronic Water Shortages Hit Rural Chinese Hard

In some cases, illicit alcohol has been found in toilet cisterns.

BBC: Isle of Man prisoners 'making own alcohol'

More fuzzy faces, leaning over cisterns, with rolled-up euros.

NEWYORKER: Bullfighting

Mark Molthan, a builder in Dallas, says many energy executives like subterranean garages that can hold a dozen cars, elevators and cisterns to ensure they always have water to be able to irrigate their yards.

WSJ: From Oil, a Land Rush��WSJ Mansion

Volcanic obsidian forms the island's spectacular cliffs and grottos, and since access to fresh water has always been of prime concern, the indigenous houses, or dammusi, were brilliantly conceived back in the 10th century with domed roofs designed to channel rainwater into adjoining cisterns.

WSJ: The Produce-Packed Cuisine of Pantelleria