In addition to the water procured by means of the a complex water system that drew its water from the Gihon Spring, the residents of Jerusalem were careful to collect rainwater in cisterns and reservoirs. Reservoirs were constructed in the valleys surrounding the city, and some were connected to the water systems of the City of David. A number of reservoirs are referred to in the Bible, such as the �upper pool� (2 kings 18:17; Isaiah 7:3), the �lower pool� (Isaiah 22:9), the �pool that was made� (Nehemiah 3:16), the �old pool� (Isaiah 22:11) and �Jeremiah's cistern�.

Several cisterns came to light in the City of David and in the Jewish Quarter. Also, it has been suggested that subterranean spaces unearthed by B. Mazar west of Robinson's Arch were most likely water reservoirs, evidenced by patches of plaster - a mixture of lime, ash and bone powder - that survived on the walls. These spaces were reused as ritual baths (miqva'ot) in the Second Temple period.