A filtration and dispensing system that is particularly suitable for underdeveloped parts of the world is provided for storing, filtering, and dispensing rainwater, surface water, or groundwater. The system includes a bank of ceramic filters, a water retention container for holding water to be dispensed by the system, and at least one header tank to which water supplied from the water retention container is fed. A pump is utilized to withdraw water from a lower portion of the water retention container and supplied to the header tank. The withdrawn water is distributed by way of piping from the header tank to individual ceramic filters in the bank of ceramic filters, and a collection tank receives filtered water discharged from the bank of ceramic filters. Trickle feed nozzles or other discharge elements are used to discharge the filtered water from the collection tank for use.