Star Wars-style fog collectors could provide water to the world’s driest cities
Researchers have identified another simple method that could help address water scarcity. Researchers have discovered a simple way to help reduce water scarcity. This technology is also reminiscent of the moisture farmers on Tatooine from Star Wars. According to a study published in Frontiers in Environmental Science today, the practice could provide significant relief for people who live in poor, informal environments without access to a reliable water source. Carter and her co-authors conducted their study in Alto Hospicio in a rapidly growing municipality where 10,000 people live in informal communities, only 1.6 percent are connected to the water distribution network. The fog collectors work by converting moisture in the air into small droplets that flow into the gutter and water tank. Though their methods are not quite as innovative as sci-fi stillsuits that recycle urine into drinkable water (that currently seems reserved for space exploration), the fog collectors are passive systems that don’t require electricity or other energy to function.
“By showcasing its potential in Alto Hospicio, one of Chile’s most stigmatized yet rapidly urbanizing cities, this study lays the groundwork for broader adoption in other water-scarce urban areas,” said Nathalie Verbrugghe, an engineer at Universite libre de Bruxelles and another first co-author of the study.
Carter, Verbrugghe, and their colleagues revealed that 38.61 square miles (100 square kilometers) could yield between 0.05 and 1.32 gallons (0.2 and five liters) of fog water per 10.76 square feet (one square meter) per day. August and September were the peak months for fog water collection, with researchers gathering up to 2.64 gallons (10 liters) per 10.76 square foot (one square meter) per day.
“This research represents a notable shift in the perception of fog water use–from a rural, rather small-scale solution to a practical water resource for cities,” Carter explained.
The researchers estimate that a relatively small area of mesh could collect enough water to irrigate Alto Hospicio’s green spaces. The researchers estimate that a relatively small area of mesh could collect enough water to irrigate Alto Hospicio’s green spaces. The researchers also point out that their analysis has some flaws. The researchers’ promising results were from fog collectors located at higher altitudes, outside the city limits. Their regular use would therefore require a large storage system and a significant distribution infrastructure. Fog density, wind patterns that are suitable, and elevated landforms with a good orientation are also “key prerequisites”. Verbrugghe also said that fog can be seasonal in some regions and this should be taken into consideration. In fact, Carter emphasized that “fog can serve as a complementary urban water supply,” and not a comprehensive solution to water scarcity.
However, the team still hopes “to encourage policymakers to integrate this renewable source into national water strategies,” concluded Carter. This could improve urban resilience to rapid urbanization and climate change while increasing access to clean drinking water.
