With less than 0.04 inches of rainfall each year, Chile’s barren Atacama Desert city (one of the driest places in the world) collects water from ancient underground water sources. Researchers are now identifying another simple method that can help address water shortages.
An international team of Chilean researchers tested the feasibility of moisture collection methods. Straight Sand Dunes: Mist harvest. This technology also brings you Star Wars In the heart, that is Water farmer Tattooin. This practice can provide great relief to people living in poor, informal environments without access to stable water sources. studyIt’s published in the journal today Frontier in Environmental Science,
“The collection and use of water, especially from non-traditional sources such as mist water, represents an important opportunity to improve the quality of life of our residents,” said Virginia Carter, university mayor. The first co-author was a sustainable development expert and researcher, stated in a. Frontier statement. Carter and her colleagues conducted research in the rapidly growing municipality of Alto Hospicio. There, approximately 10,000 people live in unofficial settlements.
The team used a simple fog collector: very fine mesh, or mesh, held high on two poles. The moisture in the air condenses into droplets of material, which flow into the grooves and into the aquarium. The method is not as innovative as sci-fi stills that recycle urine into water (it appears to be currently reserved for space exploration), but fog collectors can work with electricity and other things It is a passive system that requires no energy.
“By introducing the possibilities at Alto Hospichio, one of Chile’s most criticised but rapidly urbanized cities, this study has led to a wider range of urban areas with other water sculptures. lays the foundations for recruitment” research co-author.
Carter, Verbrugghe and colleagues revealed that 38.61 square miles (100 square kilometers) can produce 0.05-1.32 gallons (0.2 and 5 liters) of fog water per 10.76 square feet (1 square meters) per day. August and September were the peak months of fog water collection, with researchers collecting up to 2.64 gallons (10 liters) per 10.76 square feet (1 square meters) per day.
“This study represents a significant shift in perception of water use in fog, from rural, rather small-scale solutions to urban practical water resources,” Carter explained.
Researchers estimate that a relatively small area of mesh can gather enough water to irrigate the green spaces of Alto Hospicio. Scaling the system with a large fog collector can even provide enough water to meet the weekly needs of the city’s informal settlements. They also suggest that misty water can be used for soilless agriculture, which could produce up to 44 pounds (20 kilograms) of lush greenery each month.
Researchers point out some shortcomings to the analysis. Their promising results come from highly fog collectors outside of city restrictions, so normal use requires significant distribution infrastructure in addition to large storage systems. Others include “fog density, proper wind patterns, and well-directed terrain. Furthermore, since fog is seasonal in many areas, this variation must be considered,” Verbrugghe said. states. In fact, Carter stresses that “fog can serve as a complementary urban water supply,” not a comprehensive solution to water shortages.
However, the team still “hopefully encourages policymakers to integrate this renewable source into the national water strategy,” Carter concluded. “This will increase urban resilience to climate change and rapid urbanization, improving access to clean water.”
Fog harvesting alone does not solve water shortages, but it ultimately represents an innovative and sustainable water collection method, and could one day become an important tool in water management in desert communities.
