Star Wars-Style Fog Collectors Could Provide Water to the World’s Driest Cities

With the rain of 0.04 inches every year, the cities in the barrier of Chili are one of the world’s most dry water sources in the world – ancient groundwater sources. Now researchers have identified a simpler method that can help solve the water scarcity.

Chile tested the vitality of a water collection method that could be a group of international researchers sort Dune: Smoke product. The technology also brings Star wars mind, that is Moisturizing farmers Tatooine. Experience can bring significant comfort to people living in poor, informal parameters without entering a stable water source so far learnToday was published in the magazine Borders in environmental science,

“It is the main opportunity to collect and use water from non-contingent sources such as non-contingent water,” Virginia Carter, Universidad Mayor and sustainable development expert research, said Boundaries statement. Carter and his colleagues studied at the rapidly growing Alto Hospicio Municipality, which lived in the informal settlements of about 10,000 people – this is only 1.6% of water distribution networks.

The team used the simple fog collectors: very delicate nets or mesh, caught two poles. Wet in the air, then drops in the material flowing into a traffic jam and a reservoir. Although the methods are still not innovative yet, the Sji-Fi, which has become urinary drinking water (currently reserved for space research) Fog collectors are passive systems that do not require electricity or other energy.

“In Alto Hospcio, the potential in Alto Hospicio, which is one of the most stained and rapidly cities in Chile, this research is the basis for a wider adoption in a city area,” he said. Is co-author of the study.

Carter, Verbrugghe and colleagues, 38.61 square kilometers (100 square kilometers), it turned out that a 10.76 square meter (one square meter) could provide a product between 0.05 and 1.32 gallons (0.2 and five liters). In August and September was the most peak for the collection of sis, researchers collected by 10.76 square meters (a square meter) per day (10 liters).

“This study, the use of fog water – explained the practical water source for cities,” Carter “.

Researchers estimate that a relatively small territory of a mesh may be able to collect enough water to irrigate the green spaces of Alto Hospicio. Expanding the system with larger fog collectors, can provide enough water to meet the weekly needs of the city’s unofficial settlements. The fog water can be used for landless farming, potentially used to produce 44 pounds (20 kilograms) leafy greens every month.

Researchers show some shortcomings in their analysis. Their promising results came from fog collectors at high heights outside the city’s limits, so their regular use will require significant distribution infrastructure in addition to large storage systems. Other “basic terms, fog density, matching wind patterns and good-oriented high ground forms. In addition, the fog is seasonal in many regions, this variability should be taken into account,” Verbrugghe said. In fact, Carter “Fog can serve as an additional city water supply” and is not a comprehensive solution to the water shortage.

However, the team still hopes for “Carter” to encourage politicians to integrate this renewable resource to national water strategies. “This can increase the strength in the city for climate change and fast urbanization.”

Although the odd one solves water scarcity, a day, one day, a day represents a possible innovative and durable water collection method that can be an important tool in water management.