Located on the outskirts of the Moroccan desert, the mountainous region of Ait Baamrane experiences a scarcity of rainfall. However, it does receive an abundance of fog from the nearby Atlantic for six months of the year. This fog, although it restricts visibility, provides a solution to water shortages through the world’s largest fog collection system.

Fog harvesting involves the wind pushing water vapor through vertical nets, where it condenses into small droplets that collect in large containers. The harvested water, amounting to approximately 35,000 liters daily, is used to meet the needs of over 1,000 people and also used for irrigation.

This method of fog collection is not limited to Morocco’s mountains but is also practiced in other regions including Ghana, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Chile, California, and South Africa. Along coastlines and suitable locations worldwide, the potential for fog harvesting is substantial. A 40-square-metre fog net can yield around 200 liters of water per day, each costing approximately $1,500.

While fog collection has primarily been regarded as a solution for remote rural areas with limited access to the public water network or infrastructure, a study in the scientific journal Frontiers in Environmental Science suggests that it could also benefit urban areas. Cities, like the rapidly growing desert town of Alto Hospicio in Chile, heavily reliant on water resources from deep underground aquifers, could explore fog collection as an alternative source. In some days, as much as 10 liters of water per square meter can be collected, which is sufficient to cover human consumption and irrigation needs of slums and other underserved populations. The implementation of fog nets could provide a valuable additional source of water.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/fog-harvesting-getting-water-out-of-thin-air/a-71892254?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf