How scientists are harvesting fog to secure the world's water supply

Summary

The global water crisis is intensifying due to climate change, overconsumption, and poor management. Innovative efforts to address water scarcity are underway, including fog harvesting projects in Morocco and new designs like the Fog Harp at Virginia Tech. These innovations draw inspiration from nature and aim to collect water more efficiently. MIT scientists are also developing technologies that use electric fields to enhance water collection. While these breakthroughs are promising, experts agree that effective water management and conservation efforts are crucial for tackling water scarcity in the long term.

Takeaways

• 😀 The global water supply faces increasing threats from climate change, overconsumption, and poor management.
• 😀 One innovative solution to water scarcity is fog harvesting, where fog is captured and turned into freshwater.
• 😀 Mount Boutmezguida in Morocco, where rainfall is scarce, relies on fog harvesting to provide water for about 1,000 residents.
• 😀 The fog collection system in Morocco consists of 19,000 square feet of nets that trap water droplets from fog.
• 😀 The implementation of fog harvesting has transformed the lives of women in Morocco by eliminating the need to walk long distances for water.
• 😀 Experts warn of a global water crisis, with over two-thirds of the population living in areas facing water shortages at least one month each year.
• 😀 The water crisis is exacerbated by erratic rainfall patterns and the loss of slow-release water sources like snowpack and glaciers.
• 😀 Fog harvesting is an ancient technique, observed in nature, such as in African beetles, and practiced for centuries in places like the Middle East and South America.
• 😀 Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed a new fog harvesting device, the Fog Harp, which captures water more efficiently than traditional mesh nets.
• 😀 MIT scientists have created an advanced fog collection system that uses an electrically charged field to attract water droplets, improving efficiency to nearly 100%.
• 😀 Experts emphasize that while technological innovations in water collection are important, effective water management and conservation are also essential to address water scarcity.

Q & A

What is the primary challenge faced by the global water supply?

The global water supply faces constant and worsening threats such as climate change, overconsumption, and poor management.

How does the fog harvesting system work in Southern Morocco?

The fog harvesting system in Southern Morocco involves large nets called cloud fishers that trap freshwater from fog. The collected water is then transported via pipes to the villages below, where it is used for drinking and watering plants and animals.

What is the significance of the fog collection project led by Dar Si Hmad in Morocco?

The project is significant because it provides a sustainable water source to the local community in an area that receives very little rainfall. It has transformed the lives of the women who previously had to walk long distances for water.

How is the fog harvesting technique ancient, and where has it been used before?

Fog harvesting is an ancient technique, and it has been used in nature by organisms like African beetles, as well as in ancient cultures in the Middle East and South America.

What is the Fog Harp, and how does it improve fog collection?

The Fog Harp is a design that uses tightly placed vertical wires to capture water droplets from fog. It improves fog collection by preventing droplets from getting stuck, allowing them to fall more easily, making it at least three times more effective than traditional mesh nets.

What natural inspiration did the team behind the Fog Harp draw from?

The team was inspired by California redwoods, which capture most of their water from fog accumulating on their needles. This biological inspiration influenced the design of the Fog Harp.

What is the next step for the Fog Harp project?

The team is working on making the Fog Harp sturdier, more colorful, and exploring the best wiring materials. The plan is to test hundreds of these harps in regions facing water scarcity, such as Peru and South Africa.

How does MIT's fog collection technology work, and what is its purpose?

MIT's fog collection technology uses an electric field to draw fog droplets toward a mesh, dramatically increasing its ability to collect water. The aim is to implement this technology in power plant cooling towers, which are major consumers of freshwater.

How has MIT's technology improved the efficiency of fog collection?

MIT's technology has improved fog collection efficiency from a couple of percent to almost 100 percent by using an electric field that alters the trajectory of fog droplets, making them collect on the mesh more effectively.

What do experts believe is needed to tackle the global water crisis?

Experts agree that while innovations like fog harvesting technologies are crucial, they must be coupled with better water management practices, conservation efforts, and the development of new storage solutions for water.