Fog Harvesting --The Chungungo experiment

Fog collection is the process of collecting water from the natural fog using vertical pieces of canvas that are very large in size. This makes the fog to condense into little droplets of water which trickle down into a trough or vessel placed below the canvas.The principal involved here is condensation. The fog condenses on the vertical canvas leading to the formation of dew in the form of water droplets.

This is usually observed in a natural way on plants, leaves, and branches in the early morning as the fog condenses on the cool surface of the plants and thus dew drops are formed. Collection of dew drops is a very ancient practice, it was practiced in the old times for smaller purposes like drinking water and also for larger necessities like irrigation. In the modern times, fog collection is being done artificially through fog collection devices.

1. Fog harvesting technique by Shreerang Chhatre

Fog harvesting technique-'Fog Harvesting' could soothe world's water woes

This is a technique developed by Mr. Shreerang Chhatre of MIT. This technique was inspired by a beetle physiology that is found in the Africa. It has bumps on its body that collects the water from the fog and it then rolls the water into its mouth. Likewise Mr. Chhatre has used the principle of attraction and repulsion technique for the fog collection. He used a mesh like fence to attract the water and also it has the least permeability, this water is then collected into a receptacle. This is a great method of fog collection, however, it is still in the initial stages of development. If this works then many poor countries with a water problem can shed their woes.

2. Latest fog dew collectors

fog dew collectorsAlon Alex Gross’s fog and dew collectors

Alon Alex Gross’s fog and dew collectors – designed specifically to collect drinking water in arid and semi-arid regions.These are improved fog dew collectors with internet connectivity and super light chargers. It weighs around 400 gms and can collect one and a half liters of water at night and ten liters during the day. They should be facing in the wind blowing direction for maximum functioning. There is a special fragile foil and a removable water storage pouch. The foil can be damaged by atmospheric changes but owing to the sensors in the foil it can detect the changes early and help to prevent the damage. Therefore, this prevents water scarcity.

3. DropNet fog collector

DropNet FogDevice collects water droplets from thin air.

Research shows that by the year 2025 world will face water scarcity. However, there is no scarcity of brilliant minds in this world. Industrial design student at Germany’s Muthesius Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Imke Hoehler, has come up with a design that harvests potable water from thin air and mist. In short it is the drop net fog collector. This system can supply around twenty liters of water and can provide the entire village with portable water.

4. Water harvested from clouds

Water harvested from clouds--Idea devised by the University of South Africa (UNISA)

In many rural areas there is a severe water scarcity. In those areas the water harvesting from clouds can be really helpful. When rain is liquid gold, why not bank it? Water harvesting – collecting and storing rain – is one thirst-quenching solution to water supply problems. Systems can be as complex as storing enough water to soak a small village or as simple as catching runoff in a whiskey barrel. Whatever the system, water harvesting stows precious precipitation.

“The water quality of fog is very high and conforms to the World Health Organization and South African water quality standards for potable water. “Each collection system consists of three 20 feet wooden poles with 30 feet apart. Steel cables are stretched along these poles. A double layer of 30 percent shade cloth is then draped over the cables and fixed to the poles on each side. This forms a fog collection screen of about 70 square meters (750 square feet), with a gutter attached to its lower end. This can provide enough water to a village.

5. The Chungungo experiment

Fog Harvesting--The Chungungo experiment

Fog harvesting is a simple, low cost, and effective method of water collection in places where conventional ways like the wells, rains etc. do not work. Robert Schemenauer and Pilar Cereceda have conducted extensive research throughout South America and other parts of the world with fog collection technologies.

Both played an important role in the Chungungo experiment for fog harvesting Chungungo is located in the Atacama dessert a very low rainfall of 5 cm annually. Before this experiment the villagers have used very costly methods for water, they had to travel miles for water.

After the year 1992 the villagers are using around 80 fog collectors and now the villagers are getting safe drinking water and all the water problems have gone away.

The benefits

1. A safe and low technical solution for areas with water shortage.
2. A very effective method of improving the water supply in dry and semi-dry areas.
3. An easiest and safest method for producing high quantities of water which can be used for irrigation, industrial and also commercial purposes.

The lowdown

 The villagers of the Chungungo had formed a committee to look after the project, however, as the water supply has improved the population of the village too has grown and it thus led to the failure of the fulfillmnt of the water needs of the village as the committee has failed to expand the number of reservoirs and collectors. This caused the lowdown.

The Impact

The fog harvesting is the best solution for water scarcity. It is the only solution as the natural resources like the wells, rains, rivers, lakes are insufficient to meet our requirement.