How to Capture Water from Fog and Moisture in Dry Weather

In a world where desertification continues to advance, the search for solutions continues to drive multiple ways to combat water scarcity. Although in the blog we have talked many times about solutions to droughts, or the problem they entail, this time we will talk about fog. How is the process to capture it and transform it into water.

Before starting, keep in mind that it is not a water "creation" system. Actually existing water is taken, in microdrops, but it is taken. That means Rather than creating, this method has the advantage of redirecting use, both for irrigation and consumption. Actually it is an excellent way for those times in which there may be fog, but there is drought, the irrigation does not stop. A little big plus of water. We explain more below.

The fog catchers. Panels that trap water

The fog trapping panels or screens are intended to collect moisture or mist. Its purpose is to achieve concentrate the water particles, until they are dense enough, that is, transform them into drops. The idea was born as a solution to areas where the lack of this valuable liquid was most urgent. And really, they can work in any area, because even in the desert at night there is humidity. Another thing is, that the uptake is more substantial, that will depend on the humidity or fog of the clear area.

The way they work is very simple. As the tiny water bodies settle on the screen, they concentrate to form larger droplets. These drops, by their own weight at the end tend to fall with gravity. At the bottom there is a collector for this falling water, which is directed to the desired point. It can be directly to the plants, or the containers that store the water.

Panels

The Mist Trap Panels are made from a precisely textured mesh which can only be pierced with the tip of a pencil. There are several types, but for example, one of the cheapest that there is and that is used a lot is the plastic one. For these, for example, the diameter of the holes through which the mist or humidity "seeps" is somewhat larger. It may cause some loss of mist retention, but it should not lose its use. Each square meter of mesh is capable of obtaining 4 to 15 liters of water per night!

The idea is to place them on slopes, or places where the wind runs the most. They also usually get from 300 to 800 meters above sea level. But as we have said, they really can be located practically anywhere.

It must be taken into account, for example, that the mist may not have the same purity in all places, water can be polluted. Depending on the area, it can be stored in containers if its use will be more extensive later and should not be contaminated. Also, if the water cannot be very suitable for consumption even when it is stored, daily collection can be followed by filtration. Whether with cotton, quartz sand, gravel, coal, chlorination, etc.

Its maintenance? The best. Practically nil

Thanks to the fact that its installation is very simple and does not require many devices, its maintenance is very simple. Still, some small problems can arise, such as a break in the tubes. Depending on the material, it would be convenient to change them, or they can be repaired by sealing if it is not very bulky. There may eventually be rips or tears in the fabrics. Usually, it can be quickly fixed with a needle and thread.

The worst thing we can find being large and light screens is that a gale or hurricane force winds destroy them. In that case, prevention is always better than cure, and anticipating wind, make a withdrawal on time. Another reason could be small rodents, or thirsty animals that are nearby. It must be taken into account that if the container exposes a lot of water, these problems will have to be dealt with.

Generally, the durability of the meshes is usually about 5 years. What if we do a little math, each one can supply us with tons of tons of water during its life of use. A great system to fight drought, which deserved a blog post.