Assessing fog water collection in the coastal mountain range of Antofagasta, Chile

Fog water collection is an emerging opportunity to combat local water shortages in water-scarce areas where sustainable access to water is unreliable, but fog events are frequent. Since fog water systems are implemented within or near communities, they eliminate or decrease the need to travel far distances for the collection of water during times of scarcity. As a result, these systems decrease the physical and social burden of water collection on women and girls, who are the primary water gatherers in most traditional communities. This is an important outcome because women and girls are disproportionately affected by water scarcity and are not seen as equals in water management, access, or control. This paper illustrates how several fog water collection projects have shown, empirically, that the positive outcomes for women and girls may include the freeing of time for domestic and educational pursuits, improved health outcomes, and improved perceptions of self and others’ perceptions of women. These findings are important at a time when the world at large is addressing the Sustainable Development Agenda, where Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 necessitates safe water and sanitation for all and SDG 5 ensures gender equality to empower all women and girls.

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A facile strategy for the fabrication of a bioinspired hydrophilic–superhydrophobic patterned surface for highly efficient fog-harvesting

Journal of Materials Chemistry A ◽

10.1039/c5ta04930j ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 3 (37) ◽

pp. 18963-18969 ◽

Cited By ~ 89

Author(s):

Yuchao Wang ◽

Lianbin Zhang ◽

Jinbo Wu ◽

Mohamed Nejib Hedhili ◽

Peng Wang

Keyword(s):

Fog Water ◽

Patterned Surface ◽

Highly Efficient ◽

Hydrophobically Modified ◽

Flat Sheet ◽

Water Collection ◽

Thermal Pressing ◽

Fog Water Collection

The simple lab oven-based thermal pressing of a hydrophilic polystyrene (PS) flat sheet together with a (super)hydrophobically modified metal-based gauze produces a hydrophilic–superhydrophobic patterned surface which exhibits a high fog water collection performance.

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Fog Water Collection in a Subtropical Elfin Laurel Forest of the Garajonay National Park (Canary Islands): A Combined Approach Using Artificial Fog Catchers and a Physically Based Impaction Model

Journal of Hydrometeorology ◽

10.1175/2008jhm992.1 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 920-935 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

A. Ritter ◽

C. M. Regalado ◽

G. Aschan

Keyword(s):

Canary Islands ◽

National Park ◽

Annual Rainfall ◽

Fog Water ◽

Laurel Forest ◽

Combining Data ◽

Yearly Average ◽

Water Collection ◽

Physically Based ◽

Fog Water Collection

Abstract Fog precipitation has long been assumed as an additional water source in the relic laurel ecosystems of the Canary Islands, located at 500–1400 m MSL. However, to what extent fog water can contribute to the laurel forest water balance is not yet clear. Combining data from artificial fog catchers and a physically based impaction model, the authors evaluated the potential contribution of fog water captured by needle-leafed Erica arborea L. trees in a selected watershed of the Garajonay National Park (La Gomera Island) for a 2-yr period (February 2003–January 2005). Fog water collection was measured with artificial catchers at four micrometeorological stations placed at 1145, 1185, 1230, and 1270 m MSL. Average fog water collection was only significant at the highest measurement site (one order of magnitude greater than at lower altitudes), totaling 496 L m−2 yr−1 during the 2-yr period. The average fog water yield in the first and second annual periods ranged between 0.2–5.0 and 0.1–2.1 L m−2 day−1, respectively. Rainfall exhibited seasonality, distinguishing between rainy and dry seasons, while fog water collection was distributed more evenly throughout the year. Regarding fog water captured by the vegetation, the impaction model predicted a significant amount of fog water potentially collected by a single E. arborea tree, on the order of 1810–2090 L yr−1. Taking tree population density into account, the yearly average water contribution to the soil surface by wind-driven fogs was 251–281 mm, whereas annual rainfall was 635 and 1088 mm, respectively. The hourly course of micrometeorological variables shows a 58% reduction in global radiation under foggy conditions and a concomitant 3°–6°C mean temperature decrease compared to fog-free periods. Thus, limiting evapotranspiration may also be a relevant effect of fog in this subtropical elfin cloud forest.

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Fog-water collection for community use

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews ◽

10.1016/j.rser.2013.08.063 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 29 ◽

pp. 52-62 ◽

Cited By ~ 65

Author(s):

Mussie Fessehaye ◽

Sabah A. Abdul-Wahab ◽

Michael J. Savage ◽

Thomas Kohler ◽

Tseggai Gherezghiher ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fog Water ◽

Water Collection ◽

Fog Water Collection

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Research History and Functional Systems of Fog Water Harvesting

Frontiers in Water ◽

10.3389/frwa.2021.675269 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

Author(s):

Manzoor Qadir ◽

Gabriela C. Jiménez ◽

Rebecca L. Farnum ◽

Peter Trautwein

Keyword(s):

Water Resources ◽

Green Technology ◽

Gender Mainstreaming ◽

Fog Water ◽

Functional Systems ◽

Research History ◽

Fog Collection ◽

Water Collection ◽

Water Scarce ◽

Fog Water Collection

Water is among the top five global risks in terms of impacts translated through socio-economic and environmental challenges, influencing people's wellbeing. The situation is grim in water-scarce countries, which need to think and act beyond conventional water resources and tap unconventional water supplies to narrow the gap between water demand and supply. Among unconventional water resources, water embedded in fog is increasingly seen as a source of potable water in dry areas where fog is intense and prevalent. Although a low maintenance option and a green technology to supply freshwater, the potential to collect water from air through fog harvesting is by far under-explored. Based on the comprehensive analysis of fog water collection's research history since 1980, this study reveals that recent years have witnessed a sharp increase in research related to technological developments in fog collection systems. Also, there is an increased focus on associated policy and institutional aspects, economics, environmental dimensions, capacity building, community participation, and gender mainstreaming. In addition to research, fog water collection practice has also increased over time with emerging examples worldwide, notably from Canary Islands, Chile, Colombia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Israel, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Peru, and South Africa. The functional systems of fog water collection demonstrate community engagement, women empowerment, enhanced capacity and training, and active participation of local institutions as the key drivers for effective fog collection systems to provide a sustainable supply of freshwater to the associated communities.

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