“Innovative, simple and elegant solution” – Holcim Awards Jury
The Huasco region in northern Chile is an agricultural region that depends on water for irrigation from the Huasco River. Water availability has decreased over the last decade, and new solutions have to be found to obtain water on the coast of this desert region. This project intends to use of the “Camanchaca”, a coastal fog originating from the anticyclone of the Pacific and condensing behind the coastline.
Last updated: July 10, 2008 Mexico City, Mexico
The striking ideas consist of towers with a height of 200m catching the water particles and conducting them to the base of the tower, where the liquid will be filtered through a reverse osmosis process to eliminate salt. The tower is constructed as a spiral structure with a wooden base, copper mesh providing conduits and a plastic skin. The water catching system only uses wind energy and gravity in its principal working process. The jury was delighted by this innovative, simple and elegant solution that will provide water to an otherwise declining agricultural area.