Harvesting water from the air

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    Project update 2010 "Coastal fog-harvesting tower, Huasco, Chile": The wooden structure in January 2010 is covered with the rain harvesting skin by April 2010.

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    Project update 2010 "Coastal fog-harvesting tower, Huasco, Chile": Prototype at 1:10 of the full-scale project completed in February 2010.

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    Project update 2010 "Coastal fog-harvesting tower, Huasco, Chile": The wooden structure

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    Project update 2010 "Coastal fog-harvesting tower, Huasco, Chile": Structural rings, vertical connectors on X form and on site structural model.

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    Project update 2010 "Coastal fog-harvesting tower, Huasco, Chile": On site: the structural model takes shape in an arid landscape.

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    Project update 2010 "Coastal fog-harvesting tower, Huasco, Chile": Illustrating the iconic landmark

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    Project update 2010 "Coastal fog-harvesting tower, Huasco, Chile": Top view showing the internal elements of the structure.

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    Project update 2010 "Coastal fog-harvesting tower, Huasco, Chile": Bird-eye view

A prototype at 1:10 of the full-scale project was completed in February 2010. More data collection and research will take place before full-scale production commences. 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.

Last updated: November 01, 2010 Huasco, Chile

This project intends to use of the “Camanchaca”, a coastal fog originating from the anticyclone of the Pacific and condensing behind the coastline. 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 is 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.

Prototype yields knowledge – and water

A 15m prototype tower was built in February 2010 to collect more data from the low cost model scaled at 1:10 compared to the final concept. Using the same mechanics for vertical fog harvesting the prototype delivered superior performance in comparison to traditional horizontal fog catching models.

The prototype has a surface area of 71m2 rolled onto a triangular wooden structure with greater structural integrity. In keeping with the low-tech/high-impact aims of the project, the prototype was constructed on a hill 460m above sea level to verify the structure can support the 50km/h prevailing winds.

Landmark structure

The tower is a striking landmark in its environment, and produces between 140 and 700L of water each day. Following completion of the research phase of the project, pre-fabricated models are planned that will support water demands for communities in extreme geo-climatic conditions.