A slum in Lima, Peru is the first to install fog catchers to collect water. Shown at left, the fog catchers are about 26 feet by 13 feet and are installed on mountaintops alongside fog catching trees which are adapted to the arid climate.
At first, the fog catchers just irrigate the trees, but as the trees grow larger and send roots deeper (in their second year), they begin to irrigate themselves. Then channels are installed
underneath the trees and a part of the water that falls down from their
leaves and branches is skimmed off for human use. It works out to about 60 liters of water per night in winter!
The water is mostly used for drinking and cooking, but can also be used to irrigate small vegetable gardens. And although the nets cost about $800 each and water purifying tabs are needed for drinking, but having access to clean water and being able to raise food is well worth the cost.
In Lima, more than 1.3 million people have no access to
drinking water. Water trucked in is to expensive for most people in the poorer areas so they often go without. But
the 200 residents of Bellavista del Parasio are going for
water independence with their fog catching system.
To learn more about catching fog, the German NGO Alimon, and the Green Desert Project check out their website - the photos are great.
Photo: Green Diary
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