Many regions in the world have very little rain. It is a daily challenge for people to get water. Scientists have found a new way that could help some of the driest towns and cities in the world. Capturing water from fog could provide drinking water to millions of people. Researchers in Chile have been studying how fog harvesting could help to collect water. Fog harvesting is a simple process. Water from fog is collected on large mesh screens that are hung between poles. When fog and clouds pass through the screens, droplets of water stick to the mesh. This water then drips into pipes below the screens and ends up in storage tanks. It is a cheap and easy way of collecting water in dry areas.

The researchers are from Universidad Mayor, a private university in the capital city Santiago. They have been testing fog harvesting in the desert town of Alto Hospicio. The town gets an average of less than 5 mm of rainfall a year. Many people who live there get their drinking water delivered by truck. Researcher Dr Virginia Carter Gamberini said fog harvesting could bring a "new era" to the town. She said her research "represents a notable shift in the perception of fog water use – from a rural, rather small-scale solution to a practical water resource for cities". She added: "Water from the clouds could enhance our cities' resilience to climate change, while improving access to clean water."