Many regions the world have very little rain. It is a daily challenge people to get water. Scientists have found a new way that could help some the driest towns and cities the world. Capturing water fog could provide drinking water to millions people. Researchers Chile have been studying how fog harvesting could help to collect water. Fog harvesting is a simple process. Water fog is collected on large mesh screens that are hung between poles. When fog and clouds pass the screens, droplets of water stick to the mesh. This water then drips into pipes the screens and ends in storage tanks. It is a cheap and easy way of collecting water in dry areas.
The researchers are Universidad Mayor, a private university the capital city Santiago. They have been testing fog harvesting in the desert town Alto Hospicio. The town gets an average less than 5 mm of rainfall a year. Many people who live there get their drinking water delivered 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 the perception fog water use - from a rural, rather small-scale solution to a practical water resource cities". She added: "Water the clouds could enhance our cities' resilience to climate change, while improving access to clean water."
