Why scientists want to start 'harvesting' fog: a renewable water source for the future

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How many times have you found yourself driving slowly through thick fog, cursing that white curtain that limited visibility and slowed your journey? Yet, what we often consider a nuisance could become one of our most valuable resources in the future.

In a world where fresh water is becoming increasingly scarce, some researchers are viewing fog as a hidden treasure in plain sight—potentially offering an unlimited source of water. It sounds almost too simple to be true, but it's already showing its potential in the driest regions of the planet, where every drop of water can mean the difference between life and death.

A new study suggests that by capturing tiny water droplets from the air, fog could become a renewable water source. Researchers tested this concept in Alto Hospicio, a city on the edge of the Atacama Desert, the driest non-polar region on Earth.

With less than a millimeter of rain per year, the locals rely on ancient underground aquifers that haven't been replenished in over 10,000 years. It's a dire situation that, with the worsening of climate change, could soon become unsustainable.

Using simple mesh panels, the researchers developed a system to trap water from the fog as it moves through the air. The droplets collect on the mesh, flow into a gutter, and then into storage tanks. This is an affordable, low-maintenance method for creating a renewable water source without the need for electricity.

In one year, scientists discovered that each square meter of mesh could capture an average of 2.5 liters of water per day. During peak fog season, this number rose to 10 liters per day.

With a "fog farm" covering 17,000 square meters, communities could collect 300,000 liters of water per week.

I can’t help but imagine the impact this technology could have in regions like Sicily or Sardinia, where summer droughts are becoming more severe each year, or in the arid areas of Africa, where access to drinking water remains a privilege for a few.

Dr. Virginia Carter Gamberini, one of the lead researchers of the study, calls this a significant shift in how we think about fog. Traditionally seen as a small-scale, rural solution, fog harvesting could now become a practice for urban drinking water supply, helping cities combat water scarcity caused by climate change.

I find it fascinating how something we consider a weather nuisance could be transformed into a vital resource. It's not the first time nature has offered us solutions that were waiting to be discovered. But in an age of increasing water stress, the ability to "harvest" fog could be more than just a technological innovation—it could be a step toward a future where access to water no longer leads to conflict or suffering.

References:

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/environmental-science/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1537058/full