In the southwest of Morocco, an innovative project solves the water scarcity in a surprising way. Instead of seeking water underground or building costly desalination plants, communities have learned to extract drinking water from fog.
Innovation in Morocco: Women and Nets Capture Fog Water
In the Anti-Atlas mountain range, specifically on Mount Boutmezguida, the Dar Si Hmad foundation has installed CloudFisher nets. These structures capture microdroplets of Atlantic fog, providing water to more than 1000 people in 16 villages in the Aït Baâmrane region.
The process is simple but effective. The large meshes capture the fog droplets, which accumulate and flow by gravity into tanks that supply the villages. This solution requires no pumps or chemicals, and operates independently of an extensive electrical grid.
Before this initiative, many women and girls spent more than three hours daily collecting water from distant wells. Now, the water resource arrives directly at their homes, improving their living conditions and freeing up time for education and other productive activities.
According to UN Climate Change, this region, on the edge of the Sahara, has been an example of effective climate adaptation through the use of clean technology. The abundant fog in the area has become a vital source of water.
The project, developed by Aqualonis, has 31 collectors and covers 1674 m² of mesh surface. The cisterns store the water during the dry season, ensuring a constant supply.
It is crucial to understand that this technology is not applicable everywhere. Fog harvesting requires specific conditions: humidity, wind, altitude, and a community willing to maintain the system.
A recent study on the Sidi Ifni project revealed a yield of between 1.6 and 6 liters per square meter each day. However, it also highlighted challenges such as the variability of the fog and the need for comprehensive water management.
Beyond the water, the project has had a strong social and educational component. Dar Si Hmad has promoted community training programs and environmental education, strengthening local resilience.
Ultimately, Morocco offers a lesson on how technological innovation can be discreet yet impactful. In the face of drought challenges, solutions like these rely on leveraging existing natural conditions, rather than building large infrastructures.
