This Tower Pulls Drinking Water Out of Thin Air Using mesh to facilitate clean drinking water isnt an entirely new concept. A few years back, an MIT student designed a fog-harvesting device with the material. But Vittoris invention yields more water, at a lower cost, than some other concepts that came before it. [In Ethiopia], public infrastructures do not exist and building [something like] a well is not easy, Vittori says of the country. To find water, you need to drill in the ground very deep, often as much as 1,600 feet. So its technically difficult and expensive. Moreover, pumps need electricity to run as well as access to spare parts in case the pump breaks down. Internal field tests have shown that one Warka Water tower can supply more than 25 gallons of water throughout the course of a day, Vittori claims. He says because the most important factor in collecting condensation is the difference in temperature between nightfall and daybreak, the towers are proving successful even in the desert, where temperatures, in that time, can differ as much as 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The structures, made from biodegradable materials, are easy to clean and can be erected without mechanical tools in less than a week. Plus, he says, once locals have the necessary know-how, they will be able to teach other villages and communities to build the Warka. Read more: smithsonianmag/innovation/this-tower-pulls-drinking-water-out-of-thin-air-180950399/
Posted on: Mon, 14 Apr 2014 14:17:26 +0000
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