8/9/2019 CLOUDS IN THE DESERT - Fog Water Collection in Chile

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CLOUDS IN THE DESERT

Al hough the Atacama Desertin northern Chile is one of theworlds most arid regions, thecoastal clouds that brush thepeaks of the Andes on thePacific Coast - thecamanchacas - are ladenwith moisture just waiting to becollected.

Since 1984, this challenge hascaptured the attention of ~ilarCereceda of the Institute of Geographyat the Pontitida Universidad Cat6licade Chile and Waldo Canto of theCorpora%% National Forestal. Theyhave worked in collaboration withRobert Schemenauer of CanadasDepartment of the Environment.Fifty captors that look like volleyballnets intercept the drops of water fromthe clouds. Gutters suspended a metreoff the ground underneath the 4 x 12metre nets recover the water beforechannelling it into a 100,000 litre tank;from there it flows through anaqueduct, currently underconstruction, to the seaside village ofCaleta Chungungo.

Pilar Cereceda, the project whose water supply up to now hascoordinator at the Chilean university, been delivered once a week by tankerand Robert Schemenauer of truck -with the empty tank beingEnvironment Canadas Cloud Physics used to transport villagers on theResearch Division cannot conceal their return journey. Thanks to the water, aenthusiasm when they describe the tree plantation has flourished on 3 haimpact of this type of project on of desert for the past several years, anddevelopment. The availability of a new plantation of exotic tree speciespotable fresh water will soon radically adapted to arid regions is scheduled tochange the development parametersof this village and its 330 inhabitants takd root this year.

26 IDRC Reports, October 19%

8/9/2019 CLOUDS IN THE DESERT - Fog Water Collection in Chile

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As part of the project, the captors inuse will be optimized to generateinueased output at lower cost PilarCereceda is also studying potentialsites for an additional 25 captors.Ihe advent of the water willtransform this little village fromdependence on the outside world intoa centre of self-sufficient activity. Theexisting 50 nets produce 7,200 litres offresh water daily. The villagers haveplanted 70 lemon trees (one for eachfamily) and plan to irrigate smallvegetable gardens. They are eagerlylooking forward to the time whenfresh water will be available insufficient quantities to establish a smallartisanal fish and seafood processingplant where they can wash and freezetheir catch.

International WorkshopFor the moment, the El Tofo site,where the captors are located, and thevillage of Chungungo, 70 km north ofLa Serena, are only pilot projects.Additional sites are needed, both onthe Chilean coast and in otbercountries with similar climaticconditions. IDRC is particularlyinterested in disseminating this simple,low-maintenance technology morewidely in several areas of thedeveloping world. It is especiallyappropriate for countries such as CapeVerde, China, Ecuador, Haiti, Peru,Namibia, Yemen, and Oman. TheSultanate of Oman has shown the

way: for centuries, water from thecoastal clouds in this desert region hasbeen captured by the leaves of olivetrees, where it drips into little tanksbuilt at the foot.Pilar Cereceda and RobertSchemenauer are at work on aprogram for an internationalworkshop including a visit to the ElTofo site and technical presentationson the technology involved. Some 50participants are expected at El Tofo, ascore of them from South America.This International workshop,scheduled for 1992, is intendedprimarily for representatives ofcountries involved in watermanagement, ogovemletalorganizations working in developingcountries, and representatives of theprivate sector with a potential interestin this technology. In addition to thetechnical aspect (water supplies), theworkshop will focus on thesocioeconomic aspects (the range ofpotential uses). Further information onthe workshop and brochures on theproject can be obtained from theresearchers at the addresses below.Robert Cbarbonneau h Chile

Pilar CerecedaTroncosolnstituto de geografia, PUCCCasilla 114-D, SantiagoChileFax: (56.2) 552-5692R.S.SchemenauerEnvironment Canada4305 DufferinDownsview OntarioCanada M3H 5T4Fax: (416) 739-4211

El i IN BRIEFw President for DRC

wealth of experience in the field ofinternational development, both withnongovernmental organizations and withinthe federal public service.A graduate of the InternationalDevelopment Education Centre of StanfordUniversity, Dr Bezanson joined theCanadian International DevelopmentAgency (CIDA) in 1973.He was appointedVice-President of the Americas Branch in1981. n 1985, he served as CanadasAmbassador o Peru and Bolivia. Since1988,he has been on a tour of duty withthe Inter-American Development Bank inWashington as Administrative Managerresponsible for the Banks human andphysical resources. Dr Bezanson assumedhis new position as president on 29Aprfl 191.Prize winning Pumps

Professor Gob Sing Yau of theEngineering Faculty of the University ofMalaya was chosen as one of the tworecipients of the Tun Ahdul Ratak Awardfor his contributions to developingcommunities through research anddevelopment.

The award, named after the secondprime minister of Malaysia, is granted onceevery 2 years to Malaysians who havemade valuable contributions to theirCOtry.Prof. Gob was recognized for hiscontribution to the development of theunique UNIMADEIDRC Handpump. ThePVC handpump, which is relativelyinexpensive, is easily built using locallyavailable material and is repairable by thecommunity without outside assistance.