Chilean Fog Nets Quench Thirsty Land

A community in northern Chile's Coquimbo region is transforming coastal fog into a vital water source. Since around 2005, residents have used large mesh nets to capture fog, locally called camanchaca, on hillsides above Peña Blanca. This harvested water is now essential for local agriculture, livestock, and ecological restoration efforts in an area facing extreme drought.

The technology involves placing mesh panels to intercept fog carried inland by the Pacific wind. As fog passes through, water droplets collect, combine, and flow into gutters, then pipes, leading to storage. This method does not create water but captures atmospheric moisture, supporting degraded land within the Fray Jorge Biosphere Reserve.

Cooperating with Fundación Un Alto en el Desierto, the community developed this system on Cerro Grande. Their efforts, which began in the mid-2000s, involved extensive experimentation to optimize mesh materials and collector designs for local conditions. By 2026, a new 10-panel agricultural system was installed, covering 90 square metres to irrigate a 0.2-hectare plot for forage crops, showcasing the technology's adaptation for farming needs.

Beyond agriculture, the harvested water is crucial for ecological restoration. Fencing off parts of the Cerro Grande reserve allows native vegetation to recover, supported by the fog-derived water. This direct link between atmospheric water harvesting and land recovery offers a sustainable solution to desertification and reduced agricultural activity.

While not a complete solution to drought, the fog catchers provide a significant supplementary water source. Research indicates that 34 collectors covering 306 square metres can yield up to 650,000 litres annually, varying with atmospheric conditions. The project exemplifies community adaptation of simple technology to environmental challenges.