Water from the Air: How Moroccan Engineers are Harnessing Mist for Life
Maker
Aissa Derhem (Founder of Dar Si Hmad)
Known For
The World's Largest Fog-Harvesting System
Tools & Equipment
Polyethene Mesh Nets; High-Altitude Anemometers; Specialised Storage Cisterns; Gravity-Fed Piping Systems
Geography
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High in the Anti-Atlas mountains, see the massive nets that "catch" the clouds to bring clean water to desert villages.
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In the arid regions of Morocco, Aissa Derhem and his team are making water out of thin air, utilising ancient observations and modern materials science.
In the Southwest of Morocco, the ground is bone-dry; however, the sky is often thick with fog. Aissa Derhem observed this irony and decided to build a "cloud-catching" infrastructure. Utilizing massive, specialized mesh nets positioned on the peaks of Mount Boutmezguida, the system traps moisture from the passing fog.
As the water droplets accumulate on the mesh, they fall into collectors and are piped down to five different villages. This is a feat of passive engineering; it requires no electricity and relies entirely on gravity and the physical properties of the nets.
This "maker" project has liberated hundreds of women and children from the daily, hours-long task of trekking to distant, unreliable wells.
Lessons Learned
1. Observe the Unseen.
2. Low-Energy is High-Intelligence.
3. Infrastructure as Empowerment.
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