Harnessing drinking water from thin air sounds like magic. However, the design of the Warka Water structure has proven itself and was recently awarded the World Design Impact Prize. Warka Water is a water-catchment system that produces potable water by harvesting rain, fog, and dew. The system is inspired by design cues from naturally found forms, like termite hives and cactus spines, and combined them with low-cost, locally found materials to create a sculptural and biomimetic tower. A Warka Water structure comprises a bamboo frame, recyclable mesh, rope, canopy, and a water tank, and can be assembled easily and inexpensively by six people in about four days. A prototype is working in a village in southern Ethiopia.
Design prize for harnessing drinking water from thin air
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