A simple new technology is capable of Harvesting Dew Even In Arid Lands:
At night the air is full of water, even in arid regions. This moisture condenses on surfaces, where it evaporates in the morning sun. Inspired by the way dew accumulates on spider webs, inventors from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have devised a low-tech way to harvest this water vapor for drinking.Designed by Joseph Cory and Eyal Malka, graduate students in architecture and building planning, the contraption, called WatAir, resembles a 20-foot-wide tent turned upside down. At night, water vapor gathers on its sloping panels. Droplets form—up to 12 gallons’ worth by morning—and roll down into a bucket at the bottom. Water gathered this way is naturally free of earthbound pathogens. WatAir, which can be made from recycled materials, canvas sheets, or other fabrics, is designed to be light enough to airlift to remote regions and compact enough to fit on urban rooftops.