Moroccan Women Collect Fog for Drinking Water

Women in the villages of Aït Baâmrane, Morocco are scaling mountains to capture fog and convert it into potable water. Decades ago, researchers accidentally discovered that metal mesh collected water in the Atacama Desert, inspiring this current solution to water scarcity. For generations, women in these communities walked up to four hours daily, carrying nearly 25-kilogram barrels of water from distant wells.

Now, large polymer nets installed on Mount Boutmezguida—over 1,200 meters high—trap moisture from Atlantic fog. The condensed water flows via gravity through kilometers of pipes directly into homes, requiring no pumps or industrial infrastructure. The system, spearheaded by the NGO Dar Si Hmad, has allowed girls to return to school and shifted traditional gender roles around water collection.

Initial acceptance proved difficult, as some residents distrusted water that hadn’t touched the ground. The project expanded to include literacy programs and technical training to address these social shifts and ensure long-term success. While recognized by the UN as an example of climate adaptation, fog harvesting depends on specific geographic conditions and won’t solve water scarcity everywhere.