WarkaWater Tower condenses air to collect safe drinking water for Ethiopians

Italian designer Arturo Vittori believes the answer to water shortages in countries such as Ethiopia lies in a 30 foot tower that harvests atmospheric water vapour.

Inspired by a trip to a remote Ethiopian village where water collection is time consuming and often dangerous, Vittori designed the WarkaWater Tower, which can sustainably and hygienically collect over 95 litres of water a day.

The vase like shape of the tower reflects that of the Warka tree, a large fig tree native to Ethiopia that is commonly used as a community gathering space.

Juncus and bamboo stalks are woven together to form the tower’s structure, while inside a plastic mesh material made of nylon and polypropylene fibers act as micro tunnels for the water condensation.

As droplets form, they travel along the mesh into a basin at the base of the tower.

Vittori hopes to build two WarkaTowers in Ethiopia by 2015 and is looking for financial backers to make it happen.

Courtesy Wired