Earlier this year, a group of socially conscious architects , after a trip to some of Ethiopia 's most arid regions , developed a project to build an innovative and effective drinking water harvesting system. The project was carried out in collaboration with the Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Italian Cultural Institute of Ethiopia, along with other private companies.
Warka Water is born
The idea became a project thanks in part to studies conducted on the Namib beetle , spider webs, lotus flowers, and cacti. Already tested in Italy and Ethiopia, the project involves capturing humidity in the air, which condenses into water and flows into a cistern below. Warka Water's design, architecture, and intricate textiles are inspired by local techniques, while its geometry is inspired by a termite nest. The environmental impact is virtually nonexistent, as the structure can be assembled in three hours and dismantled when needed. It resembles an 8-meter-high tower with a surface area of 30 m². Its structure is made of woven bamboo fibers and anchored to the ground with ropes and guy ropes, making it capable of withstanding strong winds and adverse weather. The tower's key component, however, is inside: a dense mesh of polyester threads forming a funnel captures water droplets on its fibers, which then fall under the force of gravity. The materials used are primarily plant fibers, small metal pieces, and biosynthetic fibers. Outside, there is also a large awning that acts as a ring around the tower. This could also be an innovative social element, as refueling provides a moment of social gathering, especially for women and children. The plan is to create an educational and learning environment in what could become a new village center, or a meeting point for villages of varying distances.
How to Build a Warka Water
The collection capacity is 50-100 liters per day , depending on the annual weather conditions. But how many machines and how long will it take to build a Warka Water tower? The surprising thing is that building one tower requires the labor of six people and four days of work, without the use of any machinery, just simple household tools. This encourages local populations to use traditional local tools. Easy to build, assemble, disassemble, transport, and repair, with a production cost in Ethiopia of around 800 euros , this tool can solve the problems of accessing wells for communities living in arid and mountainous areas. If deforestation of the warka tree, the tree from which the invention takes its name, for agricultural purposes in Ethiopia has increased drought problems, then this tree may be the key. The project envisions planting one next to each tower built, so that the moisture produced by the tree accelerates water collection. Its fruits contribute to the population's livelihood, while the unused water can be used to irrigate gardens and fields, as well as meet the needs of livestock. Building more towers and consequently planting more trees in each village would significantly stimulate the development of the local primary sector. A shared Wi-Fi connection will be activated at each Warka Water station to facilitate communications and information on the weather, the condition of the towers, and the prices of raw materials in the various villages.
Eco-sustainable, economical, and socially functional, this invention is a harmonious fusion of green technology, tradition, and development that could be extended to all drought-stricken regions of Africa, adapting each time to the construction techniques, materials, and trees present in different places and cultures.
René Verneau
