Water

[ysabetwordsmith]

Watershed moment: Engineers invent high-yield atmospheric water capture device for arid regions

Newly published research showcases tech capable of transforming atmospheric water vapor into a usable form at a rapid rate in dry climates, addressing water scarcity in drought-stressed Southwest.
As a megadrought stresses the water supply throughout the Southwest, revolutionary research is answering this problem with a groundbreaking technology that pulls large amounts of water from the air in low humidities.


On the bright side, this is lifesaving technology in dry areas.

However, it's liable to spark water wars in parts of the world where people think the government owns the rain and makes it illegal to "interfere" with it by doing waterwise things like catching water running off your roof.  Someone will certainly throw a shitfit about "stealing  the rain before it can even fall."  0_o

Comments

[siliconshaman]

There are more places where rainwater collection is legal than illegal..as long as you label it. (which makes sense, rainwater not being as processed etc.)

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

That's true, and useful. However, the drier a place is, the more likely that the government tries to own all the water.

Re: Yes ...

[siliconshaman]

Governments inevitably try to acquire ever more power. Any scarcity, if access to it is controlled, is power.

The key word is 'controlled' ... if you can set up your own moisture farm there's not much they can do to control it. Therefore they will try to control the technology I would guess. However from observation, governments have never had much success with that when it's something that's greatly desired. People will get stuff off black markets, or DIY their own.

Re: Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> Governments inevitably try to acquire ever more power. Any scarcity, if access to it is controlled, is power.<<

Prevailingly true.

>> The key word is 'controlled' ... if you can set up your own moisture farm there's not much they can do to control it. Therefore they will try to control the technology I would guess. <<

They've put in efforts to keep people from doing sensible things like rain barrels. That's a game of whack-a-mole though.

>> However from observation, governments have never had much success with that when it's something that's greatly desired. People will get stuff off black markets, or DIY their own.<<

I think it depends a lot how big and expensive the technology is, how easy to make or conceal. If we're looking at something that would be a big permanent installation, or a big portable unit trucked into disaster zones, I think the fighting will happen at higher government levels. If it's small enough for household use, then your prediction of subterfuge will more likely prevail.

Re: Yes ...

[siliconshaman]

You know... if the government had any sense they'd set up large scale moisture farms up in the mountains, then feed the water into the natural channels supplying everyone downstream... and charge a small subscription fee to everyone.

Unfortunately, most governments are not overburdened with an abundance of common sense.

I predict that what will happen is anyone with the means will acquire the tech needed to make their own, and the government will try to 'regulate' it. Thing is, unlike wells, it should be possible to install the condenser in a simple shed, hiding it from view, and use an underground storage tank.

Power it using a solar array and you're completely off grid and no-one the wiser.

Re: Yes ...

[see_also_friend]

>>You know... if the government had any sense they'd set up large scale moisture farms up in the mountains, then feed the water into the natural channels supplying everyone downstream... and charge a small subscription fee to everyone.<<

Doesn't nature do this for free?

Also, how do you make subscribers pay when they live across state/country lines?

I am not a fan of making people pay to access local waterways for drinking water. Sure, charge people if they'rre using tons of water for a factory or megafarm or something, but people should be legally permitted to use their local waterways for drinking/bathing etc. Otherwise we will get situations where poor people are legally obligated to die of thirst in the presence of water.

Re: Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

I think off-grid users would have the best chance. And more people will wind up off-grid as the infrastructure slowly collapses.

Meanwhile, people in states where the government claims to own the rain can use more discreet methods of natural water-handling. Pipe your graywater to outdoor barrels for irrigation. Dig bioswales, but them backfill them with wood chips so they are no longer visible. Use underground hugelkulture to trap moisture unseen. Choose plants that also store moisture. It's like a food forest -- people won't try to steal what they can't recognize.

[see_also_friend]

I think the intent of the 'no water-capture devices' laws are to keep people from capturing so much water that it dries up the waterways downstream. We probably do need some management, but I am unsure if the current laws are the best or if we could refine them.