An alternative water supply for chilean coastal desert villages

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Abstract
The measured domestic water consumption rates in two fishing villages on the arid north coast of Chile were 14.2 and 19.7 l/pers/day. The villagers pay 10% of their family income for water in Chungungo and 6% in Los Hornos. The true subsidized cost of the water would represent 39% and 26% respectively of average family income. These high water costs led to the establishment of a project to determine if fog water collection could provide a lower cost water supply. The site, on the ridge above the village of Chungungo, has produced 7200 l/day, an average of 22 I/day for each of the 330 people in the village, during its first 32 months of operation, at a cost estimated to be one‐quarter of that of the current water supply. In addition, the fog water supply should be more reliable and of equal or better quality.