Abstract

In water-scarce regions where fog events are common, fog collection is a promising sustainable alternative to supply people with fresh water. The implementation of fog collectors focuses on poor rural areas where no (clean) conventional water supply network is within reach. The role of a local institution or non-governmental organization (NGO) is crucial to introduce as well as to educate the fog harvesting system through a public program. Important to convey, with great sensitivity to local traditions, are the sustainability aspects together with the (dis)advantages of this passive system. After construction, NGOs are expected to assist communities and conduct routine evaluations, but these are often irregular or obsolete. Failure due to social aspects such as poor maintenance is the result of non-commitment, especially in large communities where the population feels less responsible on an individual level. This research identifies and analyses the social aspects of a fog collection system, and the approach of an NGO toward beneficiary communities. Operational and past fog collection projects and a general project schedule are described for assessment and evaluation. Through a systematic review, the analysis revealed that in theory, the participatory approach employed by the NGOs is well-thought-out. Yet, in practice projects fail to succeed due to social issues after handover to the community. With these findings, suggestions for a participatory approach resulting in a sustainable project are given. The ultimate objective of this paper is to facilitate future implementations of local fog systems in regions where providing potable water once seemed impossible.