Background
The project area lies in a mountainous region with scattered villages and winding roads – perched between 500 and 3,000 metres above sea level. In Alto Veladero there is virtually no rain from April to November. Rivers and wells dry out, and drinking water needs to be rationed and collected from remote mountain springs that are only accessible after long journeys on foot.
The water is often contaminated by cattle troughs or by agrochemicals in the soil.
People in Veladero already have some experience in collecting water from fog. Together with its partner on the ground, the Instituto de Capacitación del Oriente (ICO), Zabalketa set up first-generation fog collectors in 2014/2015 at three locations: Veladero School, Veladero Central, and Veladero Saguintito.