# Free, clean drinking water from dew, fog etc

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-clean-drinking-water-from-dew-fog-etc/599161>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 10, 2011, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-clean-drinking-water-from-dew-fog-etc/599161 "2011-10-10T10:19:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Molotok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Molotok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molotok)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-clean-drinking-water-from-dew-fog-etc/599161/21 "2011-10-12T06:58:20Z")

</div>

> [@Fubaya](#):
>
> **What were you thinking about?**
> 
> Probably one of the easiest ways is to drag a rag over something that does get dewy (the grass, a car) and wring it out into a container. But collecting dew is mostly for emergencies. I doubt most people could get enough to make it worthwhile, at least not without filling their yard with contraptions. Depending on location and climate/seasons, there may be days or weeks where there is little to no dew.

I was thinking of a large dish, used I think in Africa. Can’t remember the specs, and can’t find it on Google, but it seemed pretty impressive (I think it was a bit more than simply a large dish).

Also, would there be a simple, cheap machine, perhaps using coils, that could convert moisture into water?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-clean-drinking-water-from-dew-fog-etc/599161/22 "2011-10-12T15:48:41Z")

</div>

> [@njtt](#):
>
> The cleanliness of the water you get is going to depend on how pollute the local atmosphere is. However, even at the worst you should get some fresh, reasonably drinkable water.

Actually, at the worst, you’re probably going to then be close enough to civilization that you can get clean water from a tap!

> [@KneadToKnow](#):
>
> What you really need is a droid who understands the binary language of moisture vaporators.

Got one already. What I _really_ need is a good protocol droid.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-clean-drinking-water-from-dew-fog-etc/599161/23 "2011-10-12T16:03:45Z")

</div>

> [@boomerwang](#):
>
> Also, would there be a simple, cheap machine, perhaps using coils, that could convert moisture into water?

any kind of refrigeration device with air blown through i will result in condensation/ice forming on cold surfaces.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-clean-drinking-water-from-dew-fog-etc/599161.md?page=1)