Frequently Asked Questions

Is the water safe to drink?
Given the dirt and other contaminants that collect along with fog, any water collected should be treated properly before consumption. 

Can I water my plants with fog water?
Certainly, but have a backup plan in case there is no fog.

Is fog water different from rain?
Yes, since fog lingers in the air in liquid form for more time than rain, it often contains more salts, and other materials (common ions, nitrates, elements) that may be present in the air as a result of proximity to the ocean, agriculture, or industry. As a result, the chemicals present within fog can vary from place to place. Fog also tends to have slightly more amounts of isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen than rain, as a result of how it forms. So fog water is often slightly “heavier” than rain, although it takes sensitive instrumentation to be able to detect this.

Is fog water different from dew?
Yes, dew is the result of condensation on a surface whereas fog is water that has already condensed, but on tiny particles (called condensation nuclei) that are much smaller than a micron (which is one thousandth of a millimeter!) in size. Since the fog droplets are already in liquid form and have been so for some time, and since they tend to drift in the wind and have a large surface area to volume ratio for absorption of materials, fog water at a given location will likely have different trace materials in it than will dew. Additionally, the collection mechanism for fog is different from that of dew, since collection of fog is one of coalescence of liquid droplets and the collection of dew involves condensation of water vapor to liquid form.