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Installation
What Tools Are Needed To Construct A Warka Tower?
The tools needed to construct a Warka are basic and manual, such as a bamboo splitter, caliper, hammer, drill and a saw. No electrical machinery is needed.
How Is It Constructed?
Warka is designed to be easily built by local villagers. It will be distributed as a kit of elements prefabricated in a local factory. The kit will be assembled in 1 day by a team of 4 people without scaffolding and electrical tools. The final assembly takes less than an hour.
How Much Space Does It Need?
A vacant area of approximately 100 sqm is required for the construction of one Warka. An area of about 400 sqm is required for its installation as footprint.
If You Have More Than One Warka, How Far Apart Do They Have To Be?
They can be close to one another.
How Much Expertise Does One Need To Install The Warka Tower?
Special skills are not required to install the Warka Tower. We will organize a training course to give the basic instructions on how to assemble and maintain the Warka and distribute manuals on ‘Construction’ and ‘Operation and Maintenance’.
Can Inexperienced Visitors Interact With The Warka Tower Directly?
Visitors are welcome to engage with the Warka Tower from the outside. However, the access to the core of the Warka, where the water tank is located, is limited and protected by the triangulated bamboo structure. The access will be limited to the water manager and the people involved in maintenance.
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Maintenance
What Is The Lifecycle Of A Warka Tower? Does It Require Maintenance?
Warka Warka installed in Ethiopia is estimated to last from 6 to 10 years. The maintenance of the structure is very important to guaranty a long duration. It is important to check-up regularly the correct functioning and apply the maintenance needed to keep Warka operative such as replacement of filters, mesh reparation, ropes regular tightening and bamboo element substitution when damaged. After the first pilot test will be tested we will have a better understanding of its durability.
How Does It Hold Up To Rain, Wind, Hail, Heat, Cold, Dust, Electrical And Storms?
Warka is designed to withstand different weather conditions and collect rainwater during the rainy season. In case of severe weather events such as a sand storm or electrical storm, the mesh can be flattened down. In case of a hurricane event, the tower can be lowered down to the ground by 4 people in 30 minutes and stored in a safe place.
Does Anything Break?
All the elements, natural fibers and plastic mesh, may in part need some maintenance and replacements, such as the substitution of cracked bamboo components.
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Alternatives
Are There Any Alternative Or Even Complementary (To Warka) Water-Gathering Solutions That Have Been Previously Adopted In Local Communities?
Historically, there are some cases of rural communities adopting similarly low-tech and passive solutions for water collection.
Why Not Simply Dig More Wells?
There are several reasons: You do not always find water. And even if you do, sometimes it is not potable. Often, you need to drill deep in the ground, approximately 500m to find water. Bringing water to the top requires treadle pumps and electrical equipment, which are both expensive and difficult to maintain. Various international organizations have invested funds to build wells in these communities. However, maintaining them has been a challenge, as local governments cannot always keep them in function or successfully repair damages.
What Is The Difference Between FogQuest Harvesters And Warka Water?
In addition to its water collection abilities, the Warka is designed to be used as a space for public gathering. We are focused on creating a beautiful structure that can blend into the natural and cultural environments of the rural communities, not simply putting steel masts and a net to collect water. The Warka is made up of environmentally sustainable and biodegradable materials that can be sourced locally, which can also give way to a new economy.
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Environment
How Do You Identify The Right Site For The Warka Installation?
Studying the local climate and gathering data is fundamental to site selection. Using the monitoring equipment ‘Warkino’, we analyze the weather conditions and assess the presence and frequency of fog, rain and dew in the area. Once the site has been identified as suitable for Warka, a test prototype of 1 sqm devices will be installed and monitored for 6 months. The site should have sufficient space available and free for the construction of the Warka.
Does The Tower Require The Presence Of Low-Lying Airborne Water Droplets To Function Effectively, Or Can It Simply Draw Water From The Air When Humidity Levels Are Sufficiently High?
The tower can work better with the presence of the fog, but it can also function without it. The Warka tower is also designed to collect rainwater during the rainy season.
Is The System Able To Capture More Than 100 Liters Of Water Per Day In Places Where There Is High Humidity In The Atmosphere Or It Rains Frequently?
Naturally, it would collect more water.
Are There Any Inhabited Rural Areas In Ethiopia Where The Towers *Wouldn’t* Work Well?
Some areas may have more favorable conditions than others. However, air always contains a certain amount of water, irrespective of local ambient temperatures and humidity conditions. This makes it possible to produce water from air almost anywhere in the world. Locations with high rates of aerosol and humidity are best to install a condenser.
Is The Water Harvesting System From The Atmosphere Affected By Air Pollution?
Warka is meant to be settled in the high plateau area where no pollution is present due to the absence of technology.
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Support
Did You Receive Assistance From Other Organizations, Such As The University In Ethiopia?
We worked independently with no specific assistance from other organizations. Only some external collaboration in specific project development phases.
Who Is Funding The Warka Water Project At This Point?
We do not have the financial support yet to help us complete the study and bring it to production. Your help and generosity will help us bring the towers to the communities in need!
How Can I Get More Involved In The Warka Water Project?
To learn more about our project, you can visit:
Our official website: www.architectureandvision.com/warkawater
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/architectureandvision
Flickr: /www.flickr.com/photos/125357782@N02
If you would like to publish an article or a blog post on Warka Water to help us spread the word, or have any other collaboration ideas, please drop us an email at mail@architectureandvision. And lastly, help us make this Kickstarter project a success by making a donation here! We would greatly appreciate your support for Warka Water.
Our official website: www.architectureandvision.com/warkawater
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/architectureandvision
Flickr: /www.flickr.com/photos/125357782@N02
If you would like to publish an article or a blog post on Warka Water to help us spread the word, or have any other collaboration ideas, please drop us an email at mail@architectureandvision. And lastly, help us make this Kickstarter project a success by making a donation here! We would greatly appreciate your support for Warka Water.
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