Ionic Irrigation Device

CWSF · 2026 Agriculture, Fisheries & Food

deacan laird · Intermediate Division · Grades 9–10

Thumbnail supplied by the source for Ionic Irrigation Device

Overview

My project is a device that uses high voltage to pull water vapour from the air. It uses the concept of electrons, traveling from positive to negative, and as that is happening, water droplets pass through the ionized space and hit the ions. That pushes the droplets onto the negative grid, and once a large quantity of water has built up, it falls onto your crops or into your collection container. I think this is very important because the Ionic Irrigation Device could revolutionize the crop irrigation industry, and change millions of lives a year through increased access to water.

Video

If the video does not play, watch it on the original project page.

Why?

I explored this project because of my great grandmother, who lived through the great depression on a farm in Holdfast, Saskatchewan, and experienced what it was like to struggle with limited resources, especially water. Hearing about these challenges from my grandmother made me think about how important water and food security is globally. It inspired me to explore a way to collect water from the air and help make irrigation more reliable, especially in drought conditions.

My hope is this project can address the global challenge of water scarcity and the need for sustainable crop irrigation systems. In many places, crops fail due to lack of moisture, even though there is water vapour in the air. I wanted to explore whether atmospheric water vapour could be captured for irrigation and water collection.

I was trying to solve the problem of water scarcity, especially in areas were there is not enough for irrigation and drinking, which will only get worse as climate change advances.

This technology could benefit farmers in dry climates, remote communities and areas with limited access to safe drinking water. While still in the early stages, this concept shows potential as an irrigation system that needs no external water input except for the water vapour in the air.

If developed further, my ionic irrigation system could reduce dependence on traditional water sources, introduce a new one where needed, help make agriculture strong in the face of climate change, and ensure everyone has access to safe drinking water.

How?

I researched my topic using science websites, articles, and videos to understand how the process works, what are its limitations, and what has potential it has for the world.

I made sure my sources were trustworthy by checking if they came from science organizations, educational sites, or experts. In addition, I had my science teacher check them to confirm they were legitimate.

I planned my project by deciding what I wanted to test, then designed a prototype and created a step-by-step procedure.

I built my prototype using the materials I chose and tested it several times, making improvements after each test.

The materials I used includes project boxes, bolts and nuts, wires, grids (saw blades, thin wires and single edge blades), humidity detector, high voltage generator (not over 10 kilovolts), PVC caps, JB weld epoxy 60w solar panel and a solar charge controller.

I recorded measurements by observing how many milliliters of water I could collect in one minute and wrote them down to compare results.

I did each experiment 3 times to make sure my results were accurate and consistent.

I kept all conditions the same except for one variable, variables include humidity, input power and grid types. I did this so that I could clearly see how that one change affected the results.

What?

The ionic irrigation device successfully demonstrated the ability to pull water vapour from the surrounding air and condense it into liquid water. During testing, small droplets formed on the device and eventually fell onto the the collection tray below, providing a direct source of irrigation. The results showed the amount of water produced depends on the humidity in the air. In more humid conditions, the device collected more water droplets, while in drier conditions, the output was much lower. Overall, my findings show that this system can condense water without relying on traditional irrigation systems, making it a very useful alternative to traditional irrigation and water collection, without requiring an external source.

My project works by using an ionized space to influence the movement of water vapor in the air. When the device is powered, it creates an ionized space filled with charged particles (Ions). As water vapor moves through this ionized space, the water vapour becomes affected by the electric field and is forced towards the negatively charged grid. The water molecules are forced toward this grid, where they collect and condense into small droplets. As more vapor accumulates, the droplets grow larger until they are heavy enough to fall off the grid and drip down onto the plants below. This process allows the device to actively condense and convert airborne moisture into usable water for irrigation and drinking.

The results show that the device can provide a consistent supply of water, especially in environments with moderate to high humidity. One advantage of this system is that it does not require a direct water source, which could make it useful in areas where water is scarce or difficult to collect. It could also reduce the need for frequent manual watering. However, there are several limitations, the device’s performance is strongly affected by environmental factors such as humidity and temperature. In dry climates, the device may produce very little water, limiting its effectiveness. Future improvements could focus on increasing efficiency, improving water collection, and testing the system in a wider range of conditions.

To test the effectiveness of the device, data was collected by observing and measuring the amount of water collected over timed intervals. The number of milliliters of water formed and the frequency at which they were collected was recorded. In some cases, environmental conditions such as humidity were also noted to better understand how they influenced the results. These methods were chosen because they directly measure the device’s ability to condense water from air, which is the main goal of the project. The data collected supports the conclusion that the device works under certain conditions, while also demonstrating areas where performance could be improved.

So What?

This device has the potential to change the crop irrigation industry because it does not require an external water source. Instead, it pulls water from the air using high voltage and can be run by solar power. This dual functionality could help provide water in areas where it is scarce, saving lives in regions affected by drought and minimal water sources. Overall, this increased issue, increased by climate change, could be addressed by a solution like the ionic irrigation device, which could be replicated around the world.

Through my testing, I learned that my device successfully pulls water from the air using high voltage. The initial results showed that the system works reliably and consistently, meaning my design shows promise to be effective and stable. I also learned that combining high voltage with solar energy can be a practical method for collecting water without needing an external water source. this experiment helped me confirm that my idea works as intended under the tested conditions. overall, the result showed that my design has strong potential for real world use in helping address water scarcity and food supply.

What's Next?

In the future, I would test more voltage levels and different electrode shapes, to see which setup collects the most water. I could have tested more humidity levels to better understand its performance.

I could improve the electrode design, increase surface area for water collection, and make the system more efficient to maximize water collection, with the smallest power draw.

This summer, I plan to build a larger version for part of our garden, test different humidity and weather conditions, and monitor long term performance to see if it can be used in real world conditions.

Thanks

I would like to thank my high school science teacher, Mme Martinez and my elementary school science teacher Mme Stepheson for helping me enhance my project and refining it to where it is now. Mme Stephenson supported and encouraged me with my first project in grade six, and continues to do so even though I'm in high school, she provided my backboard for my display at the Regional Fair.

Next, I would like to thank my parents for helping me with all the grammar correction, encouragement and letting me build my project in their shed. Even though they're continually worried I might blow up something, they acknowledge my curiosity and encourage me to be safe.

Last but not least, I appreciate the people at Liquid Air Regina for suppling me with dry ice for free to test my project