Solid Rain Could Help Alleviate World's Water Woes Kimberly Solis - DOGOnews
go to original September 17, 2016

Solid Rain brings relief to drought stricken Mexico (Reuters/NCTV7)

Water, or rather the lack of it, is one of the most pressing issues of our times. Unprecedented droughts and growing populations have left many countries struggling to keep up with demand. Given that agriculture is the largest single user of freshwater, providing farmers with new conservation techniques would go a long in alleviating our water woes. It turns out that a “miracle” powder has been helping drought-stricken Mexican farmers do exactly that for over a decade.

Called Solid Rain, the non-toxic polymer that resembles powdered sugar, is the brainchild of Sergio Rico Velasco. The Mexican chemical engineer’s inspiration came from a starch-based product called “super slurper” that was invented by the US Department of Agriculture in the 1970’s. While Americans incorporated the super absorbent material in diapers to keep baby bottoms nice and dry, Velasco used the idea to create a product to help Mexican farmers combat severe drought conditions.

Farmers looking to conserve water can simply mix the powder in the soil, plant the crops as he/she normally would, and add water. The Solid Rain crystals capture the liquid and retain it under the plant in the form of a thick clear gel, creating an underwater water reservoir for the plant’s roots to draw upon as needed. According to the company, Solid Rain’s main ingredient, potassium polyacrylate, can soak and retain water up to 500 times its original size. Even better, the powder is effective for up to ten years.

While the claims may sound too good to be true, Solid Rain has been well-tested by both the Mexican farmers and government. A season-long study conducted by officials in the arid state of Hidalgo revealed that farmers using the powder were able to increase their crop yields by an average of 300 percent. Solid Rain also received the 2013 “Ecology and Environment Award” from Mexico’s Fundación Miguel Alemán and has been nominated twice for Stockholm International Water Institute’s “Global Water Award.”

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