Clean water from the air

Creating fresh water from nowhere - 23rd August 2021

Although pure water is the world's most abundant resource, two billion individuals don't have access to it. Climate change, global conflict, and overpopulation are just some of the factors that are affecting water reserves, but as the global population increases, the race to find rapid solutions is gaining pace.

Watergen is an Israeli-based operation which has the technology to do precisely this. It's bringing clean drinking water to remote areas, and it achieves this by using water in the atmosphere.

The head of Watergen, Michael Mirilashvili, explains, "Water is a basic human right, and yet millions don't have access to it."

While it may sound far-fetched, the technological process of getting water from the atmosphere is fairly straightforward. Approximately 13 billion tonnes of fresh water is suspended in the air, and the company's special machines filter the water vapour out.

Mirilashvili says if used correctly, Watergen's technology could have a lasting impact on the planet. One of the reasons for this is that the process does not require water transportation, which means there is no need for pipes, avoiding the potential hazards they bring. Using atmospheric water does not involve cleaning or necessitate the use of environmentally damaging packaging. The water can also be obtained anywhere, including from pollution laden inner city air.

The highest capacity machines are capable of filtering 6,000 litres of water a day. The technology has already been drawn on to furnish hospitals with water in the Gaza Strip, and isolated villages in parts of Africa. It was also exploited more recently in Australia, where it helped in the battle to put out raging bushfires.

And as Mr Mirislashvili commented, "This is not just about saving lives, it's about improving the lives of millions."