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Creating fresh water from nowhere - 23rd August 2021

Water is the Earth's most common resource, but 25 percent of the human population is unable to access safe drinking water.

Global heating, fighting and overpopulation lie behind the water supply problems. And as the human population grows, so does the seriousness of the problem.

One company which is dealing with the issue is Watergen. It uses special technology to deliver drinking water to places in need.

"Water is a basic human right, and yet millions don't have access to it," says Watergen boss Michael Mirilashvili.

And the science at the heart of it is relatively basic. The Earth's atmosphere contains a huge amount of fresh water – 13 billion tonnes. Watergen's machines remove the water vapour from the air.

Such technology could bring huge changes to the water industry and the environment. There are several benefits. For example, there is no plastic packaging, the technology means no transport is required, and because it isn't ground water, it doesn't need cleaning. And even polluted air in urban areas is clean enough to use.

The largest machines can provide 6,000 litres of water daily and have already helped to supply hospitals in Gaza and villages in rural Africa. Watergen's technology was also recently used in Australia to fight the bushfires.

"This is not just about saving lives, it's about improving the lives of millions," adds Mr Mirilashvili.