In order to save some money and to just save the environment, what if you could just extract the water that you need to drink from the air? This isn't a new idea. For anyone who's had a moist smelling basement, dehumidifiers have been necessary to keep things from getting moldy. The water generated this way isn't safe to drink, but a San Luis Obispo company has come up with an innovative solution.
Green Ideas: Get Your Drinking Water From the Air!
Atmospheric Water Systems from San Luis Obispo has just released the DewPointe Atmospheric Generator. It's a device that will harness the humidity of the ambient air and provide a source of drinking water. Think of these devices replacing water fountains everywhere, from fountains that just give out tap water, to water coolers. In fact, the device is about the same size as a water cooler and also has hot water on demand. This is great when you want to brew some tea quickly. It's Energy star rated and runs quietly. It's capable to producing enough drinking water for an entire household, even in the desert.
The device has an MSRP of $2,000, but you can get it for $1,600 here and for that money, anyone can extract water from the atmosphere. The atmospheric generator first filters the air, condenses the water, and filters the water as well. There is no chance that the device leaves any pesticides, heavy metals, toxins, pharmaceuticals and harmful microorganisms in the water it produces. These things can be present in water from different sources, like the water from a polluted river. This means that it's pretty clean water. The device is similar in function to a dehumidifier and it can actually double as one, but that's where the similarities end. The condensed water is purified thanks to an elaborate 10-stage filtration system. Initially, the air is even filtrated. Notably, UV lights are used to kill microorganisms.
A great idea would be to hook up this device to some solar panels, then you'd have an instant well and source of great clean water. These devices are currently available, which is pretty neat. We actually love that this device has already been released. In many countries, tap water isn't drinkable. This makes a lot of sense. [Inhabitat via Crib Candy]
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Green Ideas: Extracting Water From Thin Air Concept
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view floydy's profile
"The device costs about $2,000 and for that money, anyone can extract water from the atmosphere."
...but... for $100 I can already do that. It's called a dehumidifier, and any appliance store has a few dozen on their shelves. Run it through a Britta filter and - yay - mostly pure water.
Don't get me wrong; this may be more energy-efficient, or quieter, and/or more convenient than a standard dehumidifier. In which case, great.
But I've seen theKitchn, ReNest, and main AT all gush about about how miraculous this machine is, and I don't understand the naivete. "It sounds like something out of science-fiction" - what?
(And don't get me started about the "pesticides, heavy metals, toxins, pharmaceuticals and harmful microorganisms that usually populate our reservoirs" aside. That's a nasty, inaccurate, fear-mongering swipe at the massive infrastructure that keeps public water supplies safe.)
view morfydd's profile
What morfy said!
view chaseunchase's profile
@morfydd
"All of the pesticides, heavy metals, toxins, pharmaceuticals and harmful microorganisms that usually populate our reservoirs are absent." - pulled almost word-for-word from the manufacturer's website. I'm often amazed at the complete inability of some of these blog writers to exhibit any critical thinking. All too often they become nothing more than free advertising for the product.
view charmac's profile
besides which, there is no way extracting water from the air's humidity using electricity can possibly be "green"...
view samwhatam's profile
Yep, if the device is plugged into solar panels, it's totally green, but that's not the point. I've edited the post and confirmed my research that the device is a lot different from a typical dehumidifier. The condensed water goes through an elaborate 10-stage filtration system that can not be duplicated with just a Brita filter or basic filtration and purifying systems. UV lights are used as well.
By no means do I imply that the water from reservoirs is unclean to drink. I meant to say that not all water coming from taps is clean to drink. I'm thinking in particular of Asian countries, where drinking water has to be bought or in-house filtration systems have to purify the water before it's safe to drink. Usual tap water isn't safe to drink. Taiwan is an example and there are many more. What struck me really cool about it is that it could easily be transformed into a instant well in desert climates, where water is rarer. The devices promises to work well even there.
Of course, this is an expensive device and I do agree that the website makes a point of mongering a bit of fear, which I don't agree with, therefore I edited the post to reflect this.
http://www.campingsurvival.com/deatwage.html
view range's profile
Hi range,
Ok, I see where you're going with the article now. Thank you for clarifying.
I agree that as water gets scarcer, systems like these will be more and more important.
I'm not convinced that this specific system is at a good price point for the developing world or of great utility in the developed world, but at least they're moving the technology forward. (Probably - the website has no spec sheet.)
I guess I'm mostly surprised, as I stated earlier, that almost every AT site covered this machine as if it were a completely revolutionary idea. I figured at least Unpluggd would be more jaded about new twists on older tech. :)
view morfydd's profile
On a related note, sometimes low tech is the best tech, as illustrated by this water purification watercone.
view gregory's profile