Clean drinking water is one of the four basic human needs and is therefore of utmost importance. While rain, rivers and lakes are the traditional sources, climate change is making once-reliable water sources increasingly unreliable. Aquaria Technologies, a San Francisco-based company founded in 2022, aims to provide affordable, clean drinking water to the masses by extracting it from the air.

Whether you live in the desert or the tropics, there is moisture in the air – moisture that can be extracted and bottled for consumption or piped into your home for everyday needs. While atmospheric water generators (AWG) are nothing new, they have become more efficient, affordable and safer. And Aquaria was recently named a finalist for the Future Resilience Prize in the Urban Future Prize 2024 competition for its self-contained solar-powered boxes that can generate water from the air for vulnerable communities.

Unlike traditional dehumidifiers, which also extract moisture from the air, modern AWGs feature particle filters, carbon filters, and UV sterilization to kill viruses and bacteria. Some models even offer mineralization to give the water a better taste and increase its nutritional value. Without filtering and sterilization, the water from the dehumidifier would not be safe for consumption, as it may contain contaminants from the air or the device itself.

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Aquaria’s line includes a standalone outdoor water dispenser called the Hydrostation, which requires no plumbing and can be used in parks, construction sites, recreational areas or other locations where up to 1,500 people might be thirsty, and an indoor home water dispenser called the Hydropixel, which can produce up to 24 gallons (91 L) of water per day and only requires an electrical outlet for power.

Aquaria says Hydropixel is one of the most energy efficient standalone atmospheric water generators in the world, using just 1.25 kWh per gallon (330 Wh/L). Depending on where you live and how much you’re charged for electricity, a gallon (3.8 L) of water can cost anywhere from a penny to over $0.66.

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I pay $0.14 per kilowatt in my market, which works out to $0.17 per gallon, much cheaper than the $0.50 per gallon at the water refill station at my local grocery store, where I fill up about 20 gallons (75 L) per week. The Hydropack – Aquaria’s whole-house AWG solution – is even better rated at 0.93 kWh per gallon (245 Wh/L), suggesting a water cost of $0.13 per gallon.

By using energy sources such as solar power, the cost per gallon could be reduced to nearly zero.

Aquaria also offers AWGs on a much larger scale. The Hydropack X (a configuration with two Hydropacks) can replace an entire home’s dependence on tap water and produce up to 1,000 liters of drinking water per day under perfect conditions.

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Aquaria plans to supply a 1,000-household community in Hawaii later this year that will rely entirely on water generated from the atmosphere.

According to the EPA, the average American household uses about 300 gallons (1,136 L) of water daily. The EPA also reports that the average American family wastes 180 gallons (680 L) of water per week. Small leaks alone contribute to nearly 900 billion gallons (3.46 trillion L) of water wasted annually in the United States. While Aquaria’s numbers are lower than average household usage, with a little environmentally conscious practice, AWG could be perfectly sustainable as your only water supply.

However, where you live plays a significant role in the actual water production due to temperature and humidity. Dry climates produce much less per day, while humid areas produce the most. Operating temperatures for all Aquaria units seem to be between 15-43°C (59-109°F). Outside of this temperature, it may not work as well or at all.

Climates like San Francisco tend to be closer to 132 gallons (500 L), while Miami would produce over 250 gallons (950 L) per day with the Hydropack X. All excess water is stored in tanks for later use.

Aquaria AWGs come complete with software that monitors water quality 24/7, exceeding both EPA and WHO standards regardless of air quality. Additionally, the company recommends changing filters every 6-12 months, depending on usage and air quality.

In places where access to water – let alone drinking water – is difficult, technologies such as atmospheric water generation could be invaluable.

As temperature records continue to be broken with alarming regularity, combined with droughts, falling water tables, deeper wells and higher populations, we may become even more dependent on desalination plants and offshore hydroelectric power stations.

Source: Aquaria