Extracting water from air humidity is nothing new. A couple of months ago we talked about the UC Berkeley development that explores a special material and solar energy as its main source. This brings us to another project called Source. It is a self-sustaining platform capable of extracting up to five liters of water per day, and the most interesting part is that it also treats the water, adding the necessary minerals.
Health experts say that humans need to consume two liters of water per day. Add to that personal hygiene, cleaning objects (for example, clothes) and the home environment, food preparation, and waste disposal, and the number goes up. A frequent question is how much we are wasting, but there are other critical problems to solve, starting with access. Right now, someone is walking with a bucket hoping to carry two or three liters of the precious liquid home, and they will likely be used without boiling or filtering, which in turn represents a huge risk. Getting water is not enough: It must also be safe and constant. The Source project aims to cover both goals.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/-IQStwqefXEHow Source works
What we have here is a condensation platform based on solar energy. Source captures air humidity, and depending on the environmental conditions, it can generate up to five liters of water per day. Inside, there is a reservoir that stores 30 liters, a lithium battery used to deliver water when the sun doesn't shine, and two special cartridges. The first one is installed in the reservoir and contains both calcium and magnesium, optimizing the liquid for consumption (condensed water is pure and not very good for us). The second is near the tap and contains activated carbon.
Price and social impact
Source is a creation of the company Zero Mass Water, a spinoff from Arizona State University. Each unit measures 1.2 by 2.4 meters and is relatively easy to install. Zero Mass Water seeks buyers among those interested in achieving greater water independence, and although the final cost is $4,800, each Source purchase finances part of a second unit that will be delivered free of charge to families in regions that need it most.
