pouring drinking water
Photo Credit: Trainer Academy

In South Africa, one company is tapping into an alternative source for drinking water… the air.

 

Water From Air™ is pioneering technology for use in homes, offices and anywhere else people need pure drinking water on tap.

It allows clean, drinkable water to be harvested from the humidity in the air.

The machines operate according to the humidity in the air, drawing it in and cooling it to allow condensation to form in a collecting tank. The collected water is then purified with ultraviolet light and filtered 9 times to remove any further impurities there might be.

Since the water is drawn from the air rather than the ground, it is already much cleaner and excludes contaminants more commonly found in terrestrial sources. The result is “100 percent pure and clean” water, which is alkaline (ph7.4) and the softest water one can get according to Ray de Vries, CEO of Water from Air™.

The company manufactures different sized machines depending on the application needed.

The smallest machine is the AW3 model designed for homes, offices and clinics. It is, in fact fast replacing the “old style” plastic container drinking fountain found in many corporates around the world according to de Vries.

“It is crazy to have to order water from a supplier, get it delivered, receive it, store it, struggle to place it on a water fountain, wipe up the mess, store the empty and then repeat the process every week!”

“Our AW3 is wheeled into position, plugged in and makes the same amount, or more, of the purest water as a plastic bottle each and every day. Effortless, convenient and cost effective” he says.

Corporates are not only attracted by the slick operation of the machines, but also the sustainability aspect of air as a water resource.

Depending on the humidity of the surrounding air, the AW3 model is capable of capturing 32 liters of water per day.

Models designed for larger scale use are estimated to be capable of producing up to 1,500 liters of water per day. The company estimates that in cities such as Cape Town where humidity averages approximately 75 percent, the device might be able to provide an average of between 25 and 28 liters of water every day.

Water From Air™ has sold upwards of 800 units since its debut in early 2015. As severe drought conditions persist in South Africa, the company is trying to keep pace with the growing demand for its units.

The larger units are available as fixed or mobile solutions.

“As far as we are aware we are the first and only company manufacturing the large mobile units in Africa. We are very proud to be a wholly owned South African company that manufactures the machines in South Africa for South Africans and the world. At a time when others are disinvesting from our country we are investing, employing people and exporting”.

The main idea behind marketing the devices is to provide households with a more secure supply of water, especially in times of water shortage or drought. The Water from Air devices enable users to directly harvest water from the surrounding air instead of transporting the precious resource from other areas of the country.

Unlike more expensive alternatives such as desalination, Water From Air™ also offers a cost-effective and novel approach geared towards sustainability.

The machines are manufactured are made by South Africans for South Africans Water From Air™ expects to provide 300 initial jobs to South Africans and potentially add another 600 as the company’s operations continue to grow into 2017.


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Sources: Water From Air

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About the Author

Brent Lindeque is the founder and editor in charge at Good Things Guy.

Recognised as one of the Mail and Guardian’s Top 200 Young South African’s as well as a Primedia LeadSA Hero, Brent is a change maker, thought leader, radio host, foodie, vlogger, writer and all round good guy.

4 comments

  1. i got air con with the water i can’t believe it is make of water if it is full i must empty the water all the time. maybe if i drink it i will die it is not healthy water please can you help me with it

    from Peter Leyds

  2. Kindly send me more details and prices on the machine that produces 32 liters per day.
    And details of any changes or improvement on the machine since its first production.
    As I said I am very interested in the product and like to be the sales agent for Africa and the Middle East.
    Thank you.

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