New technology could pull drinking water out of thin air
Access to drinking water is a massive global health issue that is highlighted by the current cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe. Additionally, diminishing water supplies stemming from climate change will exacerbate this already tenuous global situation. The impending battles over access to water are sure to shape the 21st century.
In this context, technology that can address some of these problems will be of tremendous use in coming years. CNN reports that one such technology may be the WaterMill, which is being produced by a small Canadian company called Element Four.
The WaterMill, and its larger planned version, the WaterWall, are electricity powered machines that draw moisture from the air and purify it into clean drinking water. The WaterMill can provide up to 12 liters of water per day and will retail for around $1,300, but according to the company, can be pared down to a cheaper version that would cost around $300.
However, two limitations of the technology are that it can only function in climates that have a relative humidity above 35% and it requires access to an electricity source. These could pose a problem for some poor and arid regions of the world that are, and will continue to be, in search of clean water supplies.
Update: Element Four notified us via email that they “are working on having a solar powered unit out approximately 6 months after we hit the market with our electrically powered WaterMill.”
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