Around 1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to water. Out of the total fresh water on earth, 2/3 is tucked in glaciers and the 1/3 available for use is being polluted, exploited and wasted every single day.
Rivers, lakes, and aquifers are drying up or becoming too polluted to use. More than half the world’s wetlands have disappeared. Irrigation for industrial agriculture is highly inefficient and results in massive water waste across the world. Climate change is altering patterns of weather and water around the world, causing shortages and droughts in some areas and floods in others. At the current consumption rate by 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population may face water shortages. Modern-day developments in technology are actually trying to help solve this crisis. One proposal: magically extract water out of thin air. 
Atmospheric water generators use condensation (not magic) to extract water from warm humid air (relative humidity over 50%). Their functioning is similar to that of a dehumidifier (air is moved over a coil in order to condense water), but the end goal of AWG’s is to generate potable water. These systems decrease air temperature, which in turn reduces the air’s capacity to carry water vapor. This is the most common technology in use, but this system uses huge amounts of coal-based electricity it has one of the worst carbon footprints amongst all the water purification sources (3 times more than reverse osmosis of seawater)
Low impact alternative technology uses “wet” desiccants such as lithium chloride to pull water from the air via hygroscopic processes. Solid desiccants, such as silica gel and zeolite, with pressure condensation, are also used. Direct drinking quality water generating devices using solar energy is also under development. Overall there is scope for improvement, but in places with water scarcity, this is an extremely viable solution that ensures a constant water supply, even today.
Consider how Permaculture talks about learning from nature. The concept of AWG’s is also considered a great example of biomimicry. The beetle Stenocara gracilipes has a natural ability to extract water from the fog and accumulate it on its wings.
GoSun is a brand working on revolutionary solar appliances to help you cook (day or night), cool, charge, light or purify water with only the power of the sun. Their idea of independence and resilience is further propagated by their AWG’s
Each modular Tsunami 500 can produce up to 200 gallons of freshwater per day. Perfect for home or small business, Tsunami, first creates then delivers potable water to your storage tank, appliance or dispenser, with nothing but a 240VAC electrical connection.
Functioning of the AWG:
Step 1: Air Intake – Moist ambient air is pulled into the Tsunami® unit by fans. A multi-layer air filter removes dust, pollens, and other airborne particles.
Step 2: Water Extraction – Next, the air is drawn through a series of condensing coils, where water vapor is cooled down sufficiently to reach the dew point. This converts water vapor into droplets. Water is then extracted and collected into a storage tank.
Step 3: Water Purification – Collected water is purified through a multi-stage filtration system, where all the possible impurities and pathogens are removed. At this point, water is completely pure and safe to drink. What’s more: unlike tap water, it’s chemical-free.
Benefits
- Supplies Water on demand: Atmospheric water generation works anywhere, even in draughts- mimicking conditions inside a cloud
- Ultra-Pure : The multi-stage filtration process produces the highest quality drinking water
- Scalable: Systems can be expanded to meet the fresh water needs of any facility.
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