Ted Bowman designed the machine that can produce water from the air. Some homeowners have already purchased the expensive devices in California.
Air-to-water systems function in the same way as air conditioners. They use coils to chill the air and then collect water drops in a container.
Ted Bowman, a design engineer at Tsunami Products in Washington, stated that water from air is not magic. It’s science.
This system is just one of many that have been created in recent years to extract water in humid air. Others include mesh nets and solar panels, as well as shipping containers that extract moisture from the air.
Bowman stated that his machines, which can be used at home, offices, and ranches, dehumidify air and create water that is filtered for drinking.
Foggy areas are a good place to use the technology. The machines can produce 200 gallons (900 Liters) or 1,900 gallons (8.600 Liters) of water per day, depending on their size. He said that the machines can also be used in areas with high humidity, such as California’s coast.
These machines can be expensive, with prices starting at $30,000 and going up to $200,000. The machines are not cheap, with prices ranging from $30,000 to $200,000.
Don Johnson of Benicia in California said that he purchased the smallest machine which looks like an AC unit. He hoped it would produce enough water to sustain his garden. He found that it produces more than enough water for his garden and household.
He stated that the machine would produce water for much less than what you can get bottled water at Costco. And he believes, as time passes and freshwater prices rise, it will more than pay for itself.
The unit is expensive and requires significant amounts of energy to operate. Johnson claimed that the power generated by the solar panels on his roof is sufficient to run the machine without any additional energy costs.
Experts such as Helen Dahlke, University of California, Davis hydrology researcher, said that the technology is beneficial for homeowners in rural areas. However, it is not an effective solution to California’s larger water problems.
Dahlke stated that the main focus should be on preventing future droughts by combating global warming.
She stated that “We must curb climate warming to make a real difference again.”