Water from Thin Air

A solar hydropanel that can make, store and dispense clean drinking water could provide a solution to the growing global issues of water insecurity and poor water quality. Known as SOURCE, the rooftop device consists of two panels that rely solely on solar energy to extract water from ambient air.

Fans push the air through a hygroscopic (water-absorbing) filter where water vapor is trapped, then extracted and collected in a 30-liter reservoir. Minerals (calcium and magnesium) are added to produce high-quality drinking water, which can be piped directly to a tap or dispenser inside the building.

One such system produces between 4 and 10 liters per day — the equivalent of 54,000 plastic bottles over its life span — even in dry climates. Installations can be configured for any size demand from a single-family household to an entire community. A typical two-panel array runs about $4,500 installed.

In addition to providing a stable, independent source of drinking water in drought-stricken areas or locations where water is simply unsafe, systems like this offer benefits for off-grid living and emergency preparedness as well.