Machine to create drinking water from the air

The WaterMill machine that produces drinking water directly from the air is believed to be the greatest household invention after the microwave.

Using technology similar to a dehumidifier, Element Four's (Canada) product has the ability to produce instant drinking water by absorbing moisture from an endless and untapped source - air. According to the manufacturer, WaterMill is not only able to replace bottled water in developed countries, but also a solution for millions of people around the world who live in scarcity of permanent water.

WaterMill looks like a giant golf ball made in half, about 0.9 m in diameter, made of white plastic and can hang on the wall.Photo: Daily Mail

The machine works by absorbing moist air through the filter to remove dirt, then moist air is cooled at the temperature of dew droplets formed to condense into droplets. This water then passes through the sterilization chamber with ultraviolet rays. Water is filtered once more before being taken to the refrigerator or faucet in the kitchen. WaterMill can produce up to 12 liters of water per day. The machine will produce more water in the rainy season because the humidity in the air then increases.

The machine will stop working when the humidity drops below 30%. To overcome this limitation, inventor Jonathan Ritchey integrates smart computers into the machine to increase water production in the early morning when moisture reaches the highest water level, and reduce yields from noon when the sun is shining. .

WaterMill is said to be an environmentally friendly product, not only because it has less electricity, but also because it has the ability to 'kill' bottled water - long thought to be an ecological disaster. It is estimated that the US alone consumes about 30 billion liters of bottled water each year, worth about $ 11 billion. According to the Earth Policy Institute, about 1.5 million barrels of oil - enough to run 100,000 cars a year - were used only to produce plastic used to make water bottles. The process of plastic processing also 'consumes' twice the amount of water compared to the bottle of water. That is not to mention every day the American people release about 30 million plastic bottles of water.

However, WaterMill also has a 'weakness', which is expected to cost $ 1,200 (VND 20.3 million) / machine when sold in the US, UK, Italy, Australia and Japan next spring. In the midst of such a difficult time of money, this price may discourage many consumers. However, Element Four calculates that price, the cost of one liter of water produced by WaterMill is about 0.3 USD (5,000 VND), much cheaper than bottled water and after only a few years the buyer has completed capital.