Water from the air for events and high-traffic facilities 

The smart devices use little electricity and produce up to 30 litres of fresh drinking water each day

Spotted: The 2024 UN World Water Development Report finds that “roughly half of the world’s population experiences severe water scarcity for at least part of the year.” And, as the global demand for freshwater grows, “increasing by just under one per cent per year,” scarcity is set to increase. 

Taking inspiration from nature, water utility company Kumulus has created a device that turns air into fresh, potable water. Each machine produces around 30 litres of drinking water per day, and the smart design automatically tracks temperature and humidity levels to maximise water production and minimise energy use.

The machines are perfect for use in high-traffic areas such as hospitality events, hotel gyms and lobbies, schools, and more, completely replacing the need for single-use plastics and water bottles. The company’s latest version of the machine is the Kumulus-1 Amphore design. The machines are remotely managed through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or cellular data, and the smart system tracks usage and other data for automatically generated annual reports.

Each machine replaces half a tonne of plastic, which in turn removes around 8,000 kilogrammes of carbon dioxide by reducing plastic production processes. For large events and spaces, multiple machines create a network of freshwater sources, all of which are connected and managed via a single platform. The water produced meets EU and World Health Organization potability standards. For use in areas with high levels of air pollution, the company recommends more frequent changing of the filters to ensure the highest quality taste and levels of safety.  

Kumulus currently provides maintenance and support of the machines across Tunisia, France, and Spain, with plans to continue expanding its network internationally.   

Written By: Keely Khoury