Abu Dhabi: A pioneering technology that provides a cost-effective and sustainable source of mineral drinking water by harnessing humidity from the air has been launched commercially in the Middle East.
A private company’s innovative air-to-water system provides potable water in hot or tropical environments. The system has the capacity to produce up to 1,000 litres of safe drinking water per day at the point-of-use for as little as Dh0.03 per litre, according to a press release issued by Veragon Water Solutions on Wednesday.
The company said its customers, including the Italian Armed Forces, World Food Programme and Nato have used the system in some of harshest climates in the world.
The firm unveiled its water solution to delegates during its official launch event at its new headquarters at Abu Dhabi Global Markets.
UK-based company was founded by Dr Alessio Lucattelli, an Italian medical doctor who began researching the idea of air-to-water technologies after taking part in relief work in Haiti.
One of the major problems faced by Dr Lucattelli and the aid organisations was the lack of access to safe water to drink or to clean vital medical equipment.
After successful trials, the process of water capture was developed and expanded on a commercial scale. The result is ‘Air to Water’ system, which is certified to the World Health Organization Standards and it has been approved for use in the GCC region, the press release said.
The company is in the process of launching four exciting pilot projects in the UAE with large organisations who are actively seeking a way to find a sustainable source of drinking water.
David Painter, the company’s chairman, said people’s lack of access to safe, drinkable and regular supplies of water is one of the most pressing concerns facing governments and organizations across the globe. “Furthermore, the ecosystems in the world’s oceans are under threat from the immense amount of waste from single-use plastics.” He said Air-to-Water system provides a viable alternative to bottled water without compromising on quality.
While it was originally developed to save lives during a humanitarian disaster, the technology has a multitude of uses from agriculture, remote operations, offshore platforms, large events or can be integrated directly into residential developments, said the press release.
