Exploring Atmospheric Water Harvesting at Arizona State University
The potential to tap into the vast reservoir of water vapor in the atmosphere is captivating the scientific community. This week, Arizona State University hosts the third annual International Atmospheric Water Harvesting Summit, bringing together researchers to explore this emerging field.
Atmospheric water harvesting presents an innovative approach to water collection, beyond traditional methods like river extraction and groundwater recycling. The summit sheds light on different technologies designed to extract water from the air, a concept still in its nascent stages.
Carl Abadam, a Ph.D. student from the University of New Mexico and a presenter at the summit, highlights the primary challenge of capturing airborne water. He explains, “There are different types of technologies for atmospheric water harvesting. We have fog nets, there are these things called desiccant-based technologies, which essentially absorb water vapor out of the air, and condensation-based technologies.”
University of New Mexico
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Handout
The prospect of harnessing even a fraction of the estimated 13 trillion liters of atmospheric water—an amount six times greater than the water in all the Earth’s rivers—could significantly benefit populations globally.
Fog nets, as Abadam describes, are one such technology. They are deployed in environments with high condensation, such as mountainous areas, to capture water from the air. Devices range from small-scale laboratory models to large industrial systems, and even home-based units that collect potable water.
Water quality remains a pivotal concern, as it varies based on the source location’s air quality. Abadam notes ongoing research, “We have one site that’s an urban site, characterized by high vehicle traffic, you, you might be able to capture, how does the exhaust smoke affect your water quality?” He adds that different environments yield statistically significant differences in water quality.
While the cost-effectiveness of atmospheric water harvesting depends on the region, it can sometimes be more economical than bottled water. In arid, temperate, and tropical environments, the technology has the potential to operate independently of traditional water distribution networks.
Abadam acknowledges the potential for atmospheric water harvesting to provide safe drinking water in areas lacking urban infrastructure. Southern Nevada Water Authority, for instance, uses atmospheric water generators atop cooling towers to reclaim evaporated water for industrial purposes, highlighting diverse applications beyond drinking water.
Despite the promising potential, the widespread implementation of atmospheric water harvesting faces several hurdles. Abadam emphasizes the need for further research and regulatory frameworks, pondering, “Are you just changing the weather? And we want to start working with government regulation agencies to start saying, like, are there water rights for the atmosphere?”
