A new portable water harvesting technology (that sounds like something straight out of a science fiction movie) can keep you happily hydrated at the next music shindig you attend!
Kristof Retezár, a Viennese designer, claims to have invented a device that can extract humidity from the air and condense it into drinkable water. The nifty gadget, dubbed Fontus, can be attached to a bike so that the air pressure created while cycling generates and directs water into the bottle during long-distance rides.
Applying the the basic principle of condensation, Fontus harvests water from the atmosphere around you. It contains a filter for dust and bugs but doesn’t currently have a filter for other contaminants as it was originally meant only for natural places with generally cleaner air, The company is in progress of developing a special carbon filter for city usage to filter out pollutants.
The solar-powered device consists of a condensator (which functions like a cooler) that is connected to a series of hydrophobic surfaces that repel water. As the bike-mounted gadget takes in air, and these surfaces get cold, you’re left with condensation, Retezár said.
“Because they’re hydrophobic, they immediately repel the condensed water that they created, so you get a drop flow,” he explained. “Basically, you’re taking air in a vapor state and converting it into a liquid state.” Fontus harvests 0.5 liters of water in an hour in what is considered “really good” conditions, with temperatures between 30 to 40 degrees Celsius and between 80 percent and 90 percent humidity.
Though the device is currently only made for mounting on bikes, another model which has a built in air suction mechanism is in the works. This means that the bottle can be stationary and still collect water. The bottle is great for areas facing water scarcity. Also, in places like festivals, this could be a boon for ravers as staying hydrated is always an issue in such situations especially where there is high consumption of alcohol and physical activity (dancing). This bottle could not only save you bucks in water purchases but also more time for you to party rather than waste your time in the never ending lines.
Hopefully the company gets the funding it needs to mass produce this product and into the hands of the consumers at a lowered cost. Check out how the bottle works here :
