In 2020, according to a United Nations report, about two billion people lived without safe drinking water or a basic level of access to the commodity. This scarcity is projected to increase due to climate change, population growth, and poor management practices. This is why the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal-6 (SDG-6) has been termed clean water and sanitation. The sustainable management of this resource and access to safe water and sanitation are essential for boosting economy and productivity while providing significant leverage for existing investments in health and education.
Simply put, access to potable H2O in remote areas of less developed and developing African countries and other countries of the world is a global problem that the UN is looking to have solved by the year 2030. In Nigeria, it is not uncommon for communities in the northern regions to travel many kilometers to get water. Images of communities where borehole systems have been installed inline with media. In the Niger Delta region, oil spills and pipeline vandalism has contaminated rivers and other bodies to the point that they cannot fish or even use the water for any purpose.
New technology that harvests drinking water from air is a game-changer.
A global leading firm in atmospheric drinking water generating devices, Watergen, has launched its product in Nigeria with Macif Projects and Distribution Limited (Macif) as its exclusive distributor. Macif is introducing this innovative technology and solution for providing clean and sustainable H2O from the air extracted from the atmosphere to Nigerians. In technical terms, this scientific process is known as condensation. Condensation is the process of gaseous (vapor) turning into liquid water. In other words, it is the process where vapor in the air is turned into liquid.
This process is relatable and it occurs every day. Condensation is part of the cycle as it is responsible for the formation of clouds. The steam from a boiling pot is an example of vapor. When it cools, it turns from hot air into water. Another important point is that the air has to cool to a certain temperature before it becomes water. There are molecules in air vapor and this is what turns it into water. In a world suffering from lack of access, having a technology that turns air into the resource is a game-changer, especially one that can produce large amounts of H2O for many more to use.
Innovative device uses a plug-and-drink feature.
The innovative solution is based on a worldwide, patented, unique heat exchange technology that is safe, effective, economical and environmentally-friendly. These generating devices are plug-and-drink. This means that they are used to create filtered drinking sources at the various points of consumption. This eliminates the carbon-intensive supply chains and the harmful plastic wastes that cannot be recycled. The president of Watergen, Michael Mirilashvili, stated that his company’s partnership with Nzan Ogbe in Nigeria is a remarkable feat and that they share the same principle and values in the quest to develop sustainable drinking water.
According to the WHO, the percentage of Nigerians with access to safe drinking water is only 19 percent, effectively proving that Nigeria still struggles with providing safe and clean access to its people. The director of Macif, Ukonwa Ikedife, said that access to safe drinking water is a fundamental human right and the firm’s partnership with Watergen seeks to close this gap while reducing our carbon footprint in contribution towards global climate action. These generation products range from an indoor machine with an output capacity of about 30 liters per day to an outdoor device that can generate up to 6,000 liters per day.
Will these products be available at affordable rates to the less privileged?
Other products such as the Watergen GEN-L, GEM-M PRO, Gen M1, and GENNY machines produce 6000 liters, 900 liters, 220 liters, and 30 liters per day. According to the distribution company, GEN-L is perfect for large communities and factories, while the Gen-M Pro would be appropriate for commercial, residential, and industrial uses such as schools, hotels, and hospitals. The GENNY, which requires a simple plug-in, is suitable for home and office use. However, the important issue is whether these products will be sold at affordable rates to the less privileged who are really in need of them. Otherwise, the purpose is defeated.
Related Link
Watergen: Website
