WATER FROM AIR
It is no secret that the climate is changing throughout the world and less rain is falling in many places. This is causing a shortage of drinking water worldwide. This situation is made worse by the increasing world population. Fortunately, new sources are being developed, including methods that actually take water out of the air. It may sound like magic, but it is already being done.(lines 1–4)
The Canadian WaterMill Company has a device that first extracts water from the air and then purifies it, so it is safe to drink. WaterMill's director claims their product is environmentally friendly and can work in humid, tropical areas, such as rainforests, as well as in dry regions, like deserts. However, this technology does not produce large amounts of water at any one time, it is quite expensive and uses a lot of electricity. There is a similar device being developed by American scientists that does the same as the Canadian device but it doesn't use electricity at all.(lines 5–10)
An Israeli company has also recently developed a device that produces drinking water from air. This product comes in three sizes, including a small unit for a home or an office. It works best in humid environments although it can produce water in dry regions as well. It needs to be plugged into an electricity supply but the company also makes a device that operates on batteries for use in rural areas or in emergency situations.(lines 11–15)
A recent report from the United Nations (UN) says that 20% of the world's population lives in underdeveloped areas, where water sources are limited. This lack of clean water severely affects people's lives in those regions. It is the major cause of disease, child mortality and starvation. It has also caused wars in the past and probably will again in the future unless this problem is solved.(lines 16–19)
While scientists are developing new methods to extract water from the air, there are additional ways of obtaining drinking water. Many countries have huge desalination plants, which convert sea water to fresh water. Another way of producing drinking water is the purification of sewage and turning it into clean water. Astronauts rely on this solution when in outer space. Hopefully, all these methods will help end the worldwide shortage of clean drinking water.(lines 20–24)