Researchers have come up with a billboard that converts air humidity in the atmosphere into clean drinking water by use of filters and condensers.
University of Engineering and Technology (UTEC) researchers in Lima, Peru, designed the billboard they say is meant to put “imagination into action” while advertising the university.
The billboard has five devices that are used in extracting water vapor from the air using condensers and filters. It is reported that air humidity in the area reaches 98 per cent, hence making the water extraction easier and faster.
Researchers are excited with this new invention that could be used to extract water from air and supply people with clean drinking water in dry areas of the world, including Africa.
“We hadn’t realised how big the impact would be,” said Jessica Ruas, a spokesperson for the university.
UNICEF predicts that by 2030, 75 million to 250 million people in Africa will be living in areas with high water scarcity, hence the innovation by UTEC could be used to mitigate this effects if it is made more efficient and used on a larger scale.
Once extracted, the water is stored in tanks at the top of the billboard structure, before it is filtered and tapped for use.
The billboard has so far produced 9,000 liters of water (96 liters per day), which is then made available to the general public in the dry area of Bujuma village, where it is located.
“The panel traps humidity in the air and transforms it into water. It’s that simple,” Ruas added.
“There is a lot of water. It is right there in the sea, but it is not suitable for drinking purposes, and costs a lot of money to process it.”
