Water Out of Thin Air

Water Out of Thin Air

Did you know that the sky holds 85 times more water than all the earth’s lakes, oceans, rivers and streams? Forbes recently wrote an article about the Genesis Systems WaterCube, which taps into that water and makes fresh water out of thin air. It's a big deal because in places like Arizona, Las Vegas, and California, finding enough water for everyone is getting tougher, making it hard to build new homes. This WaterCube can make up to 120 gallons of water a day, enough for a family of four, and it can be used alone or with city water. It's about the same price or cheaper than getting water the traditional way, costing around $20,000, and it's not too pricey to maintain. The company making it says it's a smart choice because it's reliable and good for the environment. Plus, it's being used by the U.S. military, so you know it's got to be good.

The (Water Treatment) Legacy of Los Alamos

Liz Freedman, of Arthur Freedman Associates, wrote a pretty cool article connecting the movie Oppenheimer to advancements in water treatment. She writes “Not only are many of our industry greats connected to Los Alamos, but the genesis of nuclear energy, a field deeply intertwined with water purification and management, can trace its origins to Oppenheimer’s daring project as well.”

Les Norman, for example, grew up in Los Alamos and focused on studying silicate in groundwater, which is key for understanding water contaminants and treatment solutions. Dr. Arthur Freedman (author Liz Freedman’s grandpa) also worked at Los Alamos on radiochemistry, which is super important for detecting and understanding water pollutants. His research laid the groundwork for modern techniques in analyzing and treating water, making our drinking water safer and our industry more advanced.

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Shout out to Don Meredith from Meredith Culligan for grabbing the Water Treats YETI!

Keeping Coconut Water Safe

AquiSense Technologies is changing the game for coconut water safety in India with UV-C LED technology. Coconut water is super hydrating and all the rage right now for its health benefits, like helping your heart and lowering blood pressure. But keeping it fresh and safe without adding chemicals is a big challenge. AquiSense teamed up with Cocoworks (yup that’s a real company) to make this happen, using a system called PearlAqua Kilo. This system uses special LED lights to kill off germs in the water, making it safe to drink without needing any preservatives. The best part? It's super easy to use and doesn't harm the environment because it doesn't use mercury like older systems.

Crypto in Drinking Water

Recently acquired SpringWell dives into the gritty details of how a tiny bug called Cryptosporidium, or "Crypto" (not Bitcoin) for short, wreaked havoc in Milwaukee back in '93, leading to the biggest waterborne illness outbreak the U.S. had ever seen. This parasite can get into drinking water from animal poop making its way into rivers and lakes, especially after big rainstorms. Despite being super small, Crypto is tough, resisting the usual chlorine clean-up and slipping through filters too easily. Years later, many places still struggle to keep it out of our taps and dealing with it means boiling water, using UV lights, or special filters to keep our water safe.

What else is happening:

• Water technology company A. O. Smith acquired Impact Water Products, a California-based water treatment company

• Wisconsin appeals court says regulators must develop PFAS restrictions before mandating clean-up

• Consumer Reports updates their Guide to Better, Safer Drinking Water to include additional information about blood tests for PFAS

• Atlantic Coast Water Clinic, an authorized Kinetico dealer, outlines ideal filter change frequencies for several types of filters

• Eco says don’t hire ‘Dan in the Van’ for plumbing, electrical, or HVAC projects