- Title: Chilean startup builds machine to pull clean water from air
- Date: 21st July 2017
- Summary: SANTIAGO, CHILE (JULY 20, 2017) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF OFFICE AREA OF CHILEAN START-UP "FRESHWATER" CO-FOUNDER OF "FRESHWATER" HECTOR PINO (RIGHT) DURING INTERVIEW WATER PRODUCED FROM HUMIDITY TAP WHERE WATER CONVERTED FROM HUMIDITY COMES FROM (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CO-FOUNDER OF "FRESHWATER" HECTOR PINO, SAYING: "The objective is to develop technology that can transport this water and which can guarantee that this water is of good quality. Currently, in remote regions they rely on water trucks, wells and other alternatives that are not reliable, the supply and quality of water is not stable." BASE OF MACHINE THAT CONVERTS HUMIDITY INTO WATER PAN FROM BASE OF MACHINE TO TAP AT TOP OF MACHINE WHERE FRESH WATER COMES FROM GREEN BUTTON ON MACHINE THAT PUSHES WATER THROUGH TAP WATER COMING THROUGH TAP WATER FALLING INTO GLASS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CO-FOUNDER OF "FRESHWATER" HECTOR PINO, SAYING: "It works using the principles of humidity, temperature and altitude. What it does is accelerate the natural cycle of water, forming a cloud in the machine that causes rain, (then it's) purified and sterilised to get quality water, all in the place where you live."
- Embargoed: 4th August 2017 21:47
- Keywords: clean water drinking water Chilean company rural access to water poor areas wine Freshwater air humidity condensation atmospheric water purified water water solution
- Location: SANTIAGO AND CACHIYUYO, CHILE
- City: SANTIAGO AND CACHIYUYO, CHILE
- Country: USA
- Topics: Human Interest / Brights / Odd News,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0016QNVOEB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A start up in Chile has built a machine that can literally get fresh water out of thin air, with a fog-harvesting system that could change the lives of communities high up in the country's Andes.
Called Freshwater, the machine is a homemade solution for communities with no regular access to water. With the Andes chain of mountains traversing Chile, authorities have been unable to connect the country's water grid to many rural towns. As a result locals have had to improvise, often paying for expensive water trucks to come up the Andes.
Hector Pino of Freshwater says his machine mimics nature with a portable fog-harvesting system. The mechanics of the machine creates a small cloud in the machine, which is used to extract water. The water then passes through a filtration system to make it suitable to drink straight from the tap.
According to the inventors, there are different models of the Freshwater unit that can hold up to 30 litres of water and which can be fitted with solar panels for areas with no electricity. With the potential to change the lives of many across Chile and the region, interest in the invention has been strong with installation projects lined up in El Salvador and Colombia.
With an estimated 34 million people across Latin America and the Caribbean without access to clean water, this Chilean start up wants to take its invention worldwide. Its crowdfunding appeal on Indiegogo wants to raise $500,000 to send out the Freshwater units to the driest regions of Earth. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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