From Michigan to Texas to Iowa and North Dakota, nearly two dozen states are experiencing severe to exceptional drought as concerns about the conditions continue to rise.
While farmers and families worry about the lack of water and rain droughts might cause, there may be a solution they can pull from thin air: hydropanels. These massive panels resemble solar panels, measuring just under eight feet long and weighing 340 pounds. They are also powered by the sun, but instead of creating energy, the panels provide individuals with clean and safe water.
Primarily manufactured by SOURCE, these panels use solar-powered fans that pull pure water vapor out of the air. Inside the panels, there is warm air that then transforms the vapor into liquid. Next, the water is put through a two-step production process to ensure there is no pollution in the water. This process includes a built-in air filter that prevents debris from entering the hydropanel and uses SOURCE's patented material that only attracts water molecules. After the water is mineralized and circulated, it can be sent directly into people's homes.
Hydropanels manufactured by SOURCE can be connected to any water dispenser that supports 80 psi, including countertop sinks, refrigerators, free-standing dispensers, and more.
Colin Goddard, Vice President of Business Development at SOURCE Global, told TechTimes that hydropanels offer a "more convenient and sustainable drinking water supply" than plastic bottled, trucked, or filtered water.
"We know too many families have trouble accessing clean drinking water at home for a number of reasons, including drought," Goddard said. "That's why SOURCE Hydropanels were designed to leapfrog centralized infrastructure and create a new drinking water supply where it's needed most.
He explained that this solar-powered technology is practical for everyday use, as families in over 50 countries have been using hydro panels. Not only has SOURCE installed its hydropanels at individual homes, but schools, remote communities, and luxury resorts have begun using the technology to ensure clean and safe water for students, residents, and guests.
"We envision a future in which our technology is widely adopted by families as it gives people ownership of the water they drink," Goddard said.
He explained that SOURCE designed its hydro panels as a potential replacement for how water has historically been packaged and purchased by individuals.
"Hydropanels were designed to replace the need for plastic water bottles in the home," Goddard said. "A single SOURCE Hydropanel eliminates the need for up to 54,000 single-use plastic bottles over its estimated 15-year life span and will cost less than buying all those water bottles saving the family money in the long-run."
Millions of Americans have been suffering from drought conditions in recent weeks, with the U.S. Drought Monitor reporting last week that at least 18.09% of the United States and Puerto Rico are in drought. In Iowa alone, 78.2% of the state is experiencing some drought conditions - impacting over 2.4 million residents. As concerns grow over these conditions, hydropanels may offer a key solution to a potential lack of water.
Keith Lambert, president of Oxidizers, Inc. and Pollution Control expert, told TechTimes that hydropanels are a "real-world alternative" in providing sustainable water.
"Hydropanels are an interesting combo of technologies, combining solar power from the sun to withdraw water vapor found in the air then filtering, mineralization, and outputting final drinking water," Lambert said "When you look at the state of clean sustainable water sources, hydropanels in drought-prone areas are a real-world alternative to trucking, piping, and other high-cost infrastructure methods."
While SOURCE hydropanels are primarily designed to produce water for drinking and cooking, the company has said their technology can be used to "meet any water production volume," making hydropanels a potential solution for families and farmers alike.
For the best success, SOURCE recommends at least one hydropanel for every two people living in a home, as one panel typically produces around 180 standard bottles of water each month.
SOURCE has touted that its hydropanels can collect and produce water in a variety of climates - including low-humidity communities such as Arizona, where SOURCE is headquartered.
However, the company has warned that these panels will enter a "hibernation mode" and stop producing water when air temperatures reach below freezing.
As people consider hydropanels as a solution for clean and safe water in drought-prone areas, Lambert has called on a broader strategy to address the problem.
"I believe if we stop looking for that one silver bullet to solve an issue, but instead employ a diverse technological approach we can solve many of the tough environmental issues we face today," he said.
About the author: Callie Patteson is a freelance journalist based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and New Hampshire. She is studying to receive her Erasmus Mundus master's in political communication and data journalism at the University of Amsterdam. Previously, she worked as a national politics reporter for the New York Post and an Associate Breaking News Editor for the Washington Examiner. Find her online at https://calliepatteson.squarespace.com
