Advert turns air into drinking water

[davieG]

By Aida ParadosBBC Mundo

The billboard serves a dual purpose, acting to draw students to the newly established engineering university UTEC

Just outside Lima, Peru, a billboard provides drinking water to whomever needs it - mainly, its neighbours.

The panel produces clean water from the humidity in the air, through filters.

Researchers at the University of Engineering and Technology (UTEC) in Lima and advertising agency Mayo Peru DraftFCB joined forces to launch it.

UTEC says it wanted to put "imagination into action" and show that it is possible to solve people's problems through engineering and technology.

"A billboard that produces drinking water from air," says the billboard up high. And it does what it says on the tin: so far, the billboard has produced over 9,000 litres of drinking water - 96 litres a day.

The panel is strategically located in the village of Bujama, an area south of the capital city that is almost a desert, where some people have no access to clean water.

Access to all

Despite tough conditions with little rain, air humidity reaches 98%, says UTEC.

"The panel traps humidity in the air and transforms it into water. It's that simple," said Jessica Ruas, a spokesperson from the university.

"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."

Ruas says the system might become a wider solution for the problem.

The billboard has become something of a local attraction as well as a local resource

"It doesn't have to come in the shape of a billboard, but ingenuity is key to development".

Internally, the panel consists of five devices that extract water vapour from the air using a condenser and filters.

Water is stored in tanks at the top of the structure. Once filtered, it flows down a pipe connected to a tap, accessible to everybody.

The internal system costs some US$1,200 (£790) to set up.

On the publicity side, the panel itself seeks to attract the "creative minds that Peru needs" to the young UTEC, which was founded only a year ago.

"We want to change the minds of future engineers and inspire them," said Ms Ruas.

The neighbours have given the billboard a warm welcome. It has become a local attraction for and motorists and an indispensable part of life in the local village.

"We hadn't realised how big the impact would be," said Ms Ruas.

[Guest]

Excellent.

[darko2k7]

What a brilliant idea !

[Guest]

And why haven't these ideas been adopted by countries on a mass scale?

I see you can buy machines on the private market.

[MooseBreath]

And why haven't these ideas been adopted by countries on a mass scale?

I see you can buy machines on the private market.

Not as efficient as other methods. This is a gimmick designed to get people interested at studying at the university, not a serious solution to any water supply problems.

[Zingari]

In what way is it different to the dehumidifier in my conservatory ?

Does it require any electrical power to operate ( solar power or otherwise)?

[Guest]

In what way is it different to the dehumidifier in my conservatory ?

Does it require any electrical power to operate ( solar power or otherwise)?

It's very similar to a dehumidifier and it needs a power source.

[Deucalion]

Not claiming any technical expertise here, but where it is installed is desert but has 98% humidity.

I would imagine these are pretty unique circumstances. Most places with 98% humidity would not need any more fresh water.

I'm guessing it needs high humidity to work.

[Guest]

I think you need 35% humidity to make a reasonable amount of water. The UK is much higher.

[Zingari]

i thought that you shouldn't drink distilled water for too long .

Is this just an old wives tale that i've always believed based on nothing ?

[Guest]

i thought that you shouldn't drink distilled water for too long .

Is this just an old wives tale that i've always believed based on nothing ?

In essence it's an old wives tale. However it would depend upon the initial source of the water and whether you were eating a balanced diet with it.

distillation boils water - removes chemicals that are boiled off at a higher and lower temperature than water. Therefore the collected water is purer than the original. If the original source was contaminated that could mean it's still dangerous, if the equipment used to distill is contaminated then it could be dangerous and if you have a particular need for some minerals found in water which are boiled off then that could be dangerous.

Distilled water in shops is usually distilled tap water and therefore not a dangerous source.

[Zingari]

In essence it's an old wives tale. However it would depend upon the initial source of the water and whether you were eating a balanced diet with it.

distillation boils water - removes chemicals that are boiled off at a higher and lower temperature than water. Therefore the collected water is purer than the original. If the original source was contaminated that could mean it's still dangerous, if the equipment used to distill is contaminated then it could be dangerous and if you have a particular need for some minerals found in water which are boiled off then that could be dangerous.

Distilled water in shops is usually distilled tap water and therefore not a dangerous source.

Cheers FIF ,

I wonder how many more old wives tales are languishing somewhere in my brain that i still believe are facts

[davieG]

Cheers FIF ,

I wonder how many more old wives tales are languishing somewhere in my brain that i still believe are facts

There's a few old wives tails in here - - lingering in your brain I'd bet!

[Zingari]

There's a few old wives tails in here - http://www.foxestalk...ciation-thread/ - lingering in your brain I'd bet!

MILFs lingering in lingerie is very rarely far from my thoughts

[Deucalion]

I think you need 35% humidity to make a reasonable amount of water. The UK is much higher.

What kind of humidity is there in places like Angola or Ethiopia? I bet distilled water from the air would still be better than water contaminated with poo and suchlike.

Also, somewhere like Bangladesh, which has plenty of water but not much of it drinkable would probably really benefit from something like this.

Nobel prize anyone?

[Guest]

What kind of humidity is there in places like Angola or Ethiopia? I bet distilled water from the air would still be better than water contaminated with poo and suchlike.

today the humidity in Luanda Angola is 75%

Addis Ababa Ethiopia 67%

[Webbo]

What kind of humidity is there in places like Angola or Ethiopia? I bet distilled water from the air would still be better than water contaminated with poo and suchlike.

Also, somewhere like Bangladesh, which has plenty of water but not much of it drinkable would probably really benefit from something like this.

Nobel prize anyone?

I think the electricity required to do this on a scale large enough to make it worthwhile would make it too expensive to be practical.

[Guest]

I think the electricity required to do this on a scale large enough to make it worthwhile would make it too expensive to be practical.

They could use solar power in many countries to generate the electricity.

[BoneDog]

This water hasn't got industrial waste in it unlike tap water. I'd love one in my back yard next to my souped up hedgehog house.

[Deucalion]

I think the electricity required to do this on a scale large enough to make it worthwhile would make it too expensive to be practical.

I'd guess the power would be required to cool the air so the water in the air condenses?

Could you not just use a mesh of cool material well insulated from the outside air temperature?

Would the temperature difference have to be that much lower to get the water to condense?

[Saxondale]

Shouldn't the headline be "Water Condenser Has Advert On It"?