MANOR, Texas (KXAN) — With a growing population and an increase in droughts, Texas is more desperate for water than ever before. New technology may provide a possible solution, and it comes from the air around us.
“There are 39 million billion gallons of water in the atmosphere around us,” said Brian Sheng, co-founder of water technology company Aquaria. “Our machine is actually sucking in air first, and then we are lowering the atmospheric air into its dew point and then capturing that water.”
Brian is referring to the Hydropack system. About the size of a Coke machine, the large grey box pulls in air and uses it to create water. The machine does this by simulating the same processes that occur when dew forms on grass in the morning.
“Our family is from an area in China called ‘the land of 1,000 springs,’ right? It’s actually very much like Texas,” said Brian’s brother and fellow co-founder Eric Sheng. “They’re the province that makes all the raw steel. They’re the province that makes a lot of military equipment, and all the water is polluted.”
Growing up, the brothers had water on the brain. They developed the Hydropack technology to address these concerns.
Now they’re bringing the technology to Texas. Currently, seven of their products are located in the state. Two are in the Austin area, including a model in Manor.
Creating water from thin air
The machine pulls in air, turns it into water and then deposits it in a tank for consumption. During this process, it passes through six filters in order to cleanse the water.
The smallest unit, called Hydropixel, can be placed indoors and generates 24 gallons of water per day. The largest unit, the Hydropack X, generates 246 gallons per day. All require power to work. Prices on the home units start at $10,000.
There are some downsides. For one, the machine works best in humid air. While it can create water in arid climates, it functions better near the coast.
Also, it doesn’t work below a certain temperature. The closer to freezing, the less water in the air. However, when the air is hot it can pull in more water.
“In the future, we really envision ourselves to be supplying water for entire cities, for entire communities,” Eric said. The company plans to sell its first industrial-sized machines in the next two months.
The company currently has devices in several states and eight countries.
Other water from air technology
Similar technology has been developed at the University of Texas. There, Professor Guihua Yu has spent the last few years working on a hydrogel polymer.
That substance can absorb water directly from the air, which can then be squeezed out and drank.
“This actually is very easily accessible and extremely scalable and extremely also low cost material to start with,” Yu told KXAN in February 2024.
Hydrogel doesn’t require power to use but is much smaller than the Hydropack.
Water in Texas as a priority
Improving water stability in Texas is one of Gov. Greg Abbott’s top goals of this current legislative session. Of those top priorities includes expanding the Texas Water Fund.
That fund, established as part of the 88th legislative session, provides a resource for communities looking to improve their water infrastructure. While an initial investment was provided for the fund, state lawmakers like Sen. Charles Perry are looking to reinforce that.
This session, Perry announced he aims to add a constitutional amendment to the state that would see the fund grow by a billion dollars per year for fifty years.
