An Israeli-based company has successfully developed a technology that extracts water from the air’s humidity.  The company offers an alternative solution and water source in a country facing increasing water shortages.  The technology was born from the desire to provide water to populations worldwide that suffer from insufficient water supply.

EWA, (Extraction of Water from Air), located in Beersheba, Israel, employs a three step process to produce its clean water:  Firstly, the water is absorbed via an exothermic process (heat-based); secondly, the water is held in a solid desiccant that has silica-based gel granules;  and thirdly, it is condensed by an energy saving condenser.  The system is also compatible to renewable energy sources, such as solar energy.

The company’s CEO, Dr. Etan Bar, says that this technology is available to assist Israel with its increasing water shortages; however, he admits that the government is currently focusing on desalination technology to address the population’s needs.  Still, in January 2009, EWA will launch a project to supply water units for bomb shelters to help in times of attacks, and they presently supply units to the Israeli Ministry of Defense.

The company’s main business is exported to Africa, Asia and Australia, where problems exists with poor quality water supply,  lack of infrastructure and even no water supply.   “We are not just operating for business purposes, but for humanitarian purposes and efforts as well.  Every human being has the right to our product, to water, which is why our prices are so cheap.”  He says a water unit sold by Aquamaker, a Houston-based company with sales offices in Israel, cost 1,500 New Israeli Shekels (N.I.S.), in comparison to their price of 400 N.I.S.

EWA offers a viable technology  for producing  clean water in an energy efficient way.   It appears many needy people in water-deprived villages worldwide may be benefitting from their business/humanitarian efforts.