A children’s hospital affected by Hurricane Milton earlier this week is now utilizing an innovative device designed to extract drinking water directly from the air. This testing of atmospheric water harvesting systems highlights a promising solution for emergency water supply during disasters.
“When a hospital has both water and power, you’re good,” stated a representative from Genesis Systems, the Florida-based company responsible for the device. The pioneering system employs metal organic frameworks to capture moisture from the air, subsequently releasing purified water once the material is heated by approximately 8°C.
Atmospheric water harvesting systems have garnered attention due to their capacity to function independently of traditional water infrastructure. These systems are increasingly being deployed to provide daily water needs in off-grid communities and areas with unreliable water sources, as well as supporting military operations.
As Hurricane Milton approached Florida’s west coast, officials recognized the potential of these flexible systems in addressing the urgent need for clean water amidst disaster conditions. Jason Weida, secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, noted how previous hurricanes demonstrated the vulnerabilities of water access in hospitals, often leading to extended closures and evacuations.
In anticipation of Hurricane Milton, the atmospheric water harvesting system was strategically brought to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, where water supply disruptions threatened patient care in the neonatal intensive care unit. After the hurricane passed on October 9, the system was connected to a generator and began producing up to 2,000 gallons of drinking water per day to support hospital needs during restoration efforts.
The state-of-the-art equipment can function efficiently in conditions where humidity is above 10 percent, particularly in Florida’s humid environment. It operates at approximately 0.8 kilowatt hours of electricity per gallon of water, leading to manageable daily operational costs.
Emergency water supply solutions vary from transporting water in tanks to employing reverse osmosis systems. However, officials emphasize that harvesting water from the air offers a rapid and adaptable method to secure clean water resources during critical situations. “Redundancy is extremely important,” said Weida, highlighting the added layer of security provided by this technology.
Experts recognize atmospheric water harvesting as an “important tool” for disaster response, particularly in regions with high humidity like Florida. Nonetheless, the requirement for electricity, often sourced from generators during disasters, presents challenges that need addressing for optimal use in crisis scenarios.
