A machine originally designed for the military, which extracts water from the air, is now being used for humanitarian missions to bring safe drinking water to areas struck by natural disaster or poverty. 
The Water-gen comapny was founded in 2009 by entrepreneur Arye Kohavi. During his time serving in the Israeli Defence Forces, Kohavi had observed that front-line soldiers would often run out of water when conveys were destroyed, so he designed a device to produce drinking water in conflict zones.
His solution was a machine that utilised air-to-water technology, which he then sold to military buyers. But now the company is collaborating with both military disaster-relief units and NGOs to supply clean water in both emergency situations and places where water is scarce or unsafe to drink.
"We are a business company, but our vision is a humanitarian one. In the 21st century, there is no reason for any society to suffer a shortage of water," executive chairman of water-gen Maxim Pasik told Dezeen.
Water-gen's air-to-water technology needs only a supply of electricity to provide safe, clean and cool drinking water. Their units can be operated anywhere with a minimum temperature of seven degrees celsius with a relative humidity of 30 per cent.
The dehumidifying units use heat-exchange technology, passing air over a cooled core, collecting the water that condenses and purifying it.
Its patented atmospheric water generator, called Genius, claims to be the most energy...