Amazing new invention

[MargaretR]

We have all heard about the potential there is for wars about water supplies.
We don't have water shortages often here but other countries do,
but just look what has been invented-
water from the air - amazing!
The eco machine that can magic water out of thin air | Environment | The Observer

[Neil]

It does have its problems though in very dry areas still and of course uses electricity. The other thing I thought of is what is he impact to the environment if these machines start to pull all the water out of the air? Will it make dry places appear even dryer?

[derekgas]

There is a lot of technology around for all kinds of things, you will have heard of solar energy, there is also ground source and air source heat pumps, which can turn cold temperatures into around 35 degrees celsius, the problems are the usual ones, high costs, making it impossible for many people to purchase, which by default means companies dont take the training offered because it is not cost effective for them to do so, the cost of these is around £8000, as opposed to around £2000 to £3000 for a condensing boiler, and the systems take too long to pay for themselves.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by derekgas

There is a lot of technology around for all kinds of things, you will have heard of solar energy, there is also ground source and air source heat pumps, which can turn cold temperatures into around 35 degrees celsius, the problems are the usual ones, high costs, making it impossible for many people to purchase, which by default means companies dont take the training offered because it is not cost effective for them to do so, the cost of these is around £8000, as opposed to around £2000 to £3000 for a condensing boiler, and the systems take too long to pay for themselves.

I agree derek, but it the same with any new invention or new system. Remember when plasma TVs came out at first, they cost an arm and a leg, now you can pick one up for £600 for a 42", maybe this will apply here to derek, but not having the knowledge I'll bow to your experience

[jambutty]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

We have all heard about the potential there is for wars about water supplies.
We don't have water shortages often here but other countries do,
but just look what has been invented-
water from the air - amazing!
The eco machine that can magic water out of thin air | Environment | The Observer

There is nothing new about getting water from the air. It has been happening naturally for millennia. Pour a cold drink into a glass and what do you get? Condensation on the outside of the glass. That is water from the air.

Taking water out of the atmosphere in huge amounts will disrupt the weather patterns.

The water shortage answer is two fold. Curb the world birth rate. Impractical!

Or desalination plants. Ships have been desalinating seawater for use in boilers for decades. Many countries in the Middle East have huge desalination plants to supply their towns and cities with fresh water. The pure water doesn’t taste very nice though.

Desalination plants built between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn could be powered by solar power.

[MargaretR]

This particular invention is a small model for home use, about the size of a microwave. It could cut the bills of those on mains meters and the water willl be purified by ultra violet and so have no chlorine.

[jambutty]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

This particular invention is a small model for home use, about the size of a microwave. It could cut the bills of those on mains meters and the water willl be purified by ultra violet and so have no chlorine.

Fine – but what will it cost in energy to power?

It might save you a few quid in water bills whilst at the same time increasing your energy bill by much more.

[Less]

uses the electricity of about three light bulbs to condense moisture from the air and purify it into clean drinking water.

What size Light bulbs?
3 15W it would be low running costs.
3 200W or greater, Oh boy, watch that meter spin!

I never trust any statement that leaves you to assume they mean low wattage bulbs.

[MargaretR]

Originally Posted by jambutty

Fine – but what will it cost in energy to power?

It might save you a few quid in water bills whilst at the same time increasing your energy bill by much more.

From the link -
Their creation, the WaterMill, uses the electricity of about three light bulbs to condense moisture from the air and purify it into clean drinking water.

It will be an alternative to bottled water which costs the environment dearly

[Eric]

Sounds like something that we don't need in Canada ....

[derekgas]

Originally Posted by Less

What size Light bulbs?
3 15W it would be low running costs.
3 200W or greater, Oh boy, watch that meter spin!

I never trust any statement that leaves you to assume they mean low wattage bulbs.

This isnt the end of it either Less, I use quite a lot of light bulbs for the business premises, I can buy 2 low watt bulbs for 50p, or, 50watt bulbs in tens for £15, so the bulbs I use give off far more light, and last ten times as long, but are more expensive to run, but the real issue is, how much do the lower watt bulbs which last no time take out of the environment (to manufacture) compared to the long lasting ones?

[Less]

Originally Posted by derekgas

This isnt the end of it either Less, I use quite a lot of light bulbs for the business premises, I can buy 2 low watt bulbs for 50p, or, 50watt bulbs in tens for £15, so the bulbs I use give off far more light, and last ten times as long, but are more expensive to run, but the real issue is, how much do the lower watt bulbs which last no time take out of the environment (to manufacture) compared to the long lasting ones?

I googled the manufacturer of this new 'Wonder Product',

The WaterMill | Element Four

they also have a search facility, so I searched for technical specifications, they haven't published any.

I read their bumph, 3 or 4 cents per litre compared with 10 cents per litre bottled water, what's the betting it was the most expensive bottle of water ever found and the best test results, under ideal conditions that they compared it with?

What is the WaterMill?

Technically speaking, the WaterMill is an atmospheric water collection device that condenses water vapor and purifies it. In English: It's a home appliance that makes drinking water for your whole family - using only air.

Using only Air? Excuse me? Using Air and enough power to illuminate 3 unspecified light bulb's.

If someone put that sort of test result down for their City & Guilds they would have had a heck of alot of marks knocked off for being inaccurate and vague, Result = Fail, go back and take the whole year again!

[derekgas]

Not these days Less, you can be a plumber in 5 weeks now, or a gas engineer in a couple of months, I must have been thick to spend 7 years at it! Hrumph!!

[Less]

Originally Posted by derekgas

Not these days Less, you can be a plumber in 5 weeks now, or a gas engineer in a couple of months, I must have been thick to spend 7 years at it! Hrumph!!

So that covers you getting your ULCI 1st year plumbing certificate, did you ever go back and try for year 2?

[derekgas]

haha, yes I did, and this year alone have been on 7 refresher courses at a cost of around £2100. because we have bought the showroom, I am considering a hetas course, a ground source and air source course and maybe part p, which will be another £2000 + and another 5 weeks not working, staff training accounted for 14 weeks lost manpower this year, and will get worse next year, but still, when you give people a costing for a job, I frequently hear 'How much?'.