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David Stuckenberg, co-founder and Chief Operations Officer of Genesis Systems, elaborates on the innovative WaterCube, which utilizes a unique blend of liquid and solid sorbents—materials specifically designed to absorb moisture from the air. According to Stuckenberg, these materials essentially create a “handshake” with atmospheric water, allowing the machine to heat them and extract the moisture effectively.
While many atmospheric water generators need significant energy to operate, Stuckenberg asserts that his company’s sorbents are 400% more efficient than those found in existing commercial models, boasting a strong affinity for water.
However, this advanced technology comes with a hefty price tag. The WaterCube unit delivered to St. Petersburg is priced at $860,000. In response to growing demand, Genesis Systems has also introduced a smaller home version, the WaterCube 100, retailing for $20,000. This model, roughly the size of a residential HVAC unit, can produce 100 to 200 gallons of water daily. Its operational efficiency varies between 0.07 and 0.8 kilowatt-hours per gallon, resulting in daily costs ranging from $10 to $80, depending on energy prices and humidity levels. The WaterCube can function using either solar or traditional energy sources.
The machines are particularly effective in humid environments, capable of generating water even at humidity levels as low as 40%. Stuckenberg mentions that the company is continually enhancing its technology and is collaborating with the US Department of Defense to develop systems that can generate water in conditions of just 10% humidity.
To streamline water access, the WaterCube can be connected to a building’s existing water supply, eliminating the need to extract water directly from the unit. “Our systems can interface with anything from a garden hose to a hospital water system, providing water that undergoes four filtration stages before distribution,” explains Stuckenberg.
Following Typhoon Mawar’s impact on Guam in May 2023, Genesis Systems collaborated with the US Air Force to put the WaterCube 1000 to the test in a disaster response operation on the island.
At their current pricing and with their output capacity, these devices are unlikely to serve as the primary water source in emergency situations anytime soon. According to data from the US Department of Energy, hospitals like All Children’s typically require between 10,000 and 90,000 gallons of water daily, depending on various factors, vastly exceeding the 2,000 gallons produced by the larger Genesis Systems unit in a 24-hour period.
However, in circumstances where immediate water restoration or transportation is infeasible, these machines could provide a temporary or additional water source. Their effectiveness, though, hinges on being positioned correctly at the right time, given the challenges of moving an 18,000-pound machine in a disaster scenario.
A spokesperson from All Children’s Hospital noted that the facility did not end up needing water from the WaterCube. Shortly after its arrival, the city’s sewer systems were restored, and water service resumed, albeit with a boil advisory in effect. “We were able to adjust our operations accordingly,” the spokesperson reported. Over the weekend, Florida’s AHCA relocated the WaterCube to a shelter where it can be quickly deployed to another site if necessary..
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