David Stuckenberg, co-founder and COO of Genesis Systems, explains that WaterCube uses proprietary liquid and solid sorbents (materials that absorb water) that essentially “form a handshake with water in the air.” The machine then heats these materials to extract the water.
Atmospheric water generators typically require a substantial amount of energy to operate, but Stuckenberg says the company’s materials work 400 percent better than those currently commercially available and have a very high affinity for water.
But the technology comes at a high price. The WaterCube delivered to St. Petersburg has a price of $860,000. The company just started selling a second, smaller device for home use called the WaterCube 100, which sells for $20,000 and is about the size of an HVAC system. That device can generate between 100 and 200 gallons of water per day. Efficiency ranges from 0.07 to 0.8 kilowatt-hours per gallon of water and costs between $10 and $80 per day to operate, depending on energy costs and humidity. A WaterCube can be powered by solar or conventional energy.
The machines produce more water in a humid environment and work well with atmospheric humidity up to 40 percent. Stuckenberg says the company is constantly improving its technology and is working with the U.S. Department of Defense to be able to generate water with 10 percent humidity.
The WaterCube connects to a building’s water supply so there is no need to collect water directly from the machine. “The systems are designed to connect to anything from a garden hose to a hospital water system, and provide water that goes through four filtration steps before exiting,” says Stuckenberg.
After Typhoon Mawar hit the US territory of Guam in May 2023, Genesis Systems worked with the US Air Force to test the WaterCube 1000 in a disaster response scenario on the island.
At their current price and for the amount of water they can generate, these devices are unlikely to be the only source of water in these types of situations anytime soon. According Figures published by the US Department of Energy.A hospital the size of All Children’s would typically use between 10,000 and 90,000 gallons per day, depending on the services provided, the age of the building and water use practices. That’s much more than the 2,000 gallons Genesis Systems’ largest unit is capable of producing in 24 hours.
Still, in scenarios where water cannot be immediately restored or transported to an area, these devices can serve as a bridge or supplemental source of water. But to be useful, they must be in the right place at the right time, and the logistics of moving an 18,000-pound machine in a disaster situation can be complicated.
According to a hospital spokesperson, All Children’s did not have to remove water from the device; Shortly after its delivery, the city’s sewer system was functional and water service resumed with a boil advisory. “We were able to modify our operations accordingly,” the spokesperson said Friday. Over the weekend, the Florida AHCA moved the WaterCube to a shelter where it can be quickly moved to another location if necessary.