| 00:00:01 |
00:00:04 |
As a nation we spend around half a billion
dollars on bottled water, |
| 00:00:04 |
00:00:08 |
but a new invention could change all that,
and as incredible as it seems, |
| 00:00:08 |
00:00:12 |
this Aussie device is turning air into water.
Michelle Taper reports. |
| 00:00:17 |
00:00:20 |
This is the machine of the future,
that makes drinkable water, out of the air. |
| 00:00:22 |
00:00:25 |
Turning air into drinking water?
Sounds amazing, doesn't it? |
| 00:00:26 |
00:00:30 |
Well now it's possible to do it in your own home.
- It's filled every hour, |
| 00:00:30 |
00:00:34 |
so it remains fresh and very light.
So as far as ... of water is concerned, |
| 00:00:35 |
00:00:38 |
we've got this peace of mind,
we sell the best water that's available. |
| 00:00:39 |
00:00:44 |
With 4 children, John and Monica Smith
used to spend $1500 a year, |
| 00:00:45 |
00:00:46 |
on bottled water.
|
| 00:00:46 |
00:00:48 |
Now, they're one of the first families
in the country |
| 00:00:48 |
00:00:51 |
to buy one of these remarkable machines.
|
| 00:00:52 |
00:00:54 |
We like it because there's no
lifting heavy bottles, |
| 00:00:54 |
00:00:59 |
there's no delivery man coming, and
we have about 20 liters of water constantly. |
| 00:01:00 |
00:01:03 |
With more water in our earth's atmosphere
than in our ocean, |
| 00:01:03 |
00:01:07 |
scientists have been trying for years to harness
this infinite source, |
| 00:01:07 |
00:01:12 |
as a solution to the world's water shortages.
- This machine dubbed the Life Saver, |
| 00:01:12 |
00:01:16 |
can be parked anywhere, and will produce
clean drinkable water from the air, |
| 00:01:16 |
00:01:19 |
using electricity, solid power or generators.
|
| 00:01:20 |
00:01:24 |
A water company makes machines
that can produce anything |
| 00:01:25 |
00:01:30 |
from 20 to 5000 liters of water a day.
Which can be used for drinking, irrigation, |
| 00:01:31 |
00:01:34 |
in fact, US troops are even using them
in Iraq. |
| 00:01:34 |
00:01:39 |
It's definitely economical, it's very efficient,
it's clean, it's environmentally friendly, |
| 00:01:40 |
00:01:44 |
there are no waste products, and the water
that comes out tastes good, and it's healthy. |
| 00:01:46 |
00:01:50 |
With Australians spending around 500$ million
a year on bottled water, |
| 00:01:51 |
00:01:58 |
these machines, which retail from $1000 to $2500
and cost anything from 1 to 4 cents a liter to run |
| 00:01:58 |
00:02:04 |
are sure to cause a ripple in the industry. And
now the race is on to get them into your home, |
| 00:02:04 |
00:02:05 |
school, even offices.
|
| 00:02:06 |
00:02:13 |
The quality and taste of the water is like,
a natural spring water. |
| 00:02:14 |
00:02:18 |
Property developer Maryten leases 20 units
for 17 dollars a week, |
| 00:02:18 |
00:02:22 |
and sales manager Jim Keath says they
are a great cost cutting move. |
| 00:02:22 |
00:02:25 |
- Our cost year is about 60,000 dollars per
year in water, |
| 00:02:25 |
00:02:29 |
we expect to have a cost saving of 20 percent.
That's 12,000 dollars per year. |
| 00:02:30 |
00:02:31 |
That's quite substantial.
|
| 00:02:32 |
00:02:35 |
- So how does the machine work?
Well, air is sucked in, |
| 00:02:36 |
00:02:40 |
similar to an air conditioner, then moisture is
extracted and filtered so it's drinkable. |
| 00:02:41 |
00:02:45 |
Professor Jim Smith, from the University of
Technology in Sydney. |
| 00:02:45 |
00:02:49 |
- Water is a growing need in many parts of the
world, scarcity of water and quality of water, |
| 00:02:50 |
00:02:54 |
so if you combine those two issues, and you can
do it without effecting negatively |
| 00:02:55 |
00:02:59 |
on the environment, the energy used, then it
has a lot to offer. |
| 00:03:00 |
00:03:03 |
- There is a catch though. Humidity must be at
least 20 to 30 percent. |
| 00:03:04 |
00:03:08 |
So while it might not work in the driest of
climates, it will work around the home. |
| 00:03:09 |
00:03:10 |
- With a climate like Australia, I would
strongly recommend it. |
| 00:03:11 |
00:03:13 |
When you think of the water shortages that
we have in this country, |
| 00:03:14 |
00:03:16 |
This is a great answer to that problem.
|