Milton Interrupted Drinking Water Flows—So Florida Sent a Machine to Harvest It From the Air

David Stuckenberg, founder and CEO of Genesis Systems, explains that the WaterCube uses liquids and solids—materials that absorb water—that essentially “form a handshake with water in the air.” The machine then heats these materials to remove the water.

Atmospheric water generators typically require large amounts of energy to operate, but Stuckenberg says the company’s materials are 400 percent more efficient than those currently available commercially, and have a much higher affinity for water.

But the technology comes at a steep price. WaterCube is brought to St. Petersburg is listed at $860,000. The company recently began selling a second, smaller device for home use called the WaterCube 100, which retails for $20,000 and is about the size of an HVAC system. That machine can produce 100 to 200 liters of water per day. Efficiency ranges from 0.07 to 0.8 kilowatt-hours per liter of water and costs anywhere from $10 to $80 per day to operate, depending on energy costs and humidity. The WaterCube can run on solar or conventional energy.

The machines make more water in a humid environment and work well in atmospheric humidity up to 40 percent. Stuckenberg says the company is constantly improving its technology and is working with the US Department of Defense to be able to produce water with 10% moisture.

The WaterCube connects to the building’s water supply so that water does not need to be harvested from a 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 steps of filtration before it leaves,” Stuckenberg said.

After Hurricane 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 situation on the island.

At their current rate, and the amount of water they are capable of producing, these reefs are unlikely to be the only source of water in these types of conditions anytime soon. According to statistics published by the US Department of Energy, a hospital the size of All Children’s can typically use anywhere from 10,000 to 90,000 gallons per day, depending on the services provided, the age of the building, and water use practices. That’s far more than the 2,000 gallons that Genesis Systems’ largest unit can produce in 24 hours.

However, in cases where water cannot be reclaimed or transported quickly to the site, these facilities can act as a bridge or additional water source. But to be useful, they need to be in the right place at the right time, and moving an 18,000-pound machine in a disaster situation can be tricky.

According to the hospital spokesperson, All Children’s did not end up needing to collect water from this machine; shortly after launch, the city’s sewer system was operational and water service was resumed with a boil advisory. “We were able to change our operations accordingly,” said a spokesperson for the department on Friday. Over the weekend, AHCA of Florida moved the WaterCube to a shelter where it can be quickly moved to another location if needed.