ASU summit calls for continued collaboration, innovations in atmospheric water harvesting technology As questions about water resources and access continue to build in the Southwest, some experts are turning to an unlikely place for solutions: our atmosphere. Atmospheric water harvesting, a method of water collection that draws water from humidity in the air, offers a new pathway for water security. Experts in areas including engineering, hydrology,
Scientist at the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures
materials science and thermodynamics gathered
Laboratory. “Water is a human right. The question is:
at Arizona State University in February for
How can we get water in the right place at the right
the Atmospheric Water Harvesting Summit
time, with the right quality? This is where atmospheric
— the first summit of its kind dedicated
water capture technology can really shine.”
entirely to atmospheric water harvesting.
The summit, which took place from Feb. 8—9, was
Paul Westerhoff, Regents Professor in the
hosted by the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative,
School of Sustainable Engineering and the
a statewide project led by the Global Futures
Built Environment at ASU, the Fulton Chair of
Laboratory in collaboration with Ira A. Fulton Schools
Environmental Engineering and director of Global
of Engineering. The initiative targets ASU’s industrial,
Center for Water Technology, moderated the
municipal, agricultural, tribal and international
event. He said that while atmospheric water
partners to deploy new water conservation and
harvesting technology has gathered interest
efficiency technologies. The summit was organized
from industries like health care, home appliances,
by the Global Center for Water Technology, which
semiconductor manufacturing, the military and data
is part of the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative.
centers, it is an underutilized area for progress.
The summit gathered water researchers, startups,
“This has been the first international atmospheric
larger companies and other participants in atmospheric
harvesting summit — at the very least the first
water harvesting. This diverse range of experts
one of this scale — and this is an area that could
discussed the broad range of uses for this technology,
really benefit from dedicated attention,” said
from drinking water to industrial applications.
Westerhoff, who is also a Senior Global Futures