Clean water
🚰 The share of polluted drinking water in the US has been cut in half
The share of readings in American drinking water that exceeded health limits fell by half between 2003 and 2019. A new study has mapped 266 million readings of 1,250 different pollutants and shows how investments in water systems lower pollution levels.
🚰 Machine pulls water from the air - can produce 4,000 liters per day
Startup Atoco is preparing production of a machine that extracts water directly from the air using nanocrystalline materials. The container-sized prototype can produce up to 1,057 gallons of water per day and be installed at data centers, hospitals, and other critical infrastructure.
🚰 Nearly one billion people have gained access to clean water in the past nine years
Access to clean drinking water at home has increased from 3.8 to 5.5 billion people over 22 years and by 961 million in the past nine years.
🚰 Desalination plants to produce fresh water on ocean floor
Three companies are developing technology to desalinate seawater in deep water, which can reduce energy consumption by up to 40 percent. The first large-scale facility will start producing 1 million liters of water per day in Norway in 2026.
🚰 Major increase in access to clean water and sanitation in China
Access to safe water in China has increased from 45.7 percent to 91.3 percent between 2000 and 2020. In urban areas, over 95 percent of households now have access to clean water, while rural areas reach 82.4 percent.