In the Nov. 13 issue, TIME magazine named the water-harvesting machine one of the best inventions of 2006, calling it "a godsend" to disaster victims. Because the machine creates water from thin air in almost any climate, it will allow FEMA to quickly move into disaster zones, especially isolated areas, and provide pure water to disaster victims.
"Clean water is one of the most critical supplies following disasters, like hurricanes," said Scott R. Morris, director of FEMA's Florida Long-Term Recovery. "These machines will help FEMA meet the immediate needs of disaster victims, while saving taxpayers a huge amount of money."
In the end, the cost of using semi-trucks to transport water into disaster zones is upwards of $15 a gallon depending on the disaster, compared to the machines' 20 cents a gallon. The savings for taxpayers would add up quickly, considering FEMA coordinated the delivery of approximately 6.95 million gallons of drinking water after Hurricane Wilma.
"FEMA is committed to finding better ways to help communities after disasters, and this exciting technology shows a lot of promise," Morris said.
FEMA's Florida Long-Term Recovery Office has two water harvesting machines, which are strategically stored at a staging area outside of Orlando. Aqua Sciences, based in Miami Beach, manufactures the machines.
