The Times of India   13.08.2012

Water from thin air for students of Chennai schools

CHENNAI: Soon, thousands of students from 60 Chennai schools will get drinking water from thin air. Chennai Corporation is working to set up Atmospheric Moisture Extractors (AME) in 60 schools, which convert atmospheric vapour into pure drinking water.

Corporation sources said the machines take in air and cools it to the point where water vapour condenses. This water is collected and passed through micron-activated carbon and ultraviolet filters. And the machine lets out cool and purified drinking water. The civic body had recently installed an experimental project along with a private firm, Akash Ganga, to provide drinking water at its Chennai School in Saidapet.

A senior corporation official said: "We wanted to ensure the quality of drinking water in schools. So we are planning to install atmosphere moisture extractors at en estimated cost of Rs 67.32 lakh in 60 schools." If found successful, the machines would be set up other schools too, he said. However, the machine need continuous supply of electricity. It consumes around 0.4 units of power to produce one litre of clean water. The machines will be installed at a cost Rs 98,000 each and can produce up to 120 litres a day.