This next-generation version could be used in regions of the world where humidity is high, but water is scarce. Retezár is also working on a stand-alone version that uses an inverted ventilator to suck air into the system (rather than relying on the airstream created from a moving bike). But originally, this water bottle was thought to be used in nature, and places where you wouldn't have contaminated air.'

'We're thinking about making a bottle that also has a carbon filter, and this one would be for cities or areas where you might think the air is contaminated. 'The water you get is clean, unless the air is really contaminated,' Retezár said. The prototype includes a filter at the top to keep dust and bugs out of the water, but currently it does not include a way to filter out potentially harmful contaminants. 'Basically, you're taking air in a vapor state and converting it into a liquid state.'įontus can produce 0.5 quarts (0.5 liters) of water in 1 hour in what is considered 'really good' conditions, with temperatures between 86 degrees and 104 degrees Fahrenheit (30 to 40 degrees Celsius) and between 80 percent and 90 percent humidity, Retezár said. 'Because they're hydrophobic, they immediately repel the condensed water that they created, so you get a drop flow ,' he explained. As the bike-mounted gadget takes in air, and these surfaces get cold, you're left with condensation, Retezár said. The solar-powered device consists of a condensator (which functions like a cooler) that is connected to a series of hydrophobic surfaces that repel water. This graphic shows the various parts that make up the Fontus system.

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