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A new machine can make water out of the air and many California homeowners are already buying the devices.
According to AP News, the air-to-water systems are similar to air conditioners in that they use coils to chill air and then collect water drops in a basin.
“Our motto is, water from air isn’t magic, it’s science, and that’s really what we’re doing with these machines,” Ted Bowman, who helped design the machine, told AP.
The machine is just one of several that have engineers have developed in recent years to extract water from humidity in the air. They have also created mesh nets, solar panels, and shipping containers that collect moisture from the air.
Bowman says the machine works especially well in foggy areas and depending on the size can produce between 200 to 1,900 gallons of water per day.
The machines also thrive in any area with high humidity including California's coastline.
Each machine costs from $30,000 to $200,000. Despite the hefty price tags, some California residents, who have been asked to conserve water due to the drought, are buying them to meet their water needs.
Experts say the technology makes sense for individual homeowners especially in rural areas.