Technological innovation that produces drinking water from air, known as the Atmospheric Water Maker (AWM), is seen as a strategic solution to help achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) ensuring universal access to clean water and adequate sanitation.
Around two billion people worldwide still lack access to safe drinking water, while 447 million students remain without proper clean water facilities. On Java Island, the availability of freshwater is becoming increasingly alarming.
According to Prof. Samsudin Anis, the inventor of AWM, the Earth’s atmosphere estimated to contain 13,000 km³ of water vapor offers vast potential for water generation through condensation. “The AWM works by drawing in humid air, cooling it below its dew point so that the vapor condenses into liquid, and then filtering the water to make it safe for drinking,” explained Prof. Anis.
“This technology performs best in hot and humid climates, where high vapor content and a dew point close to air temperature make condensation more efficient,” he added.
Key components of the system include a vapor compression refrigeration cycle, cooling coils, an air-intake fan, a collection tank, and dual air-and-water filtration units. The final water quality depends on the performance of each component and the efficiency of the purification system.
The AWM has undergone several development phases: Proto-1 (2019) focused on basic research, Proto-2 (2021) tested performance, Proto-3 (2022) measured water-production quality, and since 2023, the project has entered field-application and dissemination stages.
The technology contributes directly to SDG 6 targets, providing new water sources in drought-stricken or contaminated areas, offering sustainable alternatives to depleting freshwater supplies, and ensuring reliable drinking water during emergencies or supply disruptions.
With Java projected to face severe water scarcity where annual water availability per capita could drop from 1,169 m³ to just 476 m³ by 2040 innovations like AWM have become increasingly relevant.
Beyond AWM, other clean-water conservation technologies are also advancing, such as solar desalination systems, bimetallic nanoparticles for heavy-metal removal, IoT based irrigation and water management, and weather-modification techniques.
Meanwhile, Prof. Dewi Liesnoor Setyowati highlighted the importance of water conservation technology to maintain resource resilience amid climate change. Her research explores innovations such as rain harvesting, sensor-based smart irrigation, solar desalination, and integrated water management using GIS data. “Water conservation cannot rely solely on high-tech systems it must involve communities in sustainable water governance,” Prof. Dewi emphasized.
She noted that science-based and community-based approaches are crucial to mitigate the impacts of global warming, shifting rainfall patterns, and extreme droughts caused by El Niño and La Niña phenomena. “Technologies like AWM and smart-water systems are not just scientific tools; they are part of our national resilience strategy against the water crisis,” she added.
Both professors presented their research findings at the Water Symposium hosted by the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) of Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) on Wednesday at the FISIP Auditorium, Gunungpati, Central Java.
The symposium brought together 82 research projects focusing on water sustainability, underscoring academia’s commitment to developing real-world solutions for Indonesia’s clean-water future.
