Innovation

Watergen is an innovative clean technology company that addresses global water scarcity by producing drinking water directly from air. Founded in 2009 in Israel, the company develops atmospheric water generation (AWG) systems that extract humidity from the atmosphere and convert it into clean, safe, mineral-rich drinking water. This innovation is designed to reduce dependence on traditional water sources such as rivers, lakes, and groundwater, which are often polluted, overused, or inaccessible in many parts of the world. Watergen’s technology is now deployed in over 90 countries, including regions in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and North America, serving homes, businesses, schools, hospitals, and emergency relief efforts.

The innovation works through a multi-step process. First, air is drawn into the system and filtered to remove dust and pollutants. Next, a patented heat exchange process cools the air, causing water vapor to condense into liquid water. This water is then purified using advanced filtration and UV sterilization, followed by mineralization to add essential minerals like calcium and magnesium for improved taste and health benefits. Finally, the water is stored at a cool temperature and continuously circulated to ensure freshness and safety.

This solution directly contributes to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). By eliminating the need for plastic bottles and reducing the transportation of water, Watergen also helps reduce environmental pollution and carbon emissions. Its scalable systems, from small household units to large industrial machines, make it possible to deliver sustainable drinking water in both urban and remote settings, supporting a more resilient and equitable global water future.

Inspiration

The leadership behind Watergen was inspired by the urgent global water crisis and the belief that innovative technology could provide a sustainable solution to one of humanity’s most basic needs. The founder and leadership team were motivated by the reality that billions of people around the world still lack access to safe drinking water, even in regions where water may be physically present but unsafe to consume. This global challenge pushed them to rethink how water could be produced, ultimately leading to the idea of generating drinking water directly from air.

A key inspiration for the leader also comes from witnessing the real-world impact of the technology after deployment. A peak experience for Watergen employees comes from seeing the direct impact of their work in communities that lack clean water. For example, in Kenya, villagers were able to access transparent, safe drinking water for the first time. People were crying, laughing, and overjoyed, and seeing that moment made employees feel alive, effective, and proud of their work. As Anna shared, “We cried when we looked at the installation videos. People would say, ‘Oh my god, water!’ And we’re like, wow, we’re so lucky, we don’t even realize that.” These experiences highlight the emotional power behind the mission and reinforce the importance of their work.

Overall, the leader is inspired by a combination of humanitarian need, environmental responsibility, and technological possibility. The goal is not only to build a successful company, but to ensure that safe drinking water can become universally accessible, regardless of geography or infrastructure limitations.

Overall impact

Watergen has created both immediate and long-term impacts through its atmospheric water generation technology, which produces safe drinking water from air. In the short term, the innovation provides rapid access to clean water in places where it is urgently needed, such as schools, hospitals, disaster zones, and remote communities. When systems are installed, communities can immediately access drinking water without waiting for infrastructure like pipelines or water delivery. This has helped reduce reliance on unsafe water sources and plastic bottled water, improving daily health and safety outcomes almost instantly after deployment.

In the long term, Watergen’s innovation contributes to more sustainable water independence and environmental protection. By continuously generating water locally, it reduces pressure on natural water resources such as rivers and groundwater, while also significantly decreasing plastic waste from bottled water consumption. Over time, this supports broader environmental goals and aligns with global sustainability efforts. The technology also strengthens resilience in regions facing drought, climate change, or infrastructure limitations, offering a scalable solution for future water security.

Evidence of this impact can be seen through global adoption in more than 90 countries and deployment across multiple sectors, including government facilities, corporate offices, and emergency relief operations. Reports from installations in underserved communities show immediate behavioral and health improvements as clean water becomes reliably available. Additionally, partnerships with organizations and use in large public settings demonstrate trust in the system’s reliability and scalability. Together, these outcomes show that Watergen’s innovation delivers both immediate humanitarian relief and long-term environmental and social benefits.

Business benefit

Because Watergen developed and commercialized its atmospheric water generation technology, the company has experienced significant growth in both market reach and organizational development. By creating machines that produce drinking water directly from air, Watergen has opened entirely new markets in water-scarce and infrastructure limited regions. This innovation has enabled partnerships with governments, corporations, hospitals, and disaster relief organizations, expanding its customer base across more than 90 countries. As demand for sustainable and independent water solutions has increased, the company has also developed new product lines ranging from small household units to large-scale industrial systems.

As a result of this growth, Watergen has attracted investment opportunities and strengthened its global presence in the clean technology sector. The company’s ability to demonstrate both humanitarian impact and commercial viability has made it appealing to public and private stakeholders seeking sustainable infrastructure solutions. This expansion has supported continued research and development, allowing Watergen to refine its technology and improve efficiency, energy use, and scalability. In addition, entering new international markets has helped position the company as a leader in atmospheric water generation and climate-focused innovation.

Internally, this expansion has contributed to increased employment and a purpose-driven workplace culture. As the company has scaled, it has brought in engineers, scientists, and global operations teams to support production and deployment. Employee engagement is strongly tied to mission driven work, which enhances job satisfaction and retention, as staff feel directly connected to solving global water scarcity. Overall, because Watergen created a reliable way to generate clean water from air, it has experienced business growth, expanded into new markets, attracted investment, and built a motivated global workforce focused on sustainability and impact.

Social and environmental benefit

The innovation developed by Watergen benefits society by providing immediate and reliable access to clean drinking water in places where traditional water infrastructure is limited, unsafe, or unavailable. By generating water directly from air, the technology allows communities, schools, hospitals, and emergency relief sites to receive safe water on-site without relying on transported bottled water or distant water sources. This is especially impactful in regions affected by drought, contamination, or natural disasters, where access to clean water can be disrupted or nonexistent. The “who” includes vulnerable populations such as rural communities, disaster-affected areas, and urban institutions seeking sustainable water solutions.

From an environmental perspective, the innovation reduces dependence on single-use plastic bottles and lowers the carbon emissions associated with water transportation and distribution. Because water is produced locally, there is less need for trucking, packaging, and long-distance supply chains, all of which contribute to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Over time, this helps reduce plastic waste in landfills and oceans, supporting global efforts to combat pollution and climate change. The “how” behind this impact is Watergen’s atmospheric water generation system, which captures humidity from the air, purifies it, and converts it into safe drinking water using energy-efficient processes.

Overall, the “when and where” impact is both immediate and global. The benefits are seen as soon as systems are installed, whether in developing regions, disaster zones, or developed countries seeking sustainable infrastructure. By offering a scalable and renewable source of drinking water, Watergen supports long-term environmental sustainability while improving public health and resilience. This aligns with global goals for clean water access, responsible consumption, and climate action, making the innovation beneficial for both society and the planet.

Interview

Anna Chernyavsky, Marketing Director