US Air Force Receives World’s First Chemical- and Nuclear-Resistant Water Technology

Genesis Systems, a global developer of technologies to address water scarcity, has signed a $1.25 million contract with the U.S. Air Force to develop chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) filtration technologies compatible with atmospheric water generation (AWG) or renewable water from air (RWA) systems.

This technological innovation will provide the Department of Defense (DoD) with access to clean drinking water in diverse and challenging environments through the use of water systems that extract water from the air.

“This is a first-of-its-kind, essential product development,” said David Stuckenberg, co-founder, president and chief operating officer of Genesis Systems.

“The research will enable the development of teams that are an integral part of defence, health and sustainment operations across all sectors of the Armed Forces, protecting members from man-made attacks and natural disasters that may impact the purity of air-sourced water supplies.”

The most feasible solution

The U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and Marines have identified AWG and more advanced RWA systems as the most viable solution to theater and field water needs. These systems efficiently extract water from ambient air with high energy efficiency.

However, AWG and RWA systems must continue to operate even when exposed to CBRN threats and environmental issues that impact air quality, such as open fires and pollution.

Integrating these advances in water conservation can increase operational readiness while improving the health, hygiene and safety of all personnel.

This product will significantly reduce the need for continuous logistics and replenishment of water supplies because safe, clean drinking water is available even in difficult conditions.

“When CBRN defenses are integrated with quantum encryption, EMP hardening, and other protective measures, Genesis Systems will take humanity into uncharted waters – we will literally enable an uninterrupted water supply (UWS),” Stuckenberg noted.

Technology

Talking to TJStuckenberg noted that for almost a decade, Genesis Systems has focused exclusively on the fundamental development of advanced nanofluids that have an affinity for water vapor.

“The fluids work so well that they can capture water with almost no energy. As a result, these materials outperform solid materials such as Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) by orders of magnitude and are much more scalable,” he said.

Based at Imperial College London, Genesis Systems operates a world-leading development programme focused on high-performance, industrial-scale water treatment systems.

“We are a center of excellence similar to Lockheed Martin’s Skunkworks – instead of focusing on advanced aircraft designs, we are focusing on advanced systems that generate renewable water from thin air,” he added.

Stuckenberg said the technology helps overcome two fundamental problems related to water scarcity, which currently affects 50 percent of humanity: supply and transportation.

Although civilizations in South America began using water harvesting thousands of years ago, it was limited to the mountains where water was collected using fog nets.

“The breakthroughs we’ve achieved allow people to harvest water on an industrial scale, at low cost and with high levels of efficiency, almost everywhere. This wouldn’t be possible without new materials, designs and an interdisciplinary team of engineers and scientists,” he added.

What is the need?

Last week, authorities began investigating suspected water poisoning at a NATO military base in Germany.

Such attacks are increasingly being targeted by state and non-state actors. The directors of the FBI and NSA have warned that water supplies could be potential military and civilian targets for the Chinese government.

As the world’s population grows, the technologies and designs on which our businesses rely must be robustly protected.

CBRN protection for water- and air-based systems will bring Genesis closer to its ambitious goal of creating a UWS.

In June, Genesis Systems partnered with QuSecure to create the first quantum-encrypted water systems on Earth. These in-depth defenses (CBRN, quantum encryption, and EMP hardening) make the WaterCube durable and resistant to most non-kinetic threats.

The delivery to the U.S. military marks the first time in government history that a successful, industrial-scale system has been deployed to produce renewable water from thin air.

WaterCube’s freshwater production can meet the needs of 10 U.S. homes, a military battalion (300–1,000 soldiers), or a humanitarian relief effort almost anywhere on Earth.

WaterCube was also the first system to include shields against electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attacks and enable remote operations from anywhere on Earth. These features make WaterCube the global reference point for water from the air.