Researchers in Australia recently announced a new device（设备） that absorbs water from air to produce drinkable water. They said it can produce up to 1,000 liters of drinkable water a day, adding that it could be "lifesaving during drought or emergencies". What's more, unlike other water generators（造水机）, their invention works by heating air instead of cooling it.
Researchers at the University of Newcastle call the device the Hydro Harvester. The device absorbs water from the air. Solar energy or heat from other industrial processes can be used to produce hot and wet air. After heating, the air cools, producing water for drinking or watering crops.
The researchers say the device can produce enough drinking water each day for a small rural town of up to 400 people. It could also help farmers keep their crops alive during droughts. Researchers thought their device would be especially useful in Australia because its climate is dry.
More than 2 billion people around the world will benefit from the device. They are in a situation where they do not have access to high-quality water. The device is meant to help alleviatewater shortage and safety.
Studies of the technology will be done in several Australian communities this year. The World Economic Forum （WEF）, a nonprofit group based in Switzerland, says water shortage continues to be a problem worldwide. The WEF said getting water from the atmosphere is a "promising solution that can immediately generate drinkable water using moisture（水汽） in the air". However, the group warns that the technology is costly. It estimates that one mid-sized device could cost between $ 30,000 and $ 50,000. So the group is concerned whether it will be accepted by the public.
