Compiled by the editorial desk based on company statements, an interview with the CEO, and public data from the World Health Organization.

A rooftop panel that turns ambient humidity into potable water is moving from concept to real-world deployment. The device, called Source, was developed by Arizona-based startup Zero Mass Water and is already operating in communities across four countries, including Ecuador, Jordan, Mexico, and the United States.

According to the company, each Source unit captures water vapor from the air using a proprietary material that absorbs moisture passively. In an interview with Business Insider, CEO Cody Friesen likened the mechanism to rice grains in a salt shaker—where the rice draws water more strongly than the salt, keeping the salt dry. In Source, the absorbent material traps water, and the integrated solar panels generate the heat needed to evaporate and purify it. The vapor then condenses and passes through a mineral block that enhances taste and adds nutritional value.

On average, one Source panel produces about 5 liters of water per day, with an onboard storage compartment that holds up to 30 liters. That output is roughly enough for two adults following the standard eight-glasses-a-day guideline, though a family of four would fall about 3 liters short of that target. Still, the system's capacity makes it a practical option for emergency shelters, temporary settlements, and households in water-stressed regions.

Why Off-Grid Water Matters

The World Health Organization estimates that 663 million people—about 10 percent of the global population—lack access to safe water. This shortage is often tied to inadequate infrastructure and challenging living conditions, making centralized piping solutions slow or impractical to implement. Source's design sidesteps those hurdles: it requires no connection to a home's electrical system or a power grid, runs entirely on renewable solar energy, and can be installed in roughly 20 minutes.

Beyond providing a basic necessity, clean water access has broader socioeconomic implications. The WHO notes that safe water helps prevent disease and can contribute to economic growth and poverty reduction. Technologies like Source, along with similar systems such as Watly and Water-Gen, are part of a growing field of decentralized water solutions that aim to serve communities where traditional utilities are absent or unreliable.

While the technology is not yet a household staple, its early deployments suggest a future where rooftop panels could supplement or even replace piped water for some uses. For now, Source remains a niche but promising tool in the effort to democratize drinking water—offering a self-contained, renewable way to turn air into a resource that many take for granted.