Startup KUMULUS WATER is on a mission to ensure universal access to clean drinking water by developing and manufacturing atmospheric water generators (AWGs) – machines that turn humidity into fresh drinking water.
Its AWGs can be deployed anywhere, plugged into electricity or PV panels, with water produced at the click of a button. Each machine is capable of providing an average of 30 liters of mineralised drinking water daily, up to the standards of the WHO and EU for water potability.
There are approximately 2 billion people on the planet without access to safely managed drinking water services, among them 771 million who cannot access even basic drinking water services (World Bank). With water scarcity set only to worsen, Kumulus is going after this huge problem by designing machines with accessibility in mind.
Kumulus Water’s tech is specifically designed to create water in harsh environments. Its machines adapt to varying weather conditions, optimizing water production with machine learning algorithms. Intelligent features include remote monitoring and control through a web or mobile app.
In terms of sustainability, each Kumulus machine reduces demand for approximately 500 kg of plastic waste and lowers CO2 emissions by 2 tons annually.
The team has the ambitious goal of serving 1M people with fresh water from air every day before the end of 2030, with a presence across the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region and southern Europe.
BACK STORY
For founders Iheb Triki , CFA (CEO) and Mohamed Ali Abid (CTO) – graduates of the Polytechnic University of France, and seasoned engineers – it all began on a journey through the Tunisian desert. As part of a group of 10, they had brought with them essentials to last the three-day adventure – including some 100 litres of mineral water, in more than 60 plastic bottles.
“As the sun dipped below the horizon, we pitched our tents and retired early for the night,” Iheb recalls. “To our surprise, the early morning revealed a landscape coated with dew, dampening both our tents and cars. It was a reminder that even in the desert, nature can present its own surprises. Then, as we explored the surroundings, our amazement turned to dismay at the sight of hundreds of discarded plastic bottles strewn about the area.
“In that remote setting, the idea for Kumulus was born – a concept aimed at harnessing the natural processes we had observed to generate drinking water. Our goal was not only to address people’s immediate need, but also to provide a sustainable solution that would mitigate the negative environmental impact associated with traditional water supply methods.”