Video: See the new way scientists say they can extract drinking water from the air – CNN

Report on an Innovative Water Harvesting Technology and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Introduction and Technological Overview

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have reported the development of a new device capable of harvesting clean drinking water directly from the atmosphere. The technology utilizes ultrasonics to extract potable water from ambient air with notable efficiency, accomplishing the process within minutes. This innovation represents a significant advancement in water procurement technologies and holds profound implications for achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Direct Contributions to SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The primary impact of this ultrasonic water harvester is its direct alignment with the objectives of SDG 6, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The technology contributes to this goal in several key areas:

• Target 6.1: Universal and Equitable Access to Safe Drinking Water: By providing a decentralized method for generating clean water, the device can be deployed in remote or underserved communities that lack access to traditional water infrastructure.
• Target 6.4: Water-use Efficiency and Scarcity: The technology offers a novel source of freshwater that does not deplete groundwater or surface water resources, thereby addressing the challenges of water scarcity exacerbated by climate change and overuse.
• Target 6.b: Supporting Local Community Participation: Small-scale, deployable units could empower local communities to manage their own water resources, enhancing self-sufficiency and resilience.

Broader Impacts on Interconnected SDGs

Beyond its immediate relevance to SDG 6, this technological breakthrough has the potential to create a positive cascading effect across the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

1. SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Access to a reliable source of uncontaminated drinking water is fundamental to public health. This device can drastically reduce the incidence of waterborne diseases, contributing directly to Target 3.3 (end epidemics of water-borne diseases) and Target 3.9 (reduce deaths from water pollution and contamination).
2. SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): The development itself is a prime example of scientific innovation (Target 9.5) being applied to create resilient and sustainable infrastructure. Its potential for scalable manufacturing supports sustainable industrialization.
3. SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): For communities in arid regions or those facing climate-induced water stress, this technology can enhance water security, making human settlements more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable (Target 11.5).
4. SDG 13 (Climate Action): As an adaptation strategy, atmospheric water harvesting strengthens resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards such as droughts and desertification, directly supporting the goals of climate action.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: This is the most directly relevant goal. The article’s central theme is a new technology to “harvest clean drinking water from the air,” which directly addresses the global challenge of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The article highlights a technological breakthrough by “MIT researchers” who “developed a new ultrasonic device.” This directly relates to fostering innovation and enhancing scientific research to develop new, sustainable solutions to critical problems like water scarcity.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: Access to “clean drinking water” is a fundamental determinant of health. By providing a new method to obtain safe water, the technology implicitly contributes to reducing waterborne diseases and improving overall public health, which is a key aspect of SDG 3.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 6.1: “By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.” The technology described in the article, which can “extract drinking water from the air,” is a direct attempt to create a new source of safe drinking water, thereby contributing to the goal of universal access.
2. Target 9.5: “Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries… encouraging innovation…” The article is a clear example of this target in action, showcasing advanced scientific research (“MIT researchers”) leading to a tangible innovation (“a new ultrasonic device”) with the potential for significant real-world application.
3. Target 3.9: “By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.” By creating a method to harvest “clean drinking water,” the technology helps prevent the consumption of contaminated water, which is a primary cause of illnesses and deaths targeted by this goal.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For Target 6.1: The article implies an indicator related to the efficiency and output of the technology. The phrase “harvest clean drinking water from the air in minutes” suggests that a key metric for progress would be the volume of safe water produced per unit of time or energy. This would contribute to the official indicator 6.1.1, “Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services.”
• For Target 9.5: The existence of the “new ultrasonic device” itself serves as a qualitative indicator of progress in innovation. A quantifiable indicator implied by the article would be the number of new technologies or patents developed for sustainable resource management, such as atmospheric water harvesting.
• For Target 3.9: While not directly stated, a critical indicator for measuring the impact of this technology would be the reduction in the incidence of waterborne diseases (such as cholera or typhoid) in communities where it is deployed. This would directly measure progress towards reducing illnesses from contaminated water.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cnn.com