This bottle makes water out of light and thin air

It is called Fontus and condensates moisture from the air, turning it into drinkable water using solar power

It is called Fontus and condensates moisture from the air, turning it into drinkable water using solar power

Fontus is a self-filling water bottle, mainly addressed to people on the move, as it can provide them with potable water, without having to worry about carrying heavy water loads or finding water sources. Its inventor Kristof Retezar, an industrial design graduate of the Vienna University of Applied Arts, has been working on the project since 2014. ‘I wanted to create a bottle that would never run dry’, he says and his innovative product has already won several design awards.

There are two versions: Fontus Ryde, especially designed for bicycles and Fontus Airo, a standalone unit that does not need to be in motion to function. Fontus bottles have a maximum capacity of 0.8L, whereas their efficiency depends mainly upon the relative humidity of the air and the temperature (the higher they are, the faster will the bottles fill themselves up). The Fontus Indiegogo campaign has raised more than 1000% of its initial goal, and the first deliveries are expected next April.

How does it work

In the Airo version, a small solar-powered fan draws the air from the surrounding environment, runs it through a special filter and presses it into the condensation chambers, where a series of small coolers are used. The resultant liquid water then drops into the bottle´s main body and is stored. In order to get fresh mineral water, the lower section of the bottle is designed to carry little re-mineralization capsules, which can be dissolved in the collected water.

In the Ryde version, there is no need for the fan, as the air stream generated while riding can press large amounts of air into the chambers without extra energy sources. The air first runs through a special filter and is then pressed into the condensation chambers, where there is a series of small coolers powered by solar panels attached at the sides. Liquid water then drops into the bottle´s main body and is stored. Once again, this water can then be re-mineralized using special capsules.