Durban - It may not be blood from a stone, but a South African-based company has sold nearly 400 machines over the last three months that actually make water out of air.
The company, aptly named Water from Air sells machines that suck in air, cool it down, and use the condensation to create filtered mineralised water.
"The water is 100% pure and clean," Water from Air's Ray de Vries told News24.
The machines work on the basis of humidity in the air.
The smallest machine made up to 32 litres in 24 hours, while the largest one made up to 1 500 litres a day. They retail for R25 000 and R785 000 respectively.
The machines can also connect to homes and allow people to live off the grid - with their taps running water pulled from the air.
De Vries said while there were companies using the same technology elsewhere in the world, Water from Air was the first company to make home units available.
They sold 384 units over the past three months and were talking to lots of investors.
‘We can create rain during sunshine’
He said a mobile unit could be used during the aftermath of a natural disaster, or at a large sporting event.
De Vries said they were proud that this was a South African initiative.
"This [making water out of air] is nothing short of miraculous. It is actually very obvious: the solution, air, has been right there in front of our noses."
He said the machines also solved the problem of transporting water over long distances.
"We don't take the water somewhere. We make the water," said De Vries.
"We can create rain during sunshine."