Marriott Phuket Fights Thailand Plastic Problem With Water Made From Air

Last year five-star beach resort JW Marriott Phuket replaced more than 100,000 plastic water bottles – providing guests with fresh filtered, mineral water using just the hot, humid air of Thailand from atmospheric water generators. Teaming up with water utility startup, Generation Water, the luxury hotel chain aims to purge more than two million plastic bottles this year in a bid to eliminate single-use plastic.

Founded in 2016 by Meghan Kerrigan and brothers Ryan and Matthew Kohler after noticing all the plastic waste – specifically, complimentary bottled water – from their Koh Samui holiday one year prior, the South African natives sought a sustainable alternative.

“Instead of trying to solve the problem by cleaning the beaches every day, let’s go to what the source of the problem is, and take the plastic bottle away,” Kerrigan said in a statement to Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Using the tropical and humid climate of Thailand, the Generation Water Aero goes through an eight-step process to produce quality drinking water. Moisture from the air is processed through their special filtration system to remove impurities, add minerals and continually recirculates to ensure freshness. Addressing both environmental and economic concerns, Generation Water is opening up a solar energy facility this year that can produce more than 20,000 liters of water each day with plans to supply all Marriott properties in Thailand as well as neighboring South Asian hotels. Offering an extensive filtration system that can service big hotel chains, the multi-barrier unit is also available on a smaller scale that can be used in homes, offices, and schools.

Designed for maximum efficiency when humidity levels are above 35%, the technology uses 78% less energy per liter than compared to standard bottled water. In similar vein to Thailand’s muggy atmosphere, Hong Kong’s humidity resembles the oceanic subtropical climate with humidity averages between 74% to 87% – ideal for this water-from-air machine. Access to clean water is the core of sustainable development and critical for society and the environment. Lest we forget Hong Kong’s 2015 water scare when a number of public housing estates were found to contain excessive amounts of lead exceeding WHO standards.

Read our complete Green Queen Guide on how to choose a water filter for your home.

Lead image courtesy of Generation Water.