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How much water will a Watercone® be able to produce in 24 hours?

We estimate that one Watercone® will produce an optimal 1.5 liters per 24 hour period, however this is an average estimate. Exact production will vary based on temperature, hours of sunlight, and other minor factors.

Do they work in every climate from cool to very hot?

The 1.5 liter per day production rate assumes a daily insolation (solar radiation energy) amount of 7.2 kWh/m². Pre-supposed are very clear sky conditions and at least 8 to 10 sunshine hours. If insolation decreases or days are partly cloudy, the productivity will be reduced – in parts considerably. The ambient temperature is not as essential for the production as insolation, but of course productivity in hot climate at high insolation values will be larger, especially when the nights are cooler and enhance condensation. It is important, to leave the Watercone outside and operating for 24 hours before harvesting the produced water.

How long will a Watercone® last?

Based on the outdoor experience with the new designated plastic material in other applications (e.g. greenhouses) we can assume that the life time will be at least two to four years.

Why don’t you make a smaller or larger version of the Watercone®?

The task was to provide a device which gives one person the absolute minimum amount of pure drinking water per day. This being 1.5 Liters according to the World Health Organization, it would have been nonsensical to make the device any smaller. On the other hand, the production method and the need for cost efficient transportation do not allow us to make the Watercone larger. It has just the size it should have. Adding to this is the fact, that water droplets trickling down the inner wall of the Watercone would become too thick in a larger Watercone and would tend to drip back into the pan, rather than trickling down into the collection trough.

What do you recommend if the screw cap gets lost?

The spout diameter and thread were purposely devised by international beverage bottle standards which call for a 28 mm aperture. This means that if the screw cap is lost or becomes defective it can be replaced in virtually every country in the world, by a standard soft drink or water bottle screw cap. This is very important, for if the screw cap is not locked tight during distillation, precious condensate can evaporate through the spout.

Why is there a filter in the spout?

In many countries where the Watercone is meant to fulfil its duty, insects are plentiful. In practical tests, insects sometimes flew inside the Watercone and dropped into the collection trough as the cone was being floated onto the pan. The filter ensures that any insects that may have been trapped, are not flushed out the spout when harvesting the distilled water from the Watercone.

Does the Watercone work in inclement weather conditions (rain, grey cloudy skies)?

Partially. It may generate minimal quantities of drinking water, especially overnight, based on condensation from day time/night time temperature change, but again these would be minute quantities.

Can the Watercone be blown away under windy conditions?

The Watercone was designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 50 km/h (32 mph) without being blown away. This corresponds to a situation between a strong breeze and a moderate gale and right between wind force 6 and 7 on the Beaufort wind scale.

Do you have questions that are not answered here?

please e-mail us your question by using the links on the Contact page