6 gadgets that provide fresh water to those who need it most

By Cat DiStasio

There are 1.2 billion people around the world do not have reliable access to fresh, potable water. That's why advancements in water purification technology are so important. Fortunately, there are a lot of innovative folks working on creative ways to solve water-scarcity issues by developing new techniques, maximizing efficiency and sometimes even producing drinking water from thin air. Read on for six of the world's most innovative water generators, from machines that collect H2O in the middle of the desert to a bike-mounted contraption that harnesses solar energy to collect water from the air as you ride.

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Sculptural WarkaWater Towers pull H2O from thin air

An Italian artist dreamed up the WarkaWater Tower, which harvests condensation to supply clean drinking water in areas of the world that need it most, like Ethiopia and other developing countries. The 30-foot-tall woven jute sculpture has an internal mesh made from nylon and polypropylene fibers that collects condensation and funnels it into a container. These towers can produce 25 gallons of potable water a day, and several towers placed in one area could generate enough water for an entire community.