DSWD turns to air-to-water technology amid looming very strong El Niño

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has adopted an air-to-water technology that can provide drinking water to communities affected by extreme heat.

DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumalo said this could help communities living in areas expected to experience lesser rainfall during dry spell and drought.

"May mga teknolohiya kami na ina-adopt gaya ng air to water technology para magkaroon ng supply ng tubig na maiinom ang mga komunidad na maaapektuhan ng matinding init," Dumlao told Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday.

(We are adopting technologies such as air-to-water technology to provide a supply of drinking water to communities that may be affected by extreme heat.)

An air-to-water technology undergoes a process that captures moisture or water vapor from the ambient air and converts it into clean, drinkable water.

According to a "24 Oras Weekend" report on September 30, DSWD launched it first air-to-water project in Cawayan, Masbate.

Through a solar-powered atmospheric water system, the DSWD aims to address the long-standing problem of some communities’ access to clean water.

More than 1,000 families in the area are expected to benefit, including residents of Gilutongan Island, where the water obtained from deep wells is reportedly salty and deemed unfit to be drinking water.

PAGASA has warned of a possibly record-breaking El Niño in the coming months, with less rains expected by October.

The state weather bureau said the El Niño could last until March or even June.

Around 40 provinces are expected to experience lesser rainfall during the dry spell and drought. Once January comes, it is expected that this number could leap to 80. —KG, GMA News