Tunisia Startup Turns Desert Air Into Drinking Water

Two friends camping in Tunisia's desert woke up to find their tents dripping with dew, and that simple observation just solved a water crisis affecting millions.

Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid launched Kumulus in 2021 after realizing the Sahara's morning moisture could become drinking water. Their solar-powered Amphore machine now pulls water straight from the air, producing up to 30 liters daily even in bone-dry conditions.

The technology works like nature's own process. Fans draw in air and cool it below the dew point, causing moisture to condense into liquid water. That water then flows through four purification stages removing dust, ions, odors, and bacteria before passing through rocks containing calcium and magnesium for healthy mineralization.

Each 60-kilogram unit costs $5,900 and produces water for just 10 cents per liter. The machines run on solar panels or grid power and work in temperatures from 64°F to 113°F, making them perfect for coastal villages and arid deserts alike.

The environmental math is stunning. Every Amphore machine prevents 500 kilograms of plastic waste annually by eliminating bottled water dependence. It also cuts 2,000 kilograms of CO₂ emissions each year while producing water free from microplastics and harmful PFAS chemicals.

Kumulus started with less than $20,000 in 2021, and Abid still remembers the breakthrough moment. "My biggest achievement was the first water drops that came out of the prototype," he says. By 2023, they raised $1 million and launched commercial sales.

Today, 140 machines operate across Tunisia, France, Spain, and Saudi Arabia. They serve schools where children once relied on questionable water sources, remote villages cut off from municipal systems, and businesses seeking sustainable alternatives.

Users can monitor and adjust their machines remotely through a mobile app that responds to changing weather conditions. Sensors throughout the system track air quality and optimize the purification process in real time.

The Ripple Effect

The impact reaches far beyond individual machines. Rural Tunisian communities that once hauled bottled water for miles now have clean water steps from their doors. Schools that worried about student health can focus on education instead.

Kumulus just secured $3.5 million in new funding and plans to scale globally by 2030. They're developing larger units capable of producing 2,000 liters daily for farms and factories. What began as morning dew on a camping trip could soon provide water independence for communities worldwide.

Sometimes the biggest innovations come from simply paying attention to what nature shows us every morning.