A field comes of age at the 2026 International Atmospheric Water Harvesting Summit
When researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs, corporate water users and other leaders gathered at Arizona State University for the Third International Atmospheric Water Harvesting Summit, the conversation reflected a field in transition from ideas to implementation. Atmospheric water harvesting, not long ago viewed largely as an experimental concept, is now being tested, evaluated and deployed.
The summit brought together more than 170 participants from more than 60 different companies, universities and cities to assess recent advances and remaining challenges in extracting water vapor directly from the air. The event was organized by the NSF Futures Engine in the Southwest and the Global Center for Water Technology (GCWT), a pillar of the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative.
From roadmap to real-world testing
Since the second summit in February 2025, atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) research has moved beyond high-level visioning toward performance data and applied systems. Throughout the two days, sessions crossed a spectrum of themes ranging from materials science breakthroughs and energy efficiency, to regulatory frameworks and real-world pilots.
For our January 2026 Summit, opening remarks from Paul Westerhoff, president of the International Atmospheric Water Harvesting Association, Regents Professor in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment at ASU, the Fulton Chair of Environmental Engineering and director of the GCWT, emphasized that the past year marked a shift from conceptual roadmapping to early validation.
“We are starting to see systems move out of the lab and into real operating environments,” Westerhoff said, pointing to independent evaluations and pilot installations now underway.
That shift was echoed by Anjali Mulchandani, assistant professor at the University of New Mexico, who presented outcomes from last year's summit research roadmap. She noted that materials science, energy efficiency and system integration have advanced enough to support field-scale testing, particularly in arid regions.
A growing body of evidence
Atmospheric water harvesting technologies rely on methods such as condensation, adsorbent desiccant materials, and hybrid systems to collect moisture from ambient air. While the atmosphere contains vast quantities of water vapor, converting that resource into usable water efficiently remains a central challenge.
According to an Arizona Republic story on the event, atmospheric water harvesting shows promise, but experts caution that the technology is not a silver bullet and is best suited for targeted applications for now.
At the summit, researchers presented data from pilot projects and testbeds designed to better understand how these systems perform under real climate conditions. Several sessions highlighted installations operating in desert environments, including systems undergoing independent academic evaluation at ASU.
Expanding uses of atmospheric water harvesting
A wide range of AWH technologies were addressed at the summit. For example, one panel with representatives from PepsiCo, Salt River Project, ExaWater, Nexus Water, Clean Water Generator Private Limited and AirJoule discussed paths to commercialization, as well as the policy and business cases for AWH.
Bryan Barton, vice chair of the International Atmospheric Water Harvesting Association and chief technology officer at AirJoule, noted that integrating AWH systems with existing infrastructure, including waste heat from industrial facilities, could significantly improve efficiency and economics.
Other talks by researchers reviewed cutting-edge approaches to AWH. Speakers from utilities, technology firms and research institutions discussed applications ranging from cooling towers and data centers to industrial process water.
One panel spoke to commercial applications in emerging markets and discussed topics including countertop atmospheric water harvesting units that can concentrate water from the air in your home into drinking water, or even water that refills coffee makers automatically, something that hotels are already piloting.
As reported by KJZZ, researchers emphasize that atmospheric water may be most viable where it offsets high-cost or high-energy water sources rather than replacing traditional supplies.
Alongside technical progress, Summit discussions highlighted the importance of policy frameworks, water quality standards and public communication. Sessions addressed unresolved questions about permitting, regulatory oversight and how atmospheric water fits within existing water rights structures.
The Arizona Republic reported that researchers continue to study potential localized impacts of large-scale atmospheric extraction, underscoring the need for careful monitoring as systems scale.
Looking ahead
The summit’s closing session buzzed with a blend of realism and ambition. After three years of summits, there is growing confidence that AWH has a role in water resilience strategies.
Speakers at the summit reflected a maturing and multidisciplinary field, focused not only on technological breakthroughs, but also on policy alignment, market readiness and societal impact needed to make atmospheric water harvesting a meaningful contributor to global water security.
Rather than asking whether water can be harvested from air, participants increasingly focused on where it makes sense, how it can be deployed responsibly and what it will take to scale.
As Westerhoff noted in closing remarks, “The question now is not possibility, but practicality.”
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