30 Million Americans Are Running Dry—Two Innovations That Could Turn the Tap Back On

Nearly 30 million Americans struggle to access clean water each year.

It’s not just droughts or dry wells—aging infrastructure makes the problem worse. Our water system leaks 6 billion gallons every day and forces cities to issue around 10,000 boil-water notices annually. The real issue isn’t just a lack of water—it’s that we’re stuck with a one-size-fits-all water grid that hasn’t kept pace with modern needs.

Think about how we used to get energy: massive power plants were the only option. Today, rooftop solar and home batteries give families more control. That same shift is now happening with water. Instead of relying solely on failing pipelines, people are turning to Distributed Water Resources (DWR)—like harvesting rain or generating water straight from the air.

Until recently, this kind of tech was expensive and inaccessible. But thanks to new innovations, atmospheric water generators (AWGs) can now produce thousands of gallons of clean water from the air, with systems that install and start running in just days.

In rural Texas, families are ditching unreliable wells in favor of rainwater tanks and AWG units.

And in Hawaii, a new residential community is being built to run entirely on off-grid water—what’s called a “hydrogrid.” For about $20,000—the same ballpark as a home solar system—homeowners can install their own water source and break free from aging, unreliable city pipes.

Aquaria is helping lead this change. Our CEO, Brian Sheng, explains how our patented AWG technology powers these systems—providing homes and communities with clean, dependable water without the plastic waste. It’s even unlocking new opportunities to build in areas where water access used to be a dealbreaker.

Read the full article in Fast Company.