[Tokyo Updates] Water Supply Independent of Plumbing: A New Normal for Sustainable Water Infrastructure

Water-related points are rising more and more extreme world wide, equivalent to local weather change, inhabitants progress, getting old infrastructure, and water air pollution. In opposition to this backdrop, ENELL. Inc. (ENELL), headquartered in Tokyo, is working to create water infrastructure impartial of plumbing with know-how that produces water from the air. The Consultant Director of ENELL, Akashi Taro, labored with engineers to develop an off-grid, next-generation water dispenser referred to as mugen-sui, which is able to producing protected ingesting water from the air, rainwater, and even river water with out utilizing chlorine or different chemical substances. Applied sciences that may create a brand new regular for water are about to unfold to the world from Tokyo.

Air-to-Water Manufacturing Is the Way forward for Water Provide

ENELL’s three core applied sciences are: water manufacturing know-how, water purification and disinfectant know-how, and long-term sterilized storage know-how. The mugen-sui dispenser is provided with a operate that may generate water from water vapor within the air relying on humidity and temperature with out requiring a traditional water supply or plumbing. As well as, it incorporates proprietary applied sciences that may purify and disinfect river water and rainwater to protected ingesting water requirements with out utilizing chlorine or different chemical substances, and permit the water to be saved in a sterilized state for over six months even when uncovered to air. Akashi says a single mugen-sui unit can generate as much as 33 liters of ingesting water from the air and purify 600 liters of river water per day.

“Typical water provide infrastructure is dependent upon three components: rain, chlorine disinfection, and plumbing to ship water,” Akashi explains. “However that makes it tough to deal with real-world points like catastrophe administration and getting old infrastructure, and prevents the regular and sustainable supply of protected water. So I wished to give you a system that didn’t depend on these components.”

The central concept was to create a system that permits anybody to safe protected ingesting water anyplace on their very own. To place the know-how into sensible use, Akashi and his crew took in depth measures to make sure water high quality and security.

He says, “An institute licensed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Authorities carried out a take a look at by pouring water from a river operating beneath Miyashita Park in Shibuya into mugen-sui day by day for a month to purify. A month later, they examined the water and located that it met ingesting water requirements with out the usage of chlorine. The outstanding outcomes confirmed that the water held no hint of normal micro organism or E. coli both.”

Moreover, the generated water stays sterile regardless of being uncovered to air within the tank. Even after six months of storage, the water is freed from bacterial contamination.

A Final Line of Protection to Present Water

In Japan, the true potential of ENELL’s applied sciences will likely be demonstrated in disaster-stricken areas or areas with decreased populations, the place present infrastructure could also be struggling to operate. The mugen-sui dispenser requires round 350 watts of electrical energy to provide water from the air, however solely 30 watts when purifying and disinfecting river water or rainwater and storing it in a sterilized state. It means the unit will be run on about the identical quantity of energy as charging two smartphones. With a mix of photo voltaic panels or rechargeable batteries, it may be operated steadily for an prolonged time period, even throughout blackouts.

“In Hokkaido, we now have an off-grid water provide unit that makes use of air, snow meltwater, rainwater, and river water in a area the place the aged water plumbing is estimated to price round 500 million yen to resume,” Akashi says.

The corporate’s merchandise are additionally beginning for use on Tokyo’s distant islands, the place they are often put in in new amenities like trailer lodges.

“Overtourism is likely one of the causes of latest water shortages on distant islands,” Akashi says. “Significantly on Ishigaki Island and Miyako Island in Okinawa Prefecture, a sudden enhance in vacationers is elevating demand for water, and the prevailing infrastructure is unable to maintain up. We consider ENELL’s off-grid dispensers will function a ‘final line of protection’ to offer water.”

ENELL’s Proprietary Infrastructure Can Assist Resolve Environmental Points

ENELL’s know-how, which makes use of water vapor within the air, is being acknowledged as a method to not solely safe water assets, but additionally counter local weather change. Based on the Nationwide Institute for Environmental Research, Japan, water vapor contributes considerably to the greenhouse fuel impact—greater than twice as a lot as CO2. Decreasing water vapor by eradicating moisture from the air might assist mitigate international warming.

“If we are able to scale back water vapor in addition to CO2, the world could possibly transfer on to the subsequent section of local weather motion,” Akashi says. “Producing water is a method of defending the way forward for Earth’s atmosphere.”

Collaborating with main corporations, mugen-sui is beginning for use in good cities, utilized as a secondary supply of water for medical tools, and put in in amenities like tenting automobiles. ENELL provides the product at a low month-to-month subscription fee, which incorporates filter alternative and upkeep, making it simple to undertake.

Expertise from Tokyo to the World

ENELL is receiving many inquiries from world wide concerning its applied sciences. Fairly than merely exporting items to areas with underdeveloped water infrastructure, such because the Center East, Africa, and Southeast Asia, the corporate needs to work alongside them to create water manufacturing programs tailor-made to the wants of every nation.

This stems from Akashi’s private perception. As a baby with poor well being, he wished to develop as much as change into a health care provider and was influenced by the phrases of Nakamura Tetsu, a doctor who labored in Afghanistan and dug hundreds of wells.

“Nakamura stated, ‘Prioritizing clear water over drugs can save many lives,'” Akashi recollects. “These phrases impressed me, and made me wish to be concerned in water-related work at some point. Saving lives with know-how lies on the core of ENELL’s philosophy.”

In 2024, ENELL received an award of excellence from one in all Japan’s largest public-private co-creation acceleration packages supported by the Tokyo Metropolitan Authorities, and is striving to develop even additional by collaborating with and receiving hands-on assist from native governments. ENELL additionally exhibited at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2025, one in all Asia’s largest startup conferences, drawing curiosity from varied international locations worldwide.

Akashi shared his ideas on spreading ENELL’s applied sciences from Tokyo to the world: “Though Tokyo is a large metropolis, in case you transfer a bit additional out, there are sparsely populated areas dealing with varied points like declining demographics and getting old infrastructure. I really feel like these are miniature samples of what quickly rising cities abroad will face sooner or later. What’s extra, Japan has 4 distinct seasons, so local weather and different facets of the pure atmosphere change drastically relying on the season. I consider addressing the problems we face in Tokyo will allow us to resolve varied water points occurring worldwide.”

Very quickly, the applied sciences of this Tokyo-based water infrastructure startup might revolutionize the world’s water points.

Interview and writing by Funabashi Maki

Translation by Maria Smith