Water from air is an attractive source for a bottling business: no borehole licence, no municipal supply and a clean starting point. But the machine is only one part of the business. This guide covers the rest: production cost, regulations, testing and the checks to do before you spend anything.

1. How much water can you actually produce?

Start with daily volume, because it drives everything else. A SkyTap 1000L makes up to 1,000 litres a day in hot, humid conditions, and much less in dry ones (see the industrial guide for regional figures). A bottling plant has to supply customers every day, so plan production around the driest months and add storage tanks to carry surplus from good days into bad ones.

2. What it costs to produce a litre

At an assumed R3 per kWh, electricity for the water itself is roughly R0.60–R2.50 per litre depending on the season. Packaging and distribution usually cost more than the water, which is true of every bottling business, whatever the source.

3. Regulations: what to sort out first

Bottled water sold in South Africa is a foodstuff. Before you sell:

• Food premises certificate: your filling premises need a Certificate of Acceptability from your municipality's environmental health department (Regulation R638, hygiene requirements for food premises).
• Bottled water regulations: packaged water must comply with the regulations relating to bottled water under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act (Regulation R718), including labelling and microbiological and chemical limits.
• Laboratory testing: test your water at a SANAS-accredited laboratory before launch and regularly afterwards. Drinking water is commonly tested against the SANS 241 drinking-water standard.
• Industry body: the South African National Bottled Water Association (SANBWA) publishes guidance and runs a member audit scheme, which retailers often look for.

Requirements change and differ by municipality, so confirm the details with your environmental health officer and a food-safety consultant. This guide is a starting checklist, not legal advice.

4. Mineral content and taste

Water condensed from air is very low in minerals, close to distilled water. Most bottlers add a remineralisation stage so the water tastes like the waters customers know, and so the mineral content on the label is stable. SkyTap industrial units can be fitted with one.

5. Power and site

• Three-phase power around the clock: each 1000L draws about 8.7 kW. Production is highest at night, so solar needs battery storage (see our solar guide).
• A ventilated machine room kept between 15°C and 38°C.
• Food-grade storage tanks between the generators and the filling line.

6. Mistakes we see

• Sizing for the brochure figure instead of the dry season.
• Forgetting night-time power on solar-only sites.
• Leaving testing and certificates until after launch. Retailers ask for them first.
• Underestimating packaging and delivery, which decide your margin.

Questions

Can I use an atmospheric water generator for a bottled water business?

Yes. Industrial units such as the SkyTap 1000L and 5000L can supply a bottling line. You still need a Certificate of Acceptability for your premises, compliance with the bottled water regulations, and regular testing at an accredited laboratory.

Does SkyTap test or certify the water?

No. SkyTap supplies the equipment, filters, spare parts and technical documentation. Water testing and food-safety certification are arranged by the bottler with an accredited laboratory and the municipality.

Is water from air too pure to bottle?

It is very low in minerals, so most bottlers add a remineralisation stage for taste and a consistent label.

Sources and assumptions. Output and power figures are the manufacturer's tested values for SkyTap units (1000L: about 1,000 L/day at 30°C and 80% RH, 600 L/day at 27°C and 60% RH, 135 L/day at 25°C and 30% RH, 8.7 kW). Electricity costs and solar yields are planning assumptions stated in the text, not quotes. Prices are SkyTap's published unit prices at the time of writing and are confirmed in a written quotation.

Related guides