Las Vegas Startup Develops Atmospheric Water Technology for Potential Data Center Demand
Las Vegas startup WAVR Technologies is developing atmospheric water-harvesting technology that could eventually help data centers reduce their reliance on Southern Nevada’s municipal water supply. The work comes amid severe Colorado River and Lake Mead water concerns, though the technology remains in the research and prototype stage.
WAVR Technologies, a Las Vegas startup commercializing research developed at UNLV, is testing a salt-based system that captures moisture from the air. CEO Rich Sloan said the prototype has advanced from producing milliliters of water toward a target of about 20 liters per day, including in very dry conditions.
The company believes the technology could eventually offset the municipal water demand of large users such as data centers, an important consideration as Lake Mead remains historically low and the Colorado River Basin faces ongoing water-use disputes. For now, the system is being used primarily for research at UNLV, with WAVR targeting 2028 for a consumer-ready product.