Chat with Aquaria
Interested learning more about our products? Call us and we’ll connect you with the right product expert.
+1 888-589-4605
Videos /
Stories
No Well. No City Water. No Problem. | Aquaria Customer Story
After their well ran dry without warning and a replacement well permit took two months to obtain, this couple installed an Aquaria atmospheric water generator on the recommendation of their solar company. The system pulls water from the air to meet their household needs, eliminating their water bill entirely.
For families relying on private wells, running dry isn't always a gradual problem. There's no warning — you turn on the tap and nothing comes out. And drilling a replacement well isn't a quick fix: permits alone can take months, and even a new well isn't a guarantee of water or quality.
In this Aquaria customer story, David and Gladys Scales share how they moved from an unreliable, hard-water well in San Antonio to an Aquaria Hydropack their solar company recommended. The system pulls moisture from the surrounding air to meet their household demand — no well, no city water, no monthly water bill.
Paired with their existing solar setup, the Hydropack gives them both energy and water self-sufficiency. They describe the decision as "buy once, cry once" — a higher upfront cost in exchange for stability they no longer have to think about.
[00:06] We found oursel with no water out of the blue. >> Yeah, because that's the well doesn't give you a message. I'm going dry. You just turn on the tap and go like, >> "Oh, there's no water here." >> Yes. >> And the well system essentially worked fairly well, but you know, one of the problems is the quality of the water, but it's very hard water.
[00:22] >> If you do another well, doesn't mean you're going to get water, number one. Number two, it can also go dry. I mean took him two months to just get a permit. So they expect us to just sit there without water all that time. Aquario that was based on a recommendation from the once again our solar company >> that mentioned have you ever thought about atmosphere water of course never heard of it >> and this made a lot of sense to just use the existing water in the atmosphere to supply our needs and these aren't
[00:50] exactly cheap solutions but it's kind of along the lines of buy once cry once but you know I don't have a water bill from that standpoint so we have the potential to be energy and water self-sufficient I feel pretty good about it. I don't think they're going to discontinue uh the atmosphere anytime soon. >> I grew up without water, so I know how how that is, but it was long time ago.
[01:14] So, I think now that I don't have that stress anymore. >> You know, things simple as flushing the commode or uh you know, running the dishwasher, you know, you start to think a little bit more about how you're utilizing water. There's a lot of pros. >> What I find out is that u not a lot of people know about this.
[01:31] The bottom line is uh we don't take water for granted anymore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happens when a residential well runs dry?
A: When a well runs dry, there is no advance warning. You simply turn on the tap and find no water. Drilling a replacement well is not guaranteed to produce water, the process can take months just to obtain a permit, and the household is left without water in the meantime. This family waited two months for a permit alone before deciding to look for an alternative solution.
Q: What is atmospheric water generation and how does it work?
A: Atmospheric water generation extracts moisture already present in the surrounding air and converts it into usable water for a household. Rather than relying on a ground source like a well or a municipal supply, the system uses the existing humidity in the atmosphere. The homeowners in this video had never heard of the technology before their solar company recommended it, but described it as making "a lot of sense" once it was explained.
Q: Is atmospheric water generation worth the upfront cost?
A: The homeowners in this video acknowledge that these systems are not cheap, but frame the investment as a "buy once, cry once" decision. Because the system eliminates a recurring water bill entirely, the ongoing cost of supply is removed. Combined with their existing solar setup, they describe having the potential to become fully energy and water self-sufficient.
Q: Can you use an atmospheric water generator as your only water source for a whole house?
A: Based on this customer account, yes. The family uses their Aquaria system for everyday household tasks including flushing toilets and running the dishwasher. There is no mention of a backup supply or municipal connection. The system appears to meet their full domestic water demand.
Q: How does atmospheric water compare to well water quality?
A: The homeowners noted that their original well water was very hard, describing water quality as one of its key problems. While the video does not go into detailed testing comparisons, the switch to atmospheric water is presented as an improvement. The couple no longer references concerns about water quality after making the switch.
Q: How long does it take to get a new well permit?
A: According to this customer's experience, obtaining a permit for a new well took approximately two months. During that time, the household had no water supply. This delay was a significant factor in their decision to explore alternative options rather than simply re-drilling.
Q: Does living off-grid with atmospheric water change how you use water day to day?
A: The homeowners say the experience has made them more mindful of water consumption. They now think more carefully about tasks like flushing the toilet and running the dishwasher. One speaker also noted that awareness of water scarcity has grown because atmospheric water generation is not yet widely known among the general public.
