Created by the joint efforts of researchers at the University of Engineering and Technology (UTEC) in Lima and advertising agency Mayo Peru DraftFCB, the panel produces water from humidity in the air via the use of filters.
UTEC says it wanted to put "imagination into action" and show that it is possible to solve people's problems through engineering and technology. So far, the billboard has produced over 9,000 litres of drinking water, the equivalent of 96 litres a day.
The panel is strategically located in the village of Bujama, an area south of the capital city that is almost a desert, where some people have no access to clean water. However, despite the tough local conditions, air humidity itself has been shown to reach as high as 98 percent.
Internally, the panel consists of five devices that extract water vapour from the air using a condenser and filters. Water is then stored in tanks at the top of the structure. Once filtered, it flows down a pipe connected to a tap, which is accessible to everybody. The designers state that the internal system costs as little as US$1,200 (£790) to set up.
