This Engineer’s Solar Tech Has Kept Clean Water Flowing After Hurricane Melissa

When Hurricane Melissa slammed into Jamaica on October 28 with winds reaching 195 mph, it left a trail of devastation, taking dozens of lives and crippling essential infrastructure. The storm knocked out power across the island and severely disrupted water systems, leaving half a million people without access to clean water. However, in the remote Maroon community of Accompong, nestled high in the Cockpit Country mountains, something remarkable happened: clean drinking water kept flowing. This was all thanks to a solar-powered atmospheric water generator (AWG) installed there. Unlike traditional systems that depend on electricity or extensive infrastructure, this technology pulls moisture straight from the air and converts it into fresh water. Even as the Category 5 hurricane tore through Jamaica, collapsing grids and conventional water supplies, Accompong’s AWG produced nearly 400 gallons of drinkable water daily. Moses West, the engineer behind this innovation and founder of AWG Contracting, said, "If we can make water in a hurricane, we can make it anywhere." His vision was to empower communities to control their most vital resource using only sunlight and air. Though the machine took a direct hit when the hurricane’s powerful winds flipped the 40-foot container housing it, the local technicians, with remote support from AWG engineers, managed to get it back up and running within 48 hours. Chief Richard Currie of Accompong praised the resilience of the system, calling it both a technological and humanitarian triumph. Entirely solar-powered and off-grid, this is currently Jamaica’s only renewable water solution operating independently from the nation’s vulnerable power grid. West’s technology is designed specifically to serve communities where traditional water infrastructure is unreliable or absent. AWG Contracting has already deployed units in places like Flint, Michigan, Jackson, Mississippi, and Puerto Rico, areas where marginalized and underserved populations suffer from chronic water insecurity. “We designed this technology to do one thing—save lives,” West emphasized. The survival and continued operation of the AWG during Hurricane Melissa underscores the importance of renewable, resilient technology in crisis situations. In response to growing climate threats, AWG Contracting is now scaling up production with a $25 million clean manufacturing initiative in the U.S., aiming to distribute more units globally. Hurricane Melissa was one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record, and scientific studies attribute its intensity partly to climate change. Sea surface temperatures in the affected area were roughly 1.3°C warmer than average, leading to increased rainfall and stronger winds. Despite contributing very little to global carbon emissions, Jamaica is now facing some of the most severe consequences of climate change, with a third of customers still without power two weeks after the storm and many rural zones cut off from basic services. Accompong’s solar-powered water system highlights a hopeful path forward. It shows how off-grid, renewable infrastructure can provide life-sustaining resources when traditional systems fail, especially as extreme weather events become more frequent and intense. This example not only inspires innovation but also stresses the urgent need for climate resilience in vulnerable communities.