Our Origen Story

Origen wasn’t founded on a single light bulb moment. Instead, we kept noticing an undeniably present issue: people struggling to access clean water. Moreover, that water scarcity was impacting thousands, to even millions, of people around the world.  

From families in California fighting wildfires with drying taps, to the reduction of snowpack runoff in the mountains—we realized just how badly people needed water, and how hard it can be to get it.  

So, we set out on a mission to bring clean, sustainable drinking water to people across the globe facing water shortages. All we needed then was the best way to do it.  

Like many ideas, it began with a mix of innovation and market knowledge. Our early development team was known for being entrepreneurial. We sought out challenges just so we could solve them.  

For one of the founding members of the team, Walt Waetjen, Origen wasn’t just fueled by an entrepreneurial spirit. As a father, he was empathetic to challenges that children face around the world due to water scarcity. Whether it’s missing school to gather water for their families, or spending hours walking to a distant well, young girls in developing countries lose valuable opportunities to learn and grow a career.  

Waetjen’s awareness of how water scarcity limits childrens’ futures became a guiding principle for Origen: solving water scarcity isn’t only about water; it’s about opportunity.  

Eventually an array of unique passions and talents across the team blended. Our team spent weeks researching and testing in hopes of perfecting the answer that would change lives. The solution? Highly efficient, sustainable atmospheric water generation (AWG).  

AWGs take water vapor from humidity in the air and turn it into potable water. Like the water cycle, moisture condenses into droplets, is used, and then eventually evaporates back into the atmosphere. 

From the hands of hard workers in Wisconsin to university students in northern Florida, real people have been able to experience the feeling of water freedom, and it doesn’t stop there.  

Thanks to an innovative team and collaboration with people who care about accessible water around the world, we have been able to expand our horizons to more communities in need. 

Today, we remain focused on innovation, collaboration, and solving the world’s water crisis. One drop at a time. 

Because when people have water, they have freedom.