Zoom in: Austin-based Aquaria sells devices called Hydropacks that work similarly to a dehumidifier — but on a much larger scale.

• The company is unique for selling them to the general public, rather than disaster relief zones, San Antonio-based Chris Christal, vice president of sales, tells Axios.
• A small Hydropack starts around $14,000, while a large one can cost up to $35,000.

How it works: A small Hydropack is about the size of an air conditioning unit and sits outside a home. It sends water from the air to an external tank that then pumps it into the main water line for a home, Christal says.

Context: The military has been using these devices, called atmospheric water generators, since at least the turn of the century, as a way to provide reliable water to overseas troops.

• Other companies put the machines to use during natural disasters like tsunamis.

What they're saying: "Most of our Hill Country customer base is from Dripping Springs to Blanco, Texas, and then all around San Antonio," Christal says.

• "There are a lot of people on wells … their wells have now dried up."

By the numbers: In San Antonio, the smallest units can produce about 50 gallons of water per day, while the largest can offer about 210 gallons, Christal says.

State of play: Units in Corpus Christi can produce more water because there's more humidity in the air. Aquaria has been selling well there as the city of 317,000 people faces the potential of running out of water.

Reality check: Electric bills are higher on a Hydropack.

• Still, the costs to truck in water from elsewhere or dig a deeper well can be steep, Christal says.

What's next: Aquaria hopes to be able to offer the technology to places without any water at little to no cost.