MADISON, Wis. – Origen, a Madison-based atmospheric water generator brand within the Therma-Stor family, has deployed its Wellspring 100 system at the University of North Florida’s JEA Sustainable Solutions Lab as part of a new research initiative focused on water security and infrastructure resiliency.
The installation places Wisconsin-engineered technology into a live university research environment, where faculty and students will evaluate how atmospheric water generation can support utilities, emergency preparedness, and critical infrastructure during disruptions.
The Origen Wellspring 100 produces clean, potable water by extracting and purifying moisture from the air, allowing it to operate independently of traditional water infrastructure. Over the next six months, researchers at UNF’s JEA Sustainable Solutions Lab will collect real-world performance data to assess system efficiency, reliability, and user experience. The findings will help inform future deployments. This research initiative also supports UNF’s broader expansion of its Sustainable Solutions Lab into a larger Center for Utility Security and Resilience, focused on clean energy, water security, and infrastructure research.
University leaders, public officials, and industry representatives attended the inaugural launch and highlighted the collaboration between academia, government, and private industry. U.S. Rep. John Rutherford and UNF President Moez Limayem emphasized the importance of partnerships that move innovative technologies from concept to real-world testing.
“The Center for Utility Security and Resiliency is designed to address emerging challenges in energy, water and infrastructure through rigorous, application‑focused research,” said Dr. Paul Eason, UNF’s VP of strategy and innovation. “Growing UNF’s research infrastructure depends on projects like this, which expand our capacity to validate new technologies and deliver innovative solutions.”
“The Origen Wellspring represents more than just technology— it represents resilience. It represents independence from a failing water system. It represents the idea that clean water does not have to depend on pipelines, trucks, desalination, depleted aquifers, or forever chemicals,” said Walt Waetjen, Director of Product Development at Origen.
The project is funded by Florida-based sustainable technology firm Captiva Verde Corporation, which partnered with Origen to provide the equipment. Captiva Verde plans to develop atmospheric water stations across Florida to deliver locally produced clean drinking water without plastic bottles or long-distance transportation.
For Therma‑Stor, this project underscores how the company’s commitment to innovation can advance resilient, sustainable water solutions with national and global impact, supporting its mission to help make the world safer, healthier, and more productive.
About Origen
Origen delivers high‑efficiency atmospheric water generators that transform air into a dependable source of clean, potable water. As one of five brands in the Therma‑Stor family—a Madison-based industry leader in air and water management solutions for nearly five decades—Origen is backed by a proven legacy of quality, efficiency, and performance. The company designs sustainable, forward‑thinking technology that support hospitality, government, military, emergency relief, schools, corporate campuses, and more. Learn more at origenawg.com.
About University of North Florida
The University of North Florida is a nationally ranked university located on a beautiful 1,381-acre campus in Jacksonville surrounded by nature. Serving more than 17,000 students, UNF features six colleges of distinction with innovative programs in high-demand fields. UNF students receive individualized attention from faculty and gain valuable real-world experience engaging with community partners. A top public university, UNF prepares students to make a difference in Florida and around the globe. Learn more at www.unf.edu.
