Waterfull develops larger military water storage variant after AFWERX Phase I

Waterfull Inc. is advancing a 50-gallon military version of its patented Waterfull Barrel after completing an AFWERX Phase I award. The company is seeking Direct-to-Phase II funding to expand a power-independent water resilience system designed for military installations and contested logistics environments.

Why it matters: - Military installations need reliable potable water when power, pumps, or supply chains fail. - Waterfull's distributed storage model is designed to reduce dependence on bottled water deliveries and other logistics support. - The system is aimed at installation resilience, mission assurance, and contested logistics readiness.

What happened: - Waterfull Inc. said it completed an AFWERX Open Topic SBIR Phase I award for its patented Waterfull Barrel. - The company is now pursuing Direct-to-Phase II funding to accelerate development for the Department of the Air Force and joint forces. - Waterfull is evaluating a larger 50-gallon military-focused variant of the barrel. - The company announced the effort in Whittier, California, on July 23, 2026.

The details: - The current 30-gallon Waterfull Barrel is built for distributed, building-integrated potable water storage. - The system does not rely on electricity, chemicals, pumps, or moving parts. - It connects directly to existing building plumbing infrastructure. - Passive daily circulation keeps stored water fresh. - During a power outage or municipal water disruption, the system shifts to gravity-fed delivery. - Waterfull said the larger 50-gallon version presents engineering challenges tied to pressure management and structural integrity under higher loads. - The company said it is assessing those limits while preserving the same passive, power-independent architecture. - The technology is intended for fixed installations, forward operating locations, and other facilities that need on-site potable water. - The barrel has undergone third-party testing for material integrity, pressure performance, and wind resistance up to 145 mph. - The system is NSF/ANSI 61 certified for potable water use. - U.S. Patent D843766 protects the design.

Between the lines: - The move to a larger unit signals an attempt to make the system more useful for military settings where storage volume matters. - Water resilience is becoming a broader defense issue as leaders focus on infrastructure hardening and supply chain disruption. - A passive system may appeal to installations because it reduces maintenance burden and eliminates power dependence. - Howard Murray, Waterfull's founder and CEO, said the AFWERX work validated the technical feasibility and military relevance of distributed, building-integrated water storage.

What's next: - Waterfull plans to submit its Direct-to-Phase II proposal. - The company is looking to engage Air Force and Army organizations, installation stakeholders, defense contractors, and other government partners. - Waterfull said it welcomes interest in pilot programs and further SBIR development. - The company will continue developing the 50-gallon military variant while keeping the same passive architecture.

The bottom line: - Waterfull is trying to turn a building-integrated water storage product into a military resilience tool with larger capacity and no need for power or active mechanical systems.

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