Solar Still

S

skab8541

Joined
Dec 6, 2006
Messages
478
I am starting the process of making sure I can use all the items I take out with me. One of which is several large black trash bags. Amoug other things it can be used to construct a solar still. Also in my kit I carry the stainless cup and the tubing which both also have several uses.

First garthered up my tools, Shovel, cup, tubing, and trash bag.

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Then picked a spot that would get sun all day, as long as it is sunny. And dug a hole. I made the hole big enough so that the trash bag would cover the entire hole. I then cut the trash bag open.

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Placed some nice green leaves in the bottom, that would contain lots of water.(Happen to be radish tops from supper) I then urinated on them to add to the moisture in the hole. If you are wondering the water in the urine will evporate and leave the bad stuff behind. Made sure to place the cup in the middle of the hole with the tubing in the cup. Making sure it was long enough to get all the way out of the hole.

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I then covered the hole with the trash bag and used the dirt from the hole to help hold it in place. With the aide of some river rocks. Made it as tight as possible and placed a rock in the middle directly over the cup to funnel the water droplets into the cup.

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I plan to leave it for a full 24hrs then go check it to see just how much i collect. I have done this before, but it has been quite some time ago. I know this method works, just wanted to practice and share with those that have never tried it.

I will post more tomorrow of the results.
 
The Foreign Legion don't seem to have any problems getting them going in the desert but they've never given me a decent return.
 
If you have any shrubs, low trees, etc, you might find it more cost effective to use transpiration bags. Almost no effort to set up. Just need a bag (preferably clear) and some string or similar to secure the end around a branch.
Good luck,
G
 
I have tried the shrub/bush style with decent results for the effort put forth. The reason I wanted to practice this one is here in nebraska we have the sandhills. And while most of does have some type of shrub or bush a lot is damn near desert and I think the still will be more effective. I am aware that its not the most desirable or effective way, it really isn't much work and cost next to nothing to make.
 
The tube is to drink the water out the cup without disturbing the still so it can continue to work.
 
Well I had meant to post the results, but got side tracked. We have had a lot of rain lately, thought this would work great, well it sure collected a large amount of water. It just wasn't how it was suppose to work.

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It rained that night and it acted as a rain catch! When I pulled the cup out it was full as well!
 
lolz, well that works.

How clean is rainwater gathered like that? Would one still have to purify it?
 
you ca'nt argue with results like yours. if your solar still does this often maybe you can sell your services to farmers in drought stricken areas . thanks for the follow up.
 
Still best to purify it. Small animals may have already been there before you. They tend to crap where they drink.

I was going to post a smart-aleck comment about you being in the wrong environment to try to use a still, but I guess the point is clear already by now.

Hard to imagine that there isn't a creek nearby also.

I'm not a big solar still fan, even in the desert.
 
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