The Basic Principles of Solar Water Distillation

While many people purchase expensive filtration equipment to filter their drinking water supply of contaminants, it might come as something unknown to find out that a lot of this can actually be done via the sun and its natural evaporation process.

The sun is our planet’s natural filtration system. Solar rays distil impurities from water by vaporizing it from natural contaminants and then condensing the vapour into distilled water. Rain water, which is naturally distilled by our sun, is known to be a really pure source of water. But given our heavily polluted atmosphere, this is not the case anymore. Polluted environments have a huge amount of suspended dust particles and chemicals. It is impossible for the sun alone to naturally purify all impurities.

However, if you stay in a relatively clean environment, then solar water distillation might just be the answer to your requirements. You can have rainwater not just for use in watering the plants, but possibly for use in your cooking too.

The basic principles of solar water distillation are simple yet efficient, as distillation duplicates the way nature produces rain. The sun’s rays heat water to the point of boiling. As the water boils, water vapour rises, condensing on the glass surface for collection because of its cool surface. This process removes contaminants such as salts and heavy metals as well as eradicates microbiological organisms. The result is water that is cleaner than the purest rainwater. This passive solar water distillation only needs sunshine to work. There are no moving parts to be utilized.

The distilled water from solar water distillation still does not have the “flat” taste of commercially distilled water because the water is not boiled. Solar water distillation still utilizes natural evaporation and condensation, which is the rainwater method. This allows natural pH buffering that makes great taste as compared to steam distillation. Solar water distillation can still give enough water for family drinking and cooking needs.

Solar water distillation can be used to efficiently remove many contaminants ranging from salts to microorganisms and is even used to make drinking water from seawater. Solar water distillation has been well used by many consumers, both rural and urban, from around the world. Solar water distillation can be used anywhere the sun shines.

Solar water distillation is simple and has no moving parts. It is made of quality materials manufactured to withstand the bad conditions produced by water and sunlight. The operation is simple and easy: water should be added every day through the still’s supply fill port. Excess water will drain out of the overflow port and this will keep salts from clumping up in the basin. Purified drinking water is collected from the output collection port. Supply Fill Port is where water should be added to the still. Water can be added either manually or automatically. Once the still basin has filled, excess water will flow out of the overflow port. Purified drinking water is collected from this distilled output collection port, ideally with a glass collection container.