Without water you will die.
A survivalist without a carry along water distiller is like a patriot without a gun and a fisherman without bait.
Every serious survivalist, hiker, backpacker, hunter and camper should have a solar water survival distilling kit. Now you can...
Making your own water is easy, even in the desert.
The water hatch.
The complete solar water distilling survival kit.
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Solar Water Distiller
HOW-TO INSTRUCTIONS BELOW
(earth pit, below ground method)
Water quality and sources
Select a site that will receive unobstructed sunlight the entire day. Ideally, it will be in soil that already contains some moisture, such as near a body of water (lake, ocean, river or stream). If the soil is bone dry, as in a desert, moisture can be manually introduced from other sources, such as green vegetation, polluted water, urine, anything with H2O content from any source. Avoid sources that are contaminated with petroleum products (diesel, gasoline, industrial solvents, etc.) as the vapors from these will potentially transfer over into the distilled water.
Instructions to set up distiller
(shovel required)
Open the container and remove the story cord. This is your guide or “story” layout. With it you will be able to quickly determine the dimensions and outline of the distiller. Notice that the cord has a loop on one end, followed by a nylon tie, followed by another loop and finishes with a knot on the end (see drawing on pg.3). Lay the loop on the end on the ground so that it is at the center of the pit to be excavated. Pin the loop to the ground with a stick, nail, knife, etc. so that the loop will rotate around the pin. Stretch it out taught and locate the second loop. Through the second loop, insert a scribing tool (stick, nail, knife, etc.) and scribe a complete circle, pivoting around the center. Doing so lays out a 40 in. / 102 cm. wide circle and is the outer boundary of the pit.
Start Digging
Remove the earth creating a sloping wall to the bottom making a cone-shaped depression (see diagram). Use the story cord to determine the proper depth of the pit. The entire length of the cord measures the depth of the pit which is 24 in. / 61 cm. Lay a straight stick across the top of the pit as a gauge to determine the top or level point and drop the cord to the bottom until it hangs freely. Flatten out the bottom so that the water collection container will rest securely upright.
If you are working in already moist soil, proceed as follows; first secure one end of the tube with the clamp to the container so that it will pick up water as close to the bottom as possible. Adjust the clamp so that the tube is resting in the cut out behind the jaws of the clamp. Avoid pinching the hose so that it cannot pass water through to the surface. Suck on it to make sure it will pass air. If not, readjust the clamp until it does. Place the silicone tube with collection container attached on the bottom of the pit (do not allow dirt or debris to contaminate the end of the tube or container). Place it directly in the center of the pit, note: slightly tilt the container towards the secured tube so that water collected will flow to where the tube can easily pick it up.
Now expand the plastic sheet over the pit, (two persons work best), avoid spreading debris into the pit or container and also not allowing the sheet to touch the ground, (contaminate). Position the sheet so that the “X” is located directly over the collection container. Allow the sheet to settle down. Use the story cord to measure the proper drop of the sheet (16 in. / 41 cm.) by measuring from the loop on the end to the nylon tie (before the second loop). Align the nylon tie with the level stick laid across the pit until the loop on the end touches the sheet. Place a 3 to 4 ounce stone or other smooth, rounded object in the center to stretch the sheet tight. Once properly positioned, secure the sheet by covering all exposed edges with soil to keep out wind blown debris and critters.
When working with dry soil, a source of potential water must be introduced into the distiller. This is accomplished before the sheet is applied to cover the pit. If using green vegetation, densely line the pit walls with vegetation and then cover with sheet. If using other sources of contaminated water (sea water, sewage, brackish, etc.), soak the walls of the pit with such and then cover with sheet. If using contaminated water, you will need to replenish this as needed.
Do so by introducing fouled water into the pit by digging a small trench starting back from the sheet, going under the sheet and below it, avoid contaminating the sheet, so that the liquid can flow into the pit. A short piece of water hose or PVC tube works well to pass foul liquid under the sheet to the pit.
If it is necessary to remove the sheet, do so in the cool of the day so as to not upset the process of evaporation during the heat of the day. Water production is entirely dependent upon environmental conditions. Warmer temperatures will produce more, cooler, less. Also, the amount of available solar energy is critical. Cloudy skies will provide less heat to work on the distiller.
As the heat energy of the sun evaporates the moisture content in the pit, pure water vapor will condense on the inside of the sheet. The greater the temperature gradient between the inside of the pit and the outside air, the more water will be collected. You will see the condensed vapor streaking down the sheet to the weight where it will drip off into the container.
Keeping the silicone tube clean and closed to insects, debris and dirt, you are now able to draw the water out of the container without removing the sheet. Do so by using the tube like a straw with your mouth or employing a hand operated pump (backpacker item) to bring it to the surface and into a collection container. The water collected will be purely distilled and if not contaminated with debris, suitable for making colloidal silver solutions, IV solutions, watering batteries, etc. It is important to keep the pit side of the sheet absolutely clean so as to not contaminate the water produced. Contamination will make it unsuitable for distilled water applications. If water is contaminated and is needed only for rehydration, pass it through a coffee filter to remove the debris. Depending upon your situation, several distillers may be required to meet your need/s.
This kit is produced with high quality materials so as to provide a durable and long lasting investment. Silicone tubing is used so that in cold temperatures it will not become hard and difficult to manage, it will stay flexible in extreme conditions. It is also neutral to the distilled water. Cheap plastic tubing will transfer an unpleasant taste to the distilled water. The container is capable of high impact, employs a silicone gasket in the top that when properly installed is air tight. The four-way snap down latches assure security of contents.
The plastic sheet should not be folded so as to avoid stress lines and eventual shearing along these lines. “Stuff” it into the container to avoid this problem. Start stuffing by first working from the center of the sheet, moving up expelling trapped air as you go. Eventually the sheet will decay due to the effects of sunlight and will need to be replaced. This is currently an easily obtained material available at any building supply or hardware store. It measures 60 x 60 in. / 153 cm sq. and is 1/one mil in thickness. Thicker material will not fit into the container. This can be commonly found as painter’s drop cloth/plastic sheeting.
Plastic sheet is guaranteed for 90 days, all other components are guaranteed against defects in materials or workmanship for 12 months from date of purchase. Failure/s due to abuse or accident are not covered by this warranty.
qty. 1 - 600 ml collection/storage container with snap down latches
qty. 1 - 60 X 60 in. / 153 cm. 1 mil thick polyethylene sheet
qty. 1 - 5/16 in. OD / 13 mm. by 6 ft. / 183 cm. long silicone water extraction tube
qty. 1 – plastic tube clamp
qty. 1 – set of instructions
specifications: weight = 8.2 ounces; dimensions: diameter/width = 5.5 in. / 14 cm.; height = 2.75 in. / 6.7 cm.
Capacity and shape of collection/storage container may vary. Size and shape of silicone tube clamp may vary.
WHY DISTILLED WATER?
Water functions as a solvent in the body and transports nutrients to living cells, and takes waste material away from the cells. Water must be pure so as vital nutrients are absorbed and waste products are carried out of the kidneys and liver. Distilled water removes toxins and inorganic substances from the body.
