Survival situations in arid climates, and those in areas of highly-saline water (seawater), present unique challenges to getting your daily potable water needs to stay hydrated – and alive. A solar still is a time-tested method to generate potable water, even from certain contaminated sources. A solar still uses the rays of the sun to distill water from the ground, plants, and virtually anything that contains moisture. An advantage is that impure sources, which could not normally be consumed, may be used to produce drinkable water. These include urine, blood, salt water, and non-poisonous plant material. Construction of a solar still is labor intensive, and therefore, you must weigh the potential benefit of its construction against any deficit from water loss in constructing the still. Construction is best in early morning/evening when temperatures are cooler. Good survival guides will offer solid instruction on the construction of solar stills, and their caveats.
Watch This Video That Describes the Solar Still and Solar Still Deluxe, and Their Basic Construction and Operation:
We offer the Solar Still Water Purification Kit and Solar Still Deluxe Water Purification Kit as cost effective, lightweight, and packable emergency water procurement kits with some added benefits. The first being the materials: Only high-grade materials were selected in making this kit. The second is that we include chlorine dioxide water purification tablets, and a 5L water collection bag, to purify non-saline water you may discover while the solar still works passively. The Solar Still Deluxe also includes a 50 gallon emergency water filter that can filter down to 3 microns, and is extremely small and lightweight. Note: The water purification tablets and filter will NOT purify salt water (remove the salt from water). They are intended to be used to purify fresh water you may find that is suspected of being contaminated with pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses (as indicated in their instructions), while the solar still works passively. The solar still is your method to remove the salt from water.
Contents of the Solar Still DELUXE Kit:
1. 6 ft x 8 ft of 2 mil High-Durability Clear Polysheeting
- Can also be used for shelter construction if solar still is not needed.
2. 6 ft of Special Formulation Drinking-Tubing:
- Ultraviolet Light Resistant
- Moisture and Fungus Resistant
- NSF 61 Listed for Use with Potable Water
3. 2 in x 50 in Duct Tape for aid in construction/securing tubing.
4. 3 Liter Folding/Freestanding Durable Pack Bowl for water collection
5. Frontier Pro MILITARY EDITION Emergency Water Filter: 50 Gallon Capacity:
- Two Stage Filtration: Replaceable pre-filter removes larger particles. Aquamira porous plastic microfilter removes 99.9% of Cryptosporidium, Giardia.
- Light Weight: Weighs less than one half of a typical pump system (dry weight = 2oz.)
- Can be used with the 6 tubing supplied with the kit to access hard-to-reach water sources, and drink them directly through the filter.
6. 10 Pack of Aquamira Military Edition Chlorine Dioxide Water Purification Tablets:
- Each tablet purifies one liter (32oz.) of water and is conveniently sealed in an individual child resistant foil pouch.
- The individual tablet pouches are stored inside a re-sealable (subdued in color) storage pouch that can be packed away almost anywhere.
- To use, simply drop one tablet into one liter of water and wait the required time.
- EPA Registered Purifier, Aquamira Water Purifier Tablets contain a patented chlorine dioxide formula that produces a powerful germicidal agent when released in water.
- When used as directed, Aquamira Water Purifier Tablets meet the EPA guidelines for Microbiological Water Purifiers; making it the safest solution on the market.
7. An Aloksak 12 in x12 in SSI Certified Waterproof Bag:
- Will hold more than 5 Liters of water securely, and without spilling, when properly sealed.
- SSI (formerly NASDS) certified waterproof to depths exceeding 60 meters. Confirmed testing in their pressure chamber under constant pressure of 200 SFW for two weeks without leaks.
- U.S. NAVY Passed submergence/thrash/pull tests conducted by Navy Experimental Diving Unit.
8. (2) 1 Liter Sterile Stand-up Water Bags
- Can be used to collect and purify water with the Chlorine Dioxide water purification tablets (1 tablet per liter).
9. (3) 25 Gallon 1.5 mil Polybags, clear, high density.
- Used to construct separate vegetation stills for extracting water from non-poisonous plant material.
10. 10 ft. of 7 Strand Parachute Cord (550 Cord).
- Useful to secure tubing, seal polybags onto branches, or hold branches into better position for maximum solar exposure.
11. Basic instruction sheet for solar still and vegetation still construction.
12. Solar Still Kit Pouch:
- 10 in x 7.5 in with a 2 in gusset.
- Waterproof: Constructed of 1.1 oz Silicone Impregnated Sil-Nylon Rip-Stop.
- 1 in Clip for attachment to gear.
Weight of Kit: 19 oz
Put the sun to work to help save your life: Carry a solar still, learn how to use it, and survive!
Solar stills can provide the extraction of potable water from contaminated or brackish sources through solar / thermal action. Knowledge in their use provides a vital tool to use in certain situations where a solar still would be beneficial. From extracting potable water from non-poisonous plants to removing salt from seawater, solar stills have been in use for many years and have saved many lives. But remember, there is a cost-benefit analysis that must be done if the energy required to build a solar still outweighs the potential water that can be accrued depending on the location of the still and other factors. Know their proper use to make informed decisions about using a solar still. 
