DIY Water Desalination: How to make seawater drinkable.

In the realm of survival skills, few are as crucial as the ability to procure clean drinking water, especially in harsh environments where fresh water sources are scarce. Desalination, the process of removing salt and other impurities from seawater, becomes not only a skill but a lifeline in coastal or maritime survival situations. In this article, we'll delve into the significance of knowing how to desalinate water and explore various methods to ensure access to potable water even in the most challenging circumstances.

2 Methods for desalinating water

Solar Still: One of the simplest methods involves constructing a solar still. This involves creating a small, sealed pit in the ground and placing a container in the center. Seawater or contaminated water is poured into the pit, and a plastic sheet is placed over the pit with a rock in the center to create a slight depression. As the sun heats the pit, water evaporates, condenses on the underside of the plastic sheet, and drips into the container, leaving salt and impurities behind.

Distillation: Distillation is another effective desalination method that can be performed with basic equipment. In this process, seawater is boiled, and the steam is collected and condensed into liquid form, leaving salt and contaminants behind. This method requires a heat source for boiling, such as a campfire or stove, and a condensation system to capture and cool the steam, such as a makeshift coil or tube

Step by Step Instructions for making a Solar Still

Materials Needed:

1. Shovel or Digging Tool

2. Clear Plastic Sheet (preferably large enough to cover the pit)

3. Container (to collect distilled water)

4. Small Rock or Weight

5. Additional Water Source (to fill the pit)

Step 1: Choose a Location Select a spot with a good amount of sunlight exposure and relatively moist ground. Ideally, the area should have loose soil or sand that isn't going to instantly absorb the water you're putting into it.

Step 2: Dig a Pit Use the shovel or digging tool to excavate a pit in the ground. The size of the pit will depend on the amount of water you need to distill. A width and depth of around 3 feet (1 meter) is generally sufficient if possible with the tools you have.

Step 3: Place a clean container at the bottom of the pit. This container will collect the distilled water produced by the solar still. Choose a container with as wide of a mouth as possible to keep the water droplets from missing the hole but work with the container you have available.

Step 4: Fill the Pit Add the additional water source to the bottom of the pit. This water will create the moisture necessary for evaporation and condensation within the still.

Step 5: Cover the Pit, place the clear plastic sheet over the pit, ensuring that it extends beyond the edges of the pit. Weigh down the edges of the plastic sheet with rocks. Use the small rock or weight to anchor the center of the plastic sheet, creating a slight depression over the container, this will allow the evaporated water to run down and drip from the weighted area

Step 6: Seal the Edges Carefully mound soil or sand around the edges of the plastic sheet to create a tight seal. This prevents moisture from escaping and maximizes the effectiveness of the solar still.

Step 7: Wait for Condensation As the sun heats the pit and evaporates the water, moisture will collect on the underside of the plastic sheet and drip down into the container. Depending on environmental conditions, this process may take several hours to yield a significant amount of distilled water.

Step 8: Collect Distilled Water Periodically check the container to collect the distilled water that accumulates. Be mindful not to disturb the still unnecessarily, as this can disrupt the condensation process.

With these steps, you can create an improvised solar still to distill water in a survival or emergency situation, providing a source of safe drinking water.

Step by Step instructions to distill water

Materials Needed:

1. Large Pot or Container with Lid

2. Smaller Container (to collect distilled water)

3. Heat Source (e.g., stove, campfire)

4. Ice or Cold Water (for condensation)

5. Plastic or Glass Tubing (optional)

Step 1: Prepare the Large Pot Fill the large pot or container with the water you want to distill. Make sure the pot is clean and free from contaminants.

Step 2: Place the Smaller Container Float a smaller container inside the large pot, ensuring it does not touch the bottom. This smaller container will collect the distilled water.

Step 3: Cover with Lid Place the lid on the large pot upside down. This will allow the steam to condense on the lid and drip into the smaller container.

Step 4: Heat the Pot, Place the large pot on a heat source, such as a stove or campfire. Bring the water to a boil.

Step 5: Create Condensation As the water boils, steam will rise and condense on the underside of the lid. The condensed water droplets will then drip into the smaller container.

Step 6: Add Ice or Cold Water To speed up the condensation process, you can place ice or cold water on top of the inverted lid. This helps to cool the steam more quickly, promoting condensation.

Step 7: Monitor the Process Keep an eye on the distillation process, ensuring that the water continues to boil and that the condensed water drips into the smaller container.

Step 8: Collect Distilled Water Periodically check the smaller container to collect the distilled water that accumulates. Be careful when handling hot materials and use appropriate safety precautions.

Optional Step: Use Tubing If available, you can attach plastic or glass or metal tubing to the lid to direct the condensed water directly into the smaller container. This can help streamline the process and minimize the risk of contamination.

With these steps, you can distill water using improvised materials and a simple setup. This method can be useful in emergency situations or when access to clean water is limited.

The risks of drinking distilled water

While distilled water is generally safe to drink in small quantities and for short periods of time, there are some risks associated with consuming it exclusively over extended periods. One risk is that distilled water lacks essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which are important for maintaining overall health. Prolonged consumption of distilled water may lead to mineral deficiencies and electrolyte imbalances. Additionally, because distilled water has a very low mineral content and pH level, it may have a slightly acidic taste, which some people find unpalatable. However, occasional consumption of distilled water is unlikely to cause harm, and it can be a suitable option for short-term hydration in emergency situations or for certain medical procedures. If you have an electrolyte packet like LMNT or Saltt I would recommend adding it to your distilled water.