Setting up a solar still to create drinking water is an easy process, using a large sheet of plastic, tripod and rocks for weights.

This type of still uses the “greenhouse effect” to vaporize and then re-condense water into a drinkable format; here is how to make this critical tool for getting yourself clean drinking water.

Plastic Sheeting

The main component of any solar still is the plastic. Clear or milky-looking plastics are required for these units. They allow sunlight to pass through, creating a greenhouse effect inside the structure.

Weights

The wind can be responsible for moving the inverted still, breaking the seal, and dumping out the water. Clean objects are needed inside the still to secure the plastic and create the cone shape of the still unit.

Supports

These can be virtually anything that can hold up the cone-shaped still without blocking sunlight.
Building the still is fairly simple. Tie off a small stone or similar object in the center of the plastic sheeting. This will serve as the “point” of the cone.

Suspend the plastic sheeting by the tied rock with ample sheeting leftover on the ground to tuck underneath the cone. This loose plastic sheeting will become the circular reservoir inside the unit. Set up something internally to allow the plastic sheeting to make a round, gutter-like water catchment.

Place containers of dirty water or wet material inside the unit, making sure that no dirty water contaminates the circular reservoir. Wait for the water to evaporate and condense on the plastic, and run down into the reservoir. This water is distilled and ready to drink.

Getting access to clean water in a survival situation is paramount to your ability to make it through.

Sometimes, however, a drinkable supply of water is not available; in that scenario, making your own water via a solar still is a fail-safe way to make sure you have access to critical drinking water.

For more information on this solar still and other survival ideas, visit Outdoor Life.