DIY Solar Basin Still
Assemble a passive solar still that distills dirty or brackish water using only sunlight.
Time
1–2 hours
Difficulty
Beginner
Full blueprint
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Tools
- Utility knife
- Food-safe silicone or clay
- Clean rags
- Level / straight edge
Safety
- Only use food-safe plastics/glass for the condensate path
- Never drink the basin source water — only the distillate
- Place out of foot traffic so glass/PET is not stepped on
How to put it together
- 1
Prepare the basin
Use a dark/black food-safe tray 40–60 cm wide. Clean thoroughly. Place on level ground in full sun.
- 2
Add source water
Pour dirty/brackish water into the basin — fill 2–4 cm deep. Do not overfill; leave air space under the cover.
- 3
Fit the clear cover
Place glass or clear PET over the basin at a slight angle (one side higher). Condensation must run downhill toward a trough.
- 4
Seal the edges
Seal three sides with clay, foam, or tape so vapor stays inside. Leave the low edge free for the collection trough.
- 5
Install the trough
Slide a clean food-safe channel or tubing under the low edge of the cover to catch droplets. Route into a lidded jug.
- 6
Run a sunny day
Leave undisturbed in sun. Distillate should drip into the jug. Empty jug before night if mosquitoes are an issue.
- 7
Clean between batches
Rinse the cover underside and trough with clean water. Dump basin residue; refill with new source water.
Tips
- Black basin + full sun beats a shiny tray by a large margin
- A small weight on the high side of the cover keeps the slope stable
- Pair with the filter net: net collects, still polishes