Having plenty of water when you’re out in the wild is imperative to survival. Knowing how to collect water when you run out can literally be a life saver. If you can’t find a stream or other natural water source, there are other ways of collecting water. Let’s take a look at how to build a solar still.
You don’t need a lot of tools or supplies to build a solar still, and some of the materials may already be in your gear.
You’ll need:
- Sheet of clear plastic
- Small shovel or trowel for digging
- Container to collect water
- Plastic tubing
Dig a hole about 4 feet wide and 3 feet deep. Find an area where rainwater might naturally collect if you can. Dig another smaller hole in the center of your pit to hold the water collection container. Run the plastic tubing from the container up outside the pit. The tubing is optional, but it acts as a drinking straw so you don’t have to dismantle your pit in order to get to the water. If you don’t have the tubing, you can continue without it.
Cover the pit with the plastic sheet, making sure it doesn’t touch the bottom. Use rocks to hold down the edges of the plastic. Place a small, smooth stone in the center of the plastic over the container. Carefully push down on this center stone to get the sheeting at a 45-degree angle. Secure the perimeter of the plastic with rocks and dirt to make sure no moisture can escape. Tie the plastic tubing closed when not in use.
This water collector only takes about an hour to build, and within a couple of hours of completion, moisture will begin to collect inside. A solar still functions by producing a greenhouse effect. Sunlight passes through the plastic and heats the ground. Moisture rises from the ground, and collects on the underside of the plastic as condensation. Water will drip into the container and you can suck it up through the tube.
Whenever you’re in need of water, remember how to build a solar still and keep yourself from becoming dehydrated in the wilderness!
Related articles: How to Build a Rocket Stove, How to Build a Solar Oven, How to Build a Bug-Out Bag
Featured Image from Lenstravelier/Unsplash
