Build a single-basin style solar water distiller yourself to purify water without electricity or water pressure. Beware using potentially poisonous materials in your solar still--even 100% silicone is toxic unless it is food-grade. This book covers how stills work, the easy, better, and best solar stills, commercial stills, kits and plans that are available, and how to build your own cheap and easy for simple water purification using just the sun's energy.
TABLE OF CONTENTS (chapters, page numbers):
INTRODUCTION 2
SOLAR DISTILLER BASICS 5
What is a Solar Distiller/Still?
How Does it Work?
Solar Distiller Plans
Where do I Place it?
Finding Solar South
HOW SOLAR STILLS WORK 15
How Good is the Water?
Storing Distilled Water
Beware of Bottled Water
The Superior Solar Still
WHERE STILLS ARE USED 24
EPSEA Solar Still Projects
Colonias and Developing Nations
IS CITY WATER SAFE? 37
SOLAR WATER DISINFECTION 43
Solar Ovens for Solar Water Pasteurization
MATERIALS & TIPS 51
Materials
Materials to Avoid
Mistakes People Make
THE CHEAP SOLAR STILL 58
Emergency Solar Still
Condensation Trap Solar Still
THE BETTER SOLAR STILL 63
The Multi-Level/Troughed Still
The Wicking Still
THE BEST SOLAR STILL 68
Single Basin Still
Important Rules for Making a Still
COMMERCIAL STILLS 80
Multi-Trough or Array Style Stills
Single Basin Passive Solar Stills
Hybrid Family or Industrial-Sized Solar Distillers
Hill Kemp Solar Still Interview Notes
BEYOND DISTILLATION 100
Fog Collection
Geographical Considerations for Fog Collectors
Mimicking Nature for Fog Collectors and Distillers
Dew Collection
ABOUT SOLAR WATER DISTILLER CONSTRUCTION PLANS 109
PROBLEMS IN TEXAS COLONIAS 112
Sharon Buydens first served on the Board of Directors as Secretary and newsletter editor for the El Paso Solar Energy Association (www.espea.org) starting in 1989 (under her previous name). After learning about passive solar home design, and teaching workshops, attending events, promoting solar on Earth Day committees, she designed and built a passive solar straw bale house in Nebraska. Upon returning to El Paso in 1999 she became EPSEA's Project Manager for three bi-national and EPA grants to install solar water distillers in border colonias; she was first female EPSEA President in 2001. Today Sharon writes books and teaches others about the many practical aspects of solar energy.
