Solar Distillation of Water from Soil & Plant Materials: A Simple Desert Survival Technique
Jackson RD and Van Bavel CH. 1965. Solar Distillation of Water from Soil & Plant Materials: A Simple Desert Survival Technique. Science. 149(3690)
Water obtained from soil and plant materials by a simple distillation technique can provide means for survival under desert conditions. A hemispherical hole in soil (in some cases containing cut plant material) is covered with plastic film formed and held in a conical shape by a rock placed in the center. Water collects on the under side of the plastic, runs to the point of the cone, and drops into the container. A yield of 1.5 liters per day of potable water was obtained from a single 'survival still.'
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Jackson, Ray; Van Bavel, C.
- Units
- ORPI
- Keywords
- Desert Survival, Water