Collecting clean water via a Solar still
	If you’re out hiking or during an emergency fresh clean water is a must have for survival. Even if there’s water nearby you’ll still want to do your best to remove debris, dirt and if at all possible germs and bacteria. Using a solar still you’ll be able to gather fairly safe water to drink.
	Solar stills can even help remove salt from sea water.

	Concept:
Using solar evaporation you can remove the water from dirt, grasses, plants and more to purify it to drink. You can also use this method to remove salt from water though it won’t remove all of it completely.
	How does it work?
By placing the water in the hole you’re creating a small pond. When you place the plastic over the hole the sun begins heating up the hole causing water to evaporate. Instead of going up into the sky the plastic captures the moisture.
By placing a weighted object in the center of the plastic creating a funnel point the moisture drips down into the water collection container.

Supplies:
Clear plastic sheeting or a mylar emergency space blanket. Even a large food wrapper will work.
Water collection container. This can be a cup, a bowl, a coconut shell, a large leaf or a carved piece of wood.
Something to dig with. Shovel, spoon, axe, stick rocks or hands.
Small weighted objects, rocks, gear, sticks, sand or whatever you can find.
1.	1. Pick a location that gets lot of sun.
2.	Dig a hole that’s small enough to be covered by your plastic. You’ll want your plastic material to be able to fit over the top of your hole with enough material to sag in the center. You’re creating a bowl or funnel shape.
3.	3. If possible add sand and small gravel to the bottom of your hole. In the center you’ll want to flatten out the bottom for your collection device.
4.	4. Place vegetation in the hole, grass, leaves, moss etc. Every morning add fresh dew covered material.
5.	5. If you’re able place water in the hole. The gravel and sand should keep it from seeping away. The vegetation will help collect the water as well.
6.	If you don’t have water to place in the hole don’t worry. The process will be slower but will still work at a slower pace.
6. Place your water collection container in the bottom of the hole. Make sure it’s stable and resting on a flat surface. You want this container to be in the dead center of your hole as much as possible.
7. Place your plastic sheeting or mylar blanket over the hole. If the material is reflective, make sure to place the reflective side down.
7.	Make sure the material covers all around the edges. Use small rocks, piles of sand, sticks to weight the edges down so the sheet will not move especially for the next step.
8.	8. Place a rock or handful of sand on the material right above the water collection container. You’re material should dip down creating an indentation over the container. If it doesn’t and you have enough material, reposition the plastic so it can achieve this indentation.
9.	This is important, if you can’t make this work you’ll need to dig a smaller hole. The indentation or funnel shape will make the clean water fall into your container.
10.	9. Now you’ll wait for as long as possible. While the solar still does it’s work spend time prepping another one, forage for food, work on a fire, build a shelter.
11.	10. After a few hours has passed carefully remove the plastic from the hole. Do your best to lift the edges up and away while maintaining the funnel shape until you move the plastic off to the side. Try not to lay the plastic down in mud, dirt or sand. You’ll want to keep it as clean as possible.
12.	11. Carefully retrieve your water and enjoy. The water has been evaporated from the bottom of the hole up to the plastic, so large particles will no longer be in the water.
13.	You can leave it out in the sun for a bit of UV cleansing which will help kill off any germs.

12. Over night leave the hole uncovered so that if it rains water can be collected in the bottom. The morning dew will also gather in the hole. You can add fresh vegetation daily to seek out as much water as possible. Your piece of plastic can also collect morning dew or be used to collect rain water. Use the plastic to pour the water into the hole.
If you have enough materials make as many solar stills as possible. It’ll make water cleaning go a lot faster.
If you don’t have enough water collection containers but you have a mylar blanket to spare, cut it up. Turn your mylar blanket it into cups or bowl’s for carrying or storing water.