Solar Still

Solar-Powered Distiller Can Turn Salt Water Into Drinking Water, Perfect For Third-World Countries [Video]

People who follow green news understand the movement for two things: growing/eating organic and the utilization of alternative, environmentally-safe forms of energy. The Inquisitr has reported numerous times on such news. Pertaining to organic food, a park in California is dedicated to growing vegetables that feed over 200,000 people every month. When it comes to alternative energy, Peru pushed an initiative to provide free solar power to its people.

The two news stories above are examples of how people are dedicated to the environment. However, there is now another green news movement gaining ground, and it has to do with drinking water. Despite the fact the world is 70 percent covered by water, less than one percent is fresh. That minuscule amount is where we get our drinking water. Sadly, the scenario of running out of drinking water is now possible. If that happens, we will be in a lot of trouble.

To counter such an issue, inventors, advocates, and companies are working up ways to provide drinking water to the world. Bill Gates funded the building of a machine that extracts and processes drinking water from human excrement. That is one fine example of harvesting drinking water, but there may be a practical way for people to get their glass of water thanks to a solar-powered distiller.

According to an article back in 2012 by Earthtechling, Gabriele Diamanti spent many years traveling the world. The one problem that was similar among most people he met was the lack of clean drinking water. This situation is a reality for millions of people who are forced to endure compromised health conditions and poor standards of living because of it. In most cases, many have to walk long hours to find water supplies — most of the time polluted — only to carry it back home. And this problem is only going to get worse as it is estimated that two-thirds of the world’s population will lack sufficient fresh water by 2025.

Being an industrial designer with knowledge in renewal energy and social issues, Gabriele Diamanti created a solution in the form of a device that takes salt or brackish water and creates something drinkable through the solar-powered distiller, or solar still.

Mass Report recently wrote an article on the solar still, which Gabriele Diamante named the “Eliodomestico” (sun household). It reports that Gabriele wanted to create something truly domestic, ergo recognizable yet easy-to-use. He believed if he provided a typical still, similar to the over-complicated contraptions working 24/7 in plants, it would intimidate potential users.

“It’s rare to find a solar still in a domestic context rather than in missions or hospitals, or as large plants overseen by qualified personnel that serve entire communities. I tried to make something for a real household that could be operated directly by the families.

“My goal was to design something friendly and recognizable for the users. The process developed quite naturally to determine the current shape; every detail is there for a reason, so the form, as well as production techniques, represent a compromise between technical and traditional.”

As for how it works, Gabriele Diamanti provided an instructional video that details the Eliodomestico’s fresh water producing process. It is attached below for your viewing.

Now that you’ve read the latest on the solar still, what are your views? Could you see the benefit this invention could bring people around the world? Do you see the solar still having any benefit here in the United States?

[Image via Gabriele Diamanti]