How to Build a Steam Water Distiller

Water distillation involves heating a source of water to create water vapor for condensation. The condensed water vapor is pure water, with heavier metals, salts and contaminants left behind.

Things You'll Need

• Heating vessel (for example a metal pot with a tight-fitting lid, or a pressure cooker)
• Soap
• Heat source (electric heating element, stove or open fire)
• Condensing coil (heat-resistant plastic hose or soft copper tubing)
• Source water (tap, river or even sea water)
• Collecting vessel (plastic or glass jug or bottle)

Instructions

1. Clean the heating vessel, condensing coil and collecting vessel thoroughly and air dry in sunlight. Otherwise, you defeat the purpose of producing pure water.

2. Attach one end of your condensing coil to the lid of the heating vessel. If you are using a pressure cooker, a tight-fitting hose connected to the pressure relief valve post will work. For a standard pot, either drill a hole in the lid for a tight fit for the coil, or use one of the holes under the lid handle.

3. Fill the heating vessel to approximately three-quarters full with your source water. Heat to boiling for 10 minutes to release any volatile materials in your source water.

4. Place the tight-fitting lid onto the heating vessel. Feed the open end of the condensing coil into the collection vessel.

5. You may increase the efficiency of the condensing coil by placing it in a cooling bath of source water.

6. Remove heat from the heating vessel when the collecting vessel is full or pure water no longer drips from the condensing coil into the collecting vessel.

7. Clean the heating vessel, which will have deposits of metals and organics left after the distillation process.

Tips & Warnings

• The heating vessel, condensing coil and collection vessel will all have steam under pressure and hot water during the process. Exercise caution. If you are using a pressure cooker as a heating vessel, do not open until after the cooker has cooled to the point of being only warm to the touch.

References

• Steam distillation FAQs
• Solar water stills