050808 Desert Survival_ the Solar Still Desert Usa)

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esert Survival: The Solar Still (DesertUSA) http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/dec/stories/water.html

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Desert Survival

Collect Water in a Solar Still

Text and Photos

By Gregory T. Jones

There was the man in tattered clothing, his body sweaty, his swollen eyes squintingover miles of sand. Cattle skulls and scorpions scattered the ground while vulturescircled overhead awaiting their imminent feast. In a futile last glance, he held himself up with shaking arms. Then his head cocked to the side like a confused dog -- could itreally be? Buried in the waves of heat rising from the sand, a small grove of palm treesrose far in the distance. Struggling to balance himself, he broke into a clumsy run. Agaping smile emerged from his cracked lips- Then, just before a commercial break forthe latest soft drink, the leathery victim either did the backstroke in a spring-fed pool

of water or collapsed in the wake of a mirage.

Being a transplant from the Midwest to the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, I grew up with Hollywood's distorted images of theDesert Southwest. However, the reality of not having water inthe true desert can be equally or dangerously morelife-threatening. The chance of falling upon a desert oasis orspring is extremely unlikely, and the possibility of finding acontaminated water source, such as mineral springs poisoned

with arsenic, only decreases the chance for survival.

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folded inside a hip sack or as part of their first-aid kits.

A 6-foot length of flexible plastic tubing, similar to the kind used in fish tanks is anon-essential but desirable addition to the still components. This will allow you to drinkaccumulated water without needing to break down the solar still, inevitably affecting itsefficiency.

Construction

The best part of this life-saving device is that for something that collects water fromseemingly nothing, the solar still is amazingly simple to build. Here's how:

1. Dig a pit approximately 4 feet wide and 3 feet deep. Use a shovel, handtrowel, a digging stick or even your hands in soft soil or sand. Look for asandy wash or a depression where rainwater mightcollect.

2. . In the center of the pit, dig another small holedeep enough for the water container.

3. Place the container inside, then run the tubing

from the container to the outside of the pit. If there is tape available, tapethe tubing to the inside of the container.

4. Blanket the pit with the plastic sheet, evenly on all sides, but nottouching the bottom of the pit. Anchor the corners with rocks.

5. Find a small rounded rock to place in the center of the sheet, over thewater container. This will keep the plastic centered and control any flappingfrom the wind. Gently push down on the center weight until the sides slope

to a 45º angle. If the pit is dug deep enough, this should leave the centerweight just a few inches above the water container.

6. Next, secure the edges of the plastic sheet with rocks and dirt. Makesure there are no places where moisture can escape.

7. Close the tubing end with a knot, or double it and tie it closed.

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Within 2 hours, the air inside the still will become saturated with moisture and begin tocondense onto the underside of the plastic sheeting. Because of the angle of theplastic, water will run down towards the center. Finally, drops will gather and fall fromthe apex down into the water container. As the container fills, simply sip fresh, sterile

water from the plastic tubing. In especially dry conditions, water output can beincreased by placing succulent plant material inside the still.

The Solar Still only takes about an hour to build. If constructed correctly, it can yieldabout a quart of water a day. And although the palm trees may be noticeably absent,you will have made your very own oasis in the desert, quicker than Hollywood could.

CAUTION: Solar stills are not a primary water source, nora subsititue for carrying adequate amounts of water inthe desert. Always carry a minimum of one gallon perday per person.

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esert Survival: The Solar Still (DesertUSA) http://www desertusa com/mag98/dec/stories/water html




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050808 Desert Survival_ the Solar Still Desert Usa)