Solar Sponge Emergency Water Distiller

The hurricane in the US got me thinking about useful things to have for disasters especially where there may not be clean water available for some time.

I had this idea many years ago while as an adventure guide for a better dirty or salt water distiller but it never got past a successful backyard experiment. It's simple to put together with normal household items and some 3D printing. It's also simple in function though in emergency situations 'simple' can be good!

It works under most of the same general principles as solar water distillers with one important exception, it uses a sponge to increase the air to water surface area many times over and hence it can evaporate the water much faster than a standard evaporative distiller.

The sponge holds all of the water with little to no water outside the sponge which significantly reduces the chance of accidentally contaminating the clean water. Not only that, the bowl is very bottom heavy so it's unlikely to tip onto its side, and if it does the bowls design means it will hold the water still.

You'll need the following:-

• the printed bowl (choose between 5mm or 1/4-20 threaded rods)
• the printed 4 flat disc like nuts for the above or use standard nuts with washers
• the printed bag clip
• round sponge/s to fit base of bowl and be up to 25mm high - a cut up towel can work at a pinch
• large clear or dark opaque garbage bag
• plastic bottle top and cap - see video below - Note: not my video
• a piece of string