Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Desalination is the process of separating salt from salt water. This article will show you a few ways to perform the separation of salt from salt water for drinking.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Use a pot and a stove

1. 

   Prepare a large pot with a lid and a cup. You should choose a cup large enough to hold all the clean water you need after the process.
   • Choose a cup that's not too high so that when you put it in the pot you can still cover the lid.
   • Choose a Pyrex or metal cup as some will explode when exposed to high temperatures. The plastic cup will melt or deform.
   • Make sure the pot and lid are resistant to the heat during heating.

2. 

   
   
   Slowly pour the salt water into the pot. Don't overfill.
   • Stop while the water is quite a distance from the mouth of the cup in the pot.
   • This is to prevent salt water from splashing into the cup when it is boiled.
   • Do not allow salt water to flow into the cup as this will also cause salt water in the clean water obtained from the process.

3. 

   
   
   Turn the lid upside down and cover the pot. This will allow the evaporated water to collect up to a point and flow into the cup.
   • Adjust the position of the pot lid so that the highest point or handle on the lid is facing down just above the cup.
   • Just make sure the lid covers the edges of the pot.
   • If the lid is not tight, steam will escape and you will have less clean water.

4. 

   
   
   Boil the water gently. You will need to boil the water slowly over low heat.
   • Strong boiling water will splash into the cup and salty clean water.
   • In addition, the temperature is too high to break the cup.
   • If the water boils quickly and vigorously, the cup will move away from the center of the pot and the handle on the lid.

5. 

   Watch the pot as the water builds up. When the water boils, the steam becomes pure water and no longer mixes with the dissolved things in it.
   • When water becomes steam, it accumulates in the air and the lid surface as water droplets.
   • Water will flow down to the lowest point of the pot lid handle and then down into the cup.
   • This should take about more than 20 minutes.

6. 

   Wait a few minutes before drinking the water. Cup and water are very hot now.
   • Since there is still a little bit of seawater in the pot, be very careful when you get the clean glass to avoid getting the seawater.
   • You should see the clean cup cool quickly after it is taken out of the pot.
   • Take care when removing the water cup to avoid burns. Use a glove or pot liner to get a cup of water.

Method 2 of 3: Use solar energy to desalinate

1. 

   Fill a bowl or box with salt water. Remember not to overfill the water.
   • You will need some space above the bowl so that the salt water cannot hit the clean water cup in the bowl.
   • Remember to use the bowl or container with intact. This is because if the bowl or container is cracked, the salt water will run out before steam forms and accumulates as drinking water.
   • You'll need intense sunlight as this method will take a few hours.

2. 

   Place a small cup or small container in the salt water. You should do it slowly.
   • If you work quickly, you will make salt water splash into the cup. This will make the water clean after the process becomes salty.
   • Make sure the salt water doesn't reach the top of the cup.
   • You will need to keep the cup in place with an ice cube so it doesn't move back and forth.

3. 

   Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. The wrap should not be too tight or too loose.
   • The wrap should cover the edges of the saltwater bowl.
   • If there is a gap in the wrap, steam or clean water will escape.
   • Use the relatively hard plastic wrap to keep it from tearing.

4. 

   Place an ice cube or heavy object in the center of the surface of the wrap, just above the cup or box in the center of the bowl of salt water.
   • This causes the wrap to sink in the center so that clean water can easily flow into the cup.
   • You should choose an ice cube or object that is not too heavy to avoid tearing the wrap.
   • Make sure the cup is placed in the center of the bowl of salt water before continuing.

5. 

   Place the bowl of salt water in direct sunlight. This causes the water to heat up and accumulate on the surface of the wrap.
   • When the steam accumulates as water, water droplets will flow from the wrap into the cup.
   • Gradually you will have clean water to drink.
   • This method will take a few hours, so be patient.
   • Once you have enough water in the cup, you can drink it right away. This water is safe to drink and has been desalinated.

Method 3 of 3: Make seawater drinkable when stuck at sea

1. 

   Use life buoys and any debris. You can use the parts on a lifeboat to prepare you for the process of turning seawater into drinking water.
   • This method is useful when you are stranded at sea and don't have clean water.
   • Pilots trapped in the Pacific Ocean during World War II figured this out.
   • This is a helpful method, especially when you don't know when to be rescued.

2. 

   Find an oxygen tank on the lifeboat. Open the jar and fill it with seawater.
   • Filter the seawater with a towel so that it does not mix with sand or other debris.
   • Do not fill the bottle with water. You should avoid spilling water over the mouth of the bottle.
   • Take the water to an area where you can make a fire.

3. 

   Find a water hose and stopper leaking in the lifeboat. Attach the water hose to one end of the water stopper.
   • This creates a pipe of water that allows water to accumulate in the seawater tank to flow out when heated.
   • Just make sure the water hose is not kinked or blocked.
   • You also need to make sure the water hose is firmly attached to the water stopper so that clean water does not leak.

4. 

   Attach the water stopper to the mouth of the oxygen tank. Use the other end of the stopper after the water hose is attached.
   • This is how the steam that builds up when the cylinder is boiled can flow out the water pipe.
   • Make sure the ends are attached tightly so that water does not leak.
   • If you have braids or tape, you can use them to hold the ends.

5. 

   Fill the water hose with sand. This helps to keep the hose in place while clean water drains out.
   • Do not cover the drain with sand as this will allow clean water to flow out.
   • Do not bury the gas cylinder or water stopper. You will need to make sure the ends do not leak.
   • Make sure the hose is straight and free of kinks when buried.
   • Place a saucepan under the other end of the water hose to hold water.

6. 

   Make a fire and place the gas bottle directly on the fire. This step will boil the seawater in the jar.
   • When the water boils, steam builds up in the mouth of the oxygen tank and then flows into the water pipes and you will have clean water.
   • After the water boils, the steam that accumulates will follow the water pipe flowing into the pan outside.
   • The water that flows into the saucepan has been desalinated and is safe to drink.

Advice

• The method of evaporating and accumulating water is called distillation. You can also use this method to treat regular tap water when distilled water is needed.
• It is more effective when you can reduce the heat of the lid or wrap while boiling the water to make the water build up faster. You can use cold saltwater as the water will also get warm.
• The solar method is time-consuming and ineffective when you need to make lots of clean water quickly

Warning

• Be very careful in the process. Don't overfill the saucepan with too much water to avoid spilling the salt water into the glass in the center of the pot.