How to Turn Salty Water into Drinking Water

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

Table of Contents

Use pot and stove

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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 is not too high so that when you put it in the pot you can still cover the pot.
Choose a Pyrex cup or a metal cup because some cups will explode when exposed to high temperatures. The plastic cup will melt or deform.
Make sure the pot and lid can withstand the heat during the cooking process.

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Slowly pour salt water into the pot. Do not overfill.

Stop when the water is still a good distance from the mouth of the cup placed in the pot.
This is to prevent salt water from splashing into the cup when it is boiled.
Salt water should not be allowed to flow into the cup because the clean water obtained after the process will also be salty.

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Turn the lid upside down and cover the pot. This will help the evaporated water to gather to a point and flow into the cup.

Adjust the position of the pot lid so that the highest point or handle on the pot lid faces down directly 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.

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Bring water to a gentle boil. You will need to bring the water to a slow boil over low heat.

Strong boiling water will splash into the cup and make the clean water salty.
In addition, excessive heat also breaks 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.

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Observe the pot while the water builds up. When the water boils, the steam becomes pure water and is no longer mixed with what has been dissolved in it.

When the water becomes steam, it accumulates in the air and the lid surface into water droplets.
The water will flow down to the lowest point of the pot lid handle and then down the cup.
This process takes about 20 minutes.

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Wait a few minutes before drinking water. The cup and water are both very hot at this point.

Since there is still some seawater in the pot, you have to be very careful when taking the clean cup to avoid contamination with seawater.
You will notice that the clean cup of water cools quickly once it is removed from the pot.
Be careful when removing the cup to avoid burns. Use a glove or pot pad to pick up the cup of water.

Using solar energy to desalinate

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Pour salt water into a bowl or box. Remember not to overfill with water. ^{[1] X Research Source}

You need some space above the bowl so salt water can’t splash into the clean water cup placed in the bowl.
Be sure to use an intact bowl or container. Because if the bowl or container is cracked, the salt water will drain off before it forms steam and accumulates as drinking water.
You need strong sunlight as this will take a few hours.

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Place a small cup or small container into the salt water. You should act very slowly. ^{[2] X Research Source}

If you act quickly, you will cause salt water to splash into the cup. This will make the clean water after the implementation process salty.
Make sure the salt water does not reach the rim of the cup.
You’ll need to keep the cup steady with an ice cube so it doesn’t move back and forth.

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Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. The wrap should not be too tight or too loose. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

The wrap should cover the edges of the saltwater bowl.
If there is a gap in the wrapper, steam or clean water will escape.
Use a relatively stiff plastic wrap so it won’t tear.

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Place an ice cube or heavy object in the center of the surface of the wrap, just above the cup or container in the center of the bowl of salt water. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

This causes the membrane to sink in the middle so that clean water can easily flow into the cup.
You should choose a stone or object that is not too heavy to avoid tearing the wrapper.
Make sure the cup is in the center of the saltwater bowl before continuing.

Turn seawater into drinking water when stuck at sea

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Use lifebuoy and any debris. You can use the parts on the lifebuoy to prepare for the process of turning seawater into drinking water. ^{[6] X Research Source}

This method is very useful when you are stuck at sea and there is no clean water.
Pilots stranded in the Pacific during World War II found this method.
This is a useful method, especially when you don’t know when to be rescued.

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Find the oxygen tank on the lifebuoy. Open the jar and pour in seawater. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Filter the seawater with a towel so it doesn’t get sand or other debris.
Do not fill the tank with water. You need to avoid letting water overflow the mouth of the bottle.
Bring water to an area where you can light a fire.

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Find a water pipe and leak stopper in the lifebuoy. Attach the water hose to one end of the water stopper. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

This creates a water pipe for the water that has accumulated in the seawater tank to drain out when heated.
You just need to make sure the water hose is not twisted or kinked.
You also need to make sure the hose is securely attached to the water stopper so that clean water doesn’t leak.

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Attach the water stopper to the mouth of the oxygen tank. Use the other end of the water stopper after one end has been attached to the water pipe. ^{[9] X Research Source}

This is how the steam that accumulates when the oxygen tank is boiled can flow through the water pipe out.
Make sure the ends are fastened so that water does not leak.
If you have twine or duct tape, you can use it to secure the ends.

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Fill the pipe with sand. This helps keep the hose in place while clean water flows out. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Do not cover the top of the drain with sand because this is where clean water flows out.
Do not bury oxygen tanks or water stoppers. You will need to observe to make sure the tips are not leaking.
Make sure the water pipe is straight and not twisted when burying.
Place a pan under the other end of the hose to hold the water.

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Light a fire and place the oxygen tank directly on the fire. This step will bring the sea water to a boil in the flask. ^{[11] X Research Source}

When the water boils, steam will accumulate at the mouth of the oxygen tank and then flow into the water pipe and you will have clean water.
After the water boils, the accumulated steam will follow the water pipe to the pot placed outside.
The water that flows into the pan 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 wrapper while boiling the water to speed up water accumulation. You can use cold salt water as the water will also be warmed.
The solar method takes a long time and is not effective when you need to quickly generate a lot of clean water

Warning

Be very careful in the process. Do not pour too much water into the pot to avoid drinking salt water splashing into the cup of water placed in the middle of the pot.

Steps

Use pot and stove

Using solar energy to desalinate

Turn seawater into drinking water when stuck at sea

Advice

Warning

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