Enhancing Freshwater Yield Through Design Improvements in Solar Still Systems

Water is an essential resource for sustaining human life on Earth. Due to the limited availability of freshwater, both rural and urban communities often face challenges, including dependence on untreated wastewater, which can lead to waterborne diseases. Groundwater, though available in certain areas, is generally present in small quantities and requires proper treatment before domestic use. With the growing demand for fresh water across agricultural, industrial, and domestic sectors, there is an urgent need for effective and sustainable water purification methods. In this study, experimental investigations were conducted on a solar distillation unit designed with sloped corners, under varying conditions during April 2019. Both conventional and modified solar stills were fabricated and tested to assess their performance. The systems were operated daily from 09:00 to 17:00 over three consecutive days. The average efficiency of each design was determined at different operational stages, and notable variations in performance were observed. The results provide insights into how design modifications can enhance freshwater production efficiency in solar still systems, offering a cost-effective solution for water scarcity issues in rural and urban regions.