How to Use Two Soda Bottles to Make Distilled Water

Water is important to survival. In emergency cases it may be difficult to find suitable drinking water to sustain a person and it may be necessary to make the available water safe for consumption. One way to do this is to distill water using just a couple of plastic bottles. Distilling is a process where the evaporating water is collected in a separate container, leaving the heavier contaminates behind.

Things You'll Need

• 2 plastic 2-liter bottles with lids
• Sharp knife
• 4 drinking straws

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Instructions

• 1

  Remove the caps of the bottles. If there is anything in them, be sure to turn them upside-down and drain to dry them.

• 2

  Cut a hole in the center of each lid big enough for the end of a straw to be inserted. Be sure to remove any shavings or loose plastic to prevent entry into the bottle.

• 3

  Fill one bottle 2/3 full with the water to be distilled. Place the bottle on a flat surface. If possible, place something under the bottle so it will be raised 1/2 -1 inch above the surface. Replace the 2-liter's cap snugly.

• 4

  Place the remaining cap on the second bottle and tighten. Place empty bottle next to the first. If the first bottle is raised do not place the second bottle on the riser.

• 5

  Connect straws together end to end. Insert one free end into one bottle and the other end into the second bottle. Be sure bottles are in sunlight to heat. As the water evaporates it will rise through the straw and condensate in the other bottle.