Distilling water without electricity may one day be a lifesaver for drinking water.

In this article I will show you step by step how to use a still with an open fire. The table top water stills you see on the market will be of no use to you if the network fails. Which means there is no alternative power or source of electricity. If there are plugs, these table stills will not work. I will explain the distillation process here to make drinking water from a fixed, open flame. There will always be plenty of wood to make an open fire to boil water.

What you need, the basics:

1. Open fireplace, propane or gas stove.
2. stainless steel kettle/milk can still/beer keg
3. reflux column/tower
4. Cold water for the condenser

To distill water, you don’t need packaging.

Here is the distillation process:

1. First fill the kettle/pot/milk can/beer keg with water. This can be the dirtiest of water, rain or even county water.
2. Attach the column/tower to the boiler with any size clamp or connector to ensure a complete seal.
3. Hook up the water hoses to the condenser.
4. Place the still on top of the fire.
5. Bring the water to a boiling point of 212 F.
6. As the steam enters the tower/column it will pass through the condenser and become potable distilled water which exits the condenser into a glass bowl or jar.