Solar Stills Deliver Safe Drinking Water

2021 - Volume #45, Issue #6, Page #28

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Solar distillation has been around for 150 years but Robert Foster of El Paso, Texas focused on drinking water when he founded Sol Aqua in 1999.
He has registered four U.S. patents for different distillation units since the company was started.
The Rainmaker 550 is one of his most popular solar stills and consists of a box or stand, glass, a special liner, tubing and collection container. Raw water is poured into the top and from there the heat of the sun begins the distillation process. Pure water is collected as harmful minerals, salts, bacteria and viruses are removed.
“It’s ultra-pure water. Some labs even use it because it’s about as clean as you can get,” says Foster.
“Our liner is what sets our stills apart. You need something waterproof that holds up to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. The special liner handles the high heat as it can get up to 180 degrees inside the unit.”
The 550 Rainmaker can be used in almost any weather including freezing conditions. Foster says the still will freeze but ice doesn’t hurt it. It can expand up into the still but won’t damage any parts.
He explains a wide mix of people buy the solar distillation stills particularly those with poor well water or needing to distill seawater for drinking.
“Many people in the southwest U.S. and northern Mexico have arsenic, fluoride or high salts in their water, and the distillation process removes these. Some retirees in the pacific islands have plenty of seawater but little drinking water. Health-focused people who only want to drink distilled water also buy them.”
The units are manufactured from scratch in El Paso and shipped all over the world.
“I’ve sold them to dozens of countries,” Foster says. “Central and South America, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Australia. Usually, we send them as kits as it’s cheaper that way. Buyers can get their own glass and wood locally if they prefer, and use our liner inside the box they build.”
The Rainmaker 550 sells for $450 plus S&H. A do-it-yourself kit sells for $245.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Robert Foster, SolAqua, P.O. Box 4976, El Paso, Texas 79914 (ph 915-383-1485; info@solaqua.com; www.solaqua.com).

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Solar Stills Deliver Safe Drinking Water ENERGY Solar Solar distillation has been around for 150 years but Robert Foster of El Paso Texas focused on drinking water when he founded Sol Aqua in 1999 He has registered four U S patents for different distillation units since the company was started The Rainmaker 550 is one of his most popular solar stills and consists of a box or stand glass a special liner tubing and collection container Raw water is poured into the top and from there the heat of the sun begins the distillation process Pure water is collected as harmful minerals salts bacteria and viruses are removed “It’s ultra-pure water Some labs even use it because it’s about as clean as you can get ” says Foster “Our liner is what sets our stills apart You need something waterproof that holds up to the ultraviolet rays of the sun The special liner handles the high heat as it can get up to 180 degrees inside the unit ” The 550 Rainmaker can be used in almost any weather including freezing conditions Foster says the still will freeze but ice doesn’t hurt it It can expand up into the still but won’t damage any parts He explains a wide mix of people buy the solar distillation stills particularly those with poor well water or needing to distill seawater for drinking “Many people in the southwest U S and northern Mexico have arsenic fluoride or high salts in their water and the distillation process removes these Some retirees in the pacific islands have plenty of seawater but little drinking water Health-focused people who only want to drink distilled water also buy them ” The units are manufactured from scratch in El Paso and shipped all over the world “I’ve sold them to dozens of countries ” Foster says “Central and South America the Middle East Africa Europe and Australia Usually we send them as kits as it’s cheaper that way Buyers can get their own glass and wood locally if they prefer and use our liner inside the box they build ” The Rainmaker 550 sells for $450 plus S&H A do-it-yourself kit sells for $245 Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Robert Foster SolAqua P O Box 4976 El Paso Texas 79914 ph 915-383-1485; info@solaqua com; www solaqua com

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