Solar Distillation for Potable Water Provision in Remote Regions: Implementation of Inclined-Angle Solar Stills on the Galápagos Islands

Freshwater scarcity challenges remote regions like the species-rich, fragile ecosystem of the Galápagos Islands. This study investigates the feasibility of using inclined-angle solar stills for sustainable water distillation in that setting. Two prototypes were constructed: a low-cost model (#proto1) mostly using readily available materials and an improved model (#proto2) featuring higher-quality components. The objective was to assess the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and practicality of these systems in providing clean drinking water. Experimental results revealed that #proto2 clearly outperformed #proto1 by producing 505 ml/day compared to 269 ml/day, despite limited solar exposure (2.09 hours/day). The cost of freshwater was determined to be $0.016 per liter for #proto2. In consideration of the shorter lifespan of the low-cost prototype, the more expensive #proto2 delivering higher yields is also economically superior in the long term. In the village of Puerto Ayora, savings of $1.68 per person could be achieved with a weekly investment of 35 minutes of labor by utilizing a solar still for the provision of drinking water. This work demonstrates that solar stills offer a promising, low-tech solution for potable water production in remote areas, though their economic competitiveness remains limited in financially stronger regions. The study recommends further research into scalability, efficiency optimization, and long-term performance of solar distillation systems.