A common method of getting salt from sea water is to place-the liquid in shallow vats, and expose it to the sun until the water is evaporated. Someone has suggested that the same processes of separation be used to get fresh water out of the sea water. Cover the vat with a pane of glass which is tilted slightly. The radiant heat of the sun passing through the glass will evaporate the water, and the vapor condensing on the under side of the glass will run down the inclined surface and drip into a trough. A receptacle at one side will catch the fresh water that flows from the trough. The condensation may be expedited by pouring water over the glass. The glass will thus be chilled without interfering with the passage of the sun's rays into the vat.

Fig. 162 - A simple apparatus for distilling fresh water from sea water.