Knowing how to get drinkable water from seawater or damp ground is one of those skills most people have heard of but few have actually seen done. This round-up collects the ten most-watched YouTube videos on building a solar still, ranked by real view count from highest to lowest.
Across the list you’ll find a mix: quick TV clips from shows like MythBusters and Dual Survival, short DIY demonstrations using bottles and cans, and a couple of longer field videos that spend real time on the subject. Whether you want a two-minute overview or a twenty-minute deep-dive, there’s something here that fits.
1. Can a Solar Still Generate Enough Fresh Water for Survival? | MythBusters
Science Channel · 11.4M views · 4:54 · 2018
The most-watched entry by a wide margin, this MythBusters clip from Science Channel has Jamie stranded on an island with duct tape and plastic wrap, testing whether a solar still can produce survival quantities of water. It's a slick, entertaining TV segment under five minutes – ideal if you want a well-produced reality check rather than a tutorial.
2. Solar still – Sea made drinkable
Igor Stropnik · 1.7M views · 5:47 · 2022
Sailor Igor Stropnik demonstrates a solar still in a maritime context, the kind carried as emergency equipment on liferafts and ocean-going vessels. At just under six minutes, it suits anyone curious about the seafaring, real-world application rather than a backyard build.
3. Survival Camping: #2 Seawater, Solar Stills & Seeps
KennethKramm · 1.6M views · 22:50 · 2016
This is the long-form option on the list: nearly 23 minutes from KennethKramm's Survival Camping series, covering seawater, solar stills and seeps as part of an ongoing beach-survival narrative. It builds on a previous episode and suits viewers who want depth and context rather than a quick answer.
4. How to make a Plastic bottle Solar distiller
Thomas Kim · 894.6K views · 2:24 · 2013
Thomas Kim's short clip shows a solar distiller built from a plastic bottle and an aluminum can, running just two and a half minutes. It's a fast, no-frills demonstration – good for a quick look at a minimal-materials approach.
5. Turn SEAWATER to DRINKING WATER | Two Methods
Clay Hayes · 569.6K views · 11:14 · 2026
Clay Hayes, known for his primitive skills content, spends about 11 minutes comparing two methods of getting fresh water from seawater using items found in the forest or washed up on the beach. A solid pick for viewers who like realistic, bushcraft-style field demonstrations.
6. Solar Water Distiller
ZackScott · 549.5K views · 2:49 · 2007
One of the oldest videos here, ZackScott's 2007 clip runs under three minutes and frames the build as a way to see distillation in action. Short and simple, it's more of a quick science demonstration than a survival scenario.
7. Emergency Water Source – Evaporating with a Solar Still: Survival Tip ► All 4 Adventure TV
All 4 Adventure · 526.6K views · 5:12 · 2014
From the Australian All 4 Adventure series, this five-minute TV segment has Jason demonstrating a bush still that draws water from vegetation and seawater. It has the feel of a polished outdoor show clip and suits viewers who want a brisk, presented demonstration.
8. DIY Solar Water Distiller! – Simple Solar Water Distilling – Easy DIY (for survival/SHTF)
desertsun02 · 515.8K views · 3:59 · 2017
Desertsun02's DIY video, aimed squarely at the survival and SHTF crowd, shows a distiller made from two clear bottles and glue or tape in about four minutes. It's a straightforward hands-on build for viewers who want to see a simple homemade version.
9. How to Desalinate Water on a Desert Island
Discovery · 403.1K views · 1:35 · 2016
The shortest video on the list at just over 90 seconds, this Discovery clip from Dual Survival has Josh James desalinating water with beach trash on a desert island. It's a quick TV teaser rather than a full walkthrough – fine for a fast taste of the concept.
10. How to make a Solar Water Distiller using plastic bottles.
Thomas Kim · 336.4K views · 4:40 · 2015
Thomas Kim's second appearance on the list scales up to several plastic bottles, and unusually, reports measured results from a five-day experiment – about 12 mL of distilled water per day. Worth watching if you want an honest look at the actual output you can expect.
Ranked by YouTube view count as of October 2, 2026. View counts move around, so the order here reflects the day this list was compiled. All videos belong to their respective creators – watching them here plays them directly from YouTube, so views and any ad revenue still go to the channel.
