SolarStills- look at the name. We are hopefully collecting water available from the local environment. Sea Stills are wonderfull for distilling salt water- Lots of Ocean .Small transpiration bags secured to safe vegetation are also productive. The dedicated solar still is not. Do a simple experiment. Acquire one of the rather inaccurate moisture meters sold in nurseries. Dig your hole and wait. Has any water seeped in?If it has you could readily sop it up with cloth or sponge.Now stick the meter in. Where is the water? Down in the local water table. Ever try to drown a gopher? Soil is one big sponge! Solar stills rarely work, and if they do the water could have been easily gathered as seepage anyway.They have one good use. If some Crocodile Dundee instructor writes euphorically about solar stills they haven't really used one. Makes a good credibility reference! Using a skill assumes the worse scenario. If I can't do it in my backyard I surely won't try it in death Valley.<br><br>