Quick Answer
A water collection container should be large enough to hold at least 1 gallon of water per person per day, but can be as small as 0.5 gallons for temporary use or in emergency situations.
Calculating Container Size
When determining the size of your water collection container, consider the number of people it needs to supply and the amount of time it will be used. A general rule of thumb is to plan for at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for drinking, cooking, and hygiene. This can be adjusted based on individual needs and activity levels. For example, someone engaged in physically demanding activities may require 2-3 gallons of water per day. To calculate the size of your container, multiply the number of people by the daily water requirement and add 10-20% for extra water in case of unexpected needs.
Solar Still Design Considerations
When building a solar still, the water collection container should be designed to hold the water produced by the still. A typical solar still can produce 1-2 cups of water per hour, depending on the design and environmental conditions. To determine the size of the container, consider the expected production rate and the number of people being supplied. For example, if the still is expected to produce 1 cup of water per hour and needs to supply 2 people for 1 day, the container should hold at least 16 cups or 1 gallon of water. The container should also be designed with a spigot or other outlet to make it easy to access and transfer the collected water.
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