Active and Passive Solar Distillation—A Detailed Review

Only 0.007% of the Earth's total water supply is readily available for human consumption, a supply that is sustainably replenished through precipitation events like rain and snow. The issue of freshwater scarcity is already acute in various dry areas globally and is projected to become even more significant in the years to come. Moreover, because of the high increase in population, the freshwater amount is effectively decreased by contamination as well as pollution. One among the practical, technical, and economically viable uses of solar energy is solar distillation which is a basic and optimal source of drinkable water for both agricultural and consumption needs. This chapter includes a panoptic review of the solar desalination systems.