Rapid pollution of surface and underground waters by industries all over the world has created a new concern for environmentalists and scientists. 

The ultimate solution is purifying polluted water using any of the  known physical or chemical methods. Often a combination of two or more methods is required to produce a pure or drinkable water.

Although laboratory glassware or stainless steel apparatus is usually used for distillation, it is possible to use other material and even disposable material such as empty bottles and soda cans to perform an emergency or experimental distillation process.