a b s t r a c tPerformance of a doubly inclined solar still carrying pure water, salt water and seawater is explored experimentally and via mathematical models. Quantities of interest are the amount of water produced and temperature distribution within the solar still. The match between the model and experiments is qualitatively good, except that the model temperatures turn out to be higher, leading to an increase in the theoretical water production. The presence of solutes is seen to diminish water productivity, and the reduction in vapor pressure with solute concentration is the factor most responsible for this trend. The effect of cycle time and condensing film thickness on water production in context with the hydrophobic and hydrophilic glass surface has also been examined within the framework of the mathematical model. The extreme sensitivity of water production to water depth for small depths is explained in terms of the large latent heat of evaporation. Since lowering the water depth increases water production, this possibility of compensating for reduction in vapor pressure with salt concentration is explored. Large water production rate in a basic solar still is possible with a proper choice of operating parameters.