The water production system described herein uses subsurface temperatures to cool water to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. That geothermally cooled water is then sent down the interior of a copper column. Thermal transfer then causes the surface of the copper column to cool. In warm humid environments, condensation will form on the outside of the copper column, much like water condenses on a glass of ice water. Alternative formats include adding a pressure sleeve to the copper column, changing the column into a sphere, and for the pressure-sleeved version dropping the entire thing down a hole wherein the outer surface of the pressure sleeve comes into contact with subsurface ground temperatures cooling the pressure sleeve and creating additional cooling surface area. Alternative formats also include placing the invention inside of telephone or light poles and using artificial xylem and evapotranspiration to draw geothermally cooled water up the column.

A vapor distillation system, method, and control architecture are provided for producing purified water using an evaporator-condenser assembly, a sump with a heater, and a control system that operates the apparatus across multiple operating states. Temperature signals from one or more temperature sensors are used to regulate heater operation and venting of vapor. Liquid-level information from one or more level sensors is used to control fluid inlet and outlet valves, including source-water and blowdown flow paths, to maintain stable operation under varying load and thermal conditions. Additional embodiments include product-water handling assemblies incorporating product tanks, product-level sensing, and automated product-flow control. Further embodiments include downstream additive management, where additives are supplied using time-release elements or reservoir coatings, and water-quality parameters are monitored to trigger user-perceptible indications for servicing. Biological detection elements, microarray monitoring, and remote reporting of water-quality parameters may also be incorporated.