The scarcity of water in some regions of the U.S. presents a significant challenge. One alternative water resource is produced water (PW) from oil and gas production wells. This type of water can be an important water resource, especially for oil-producing states like Texas and New Mexico that experience high water stress. However, PW is highly saline and contains a wide range of contaminants. This Engineering Research Initiation (ERI) project explores a cost-effective and energy-efficient technology called solar distillation, which can be used to treat PW. The project will address how oil-related compounds and chemicals used in oilfield operations affect the rate of water evaporation and the quality of the distilled product. The project also includes educational outreach. The research team will develop an educational module and hands-on activity kits to help students understand PW and how solar distillation can treat it. K-12 and undergraduate students will learn about the PW solar distillation system. This project will investigate the fundamental scientific question of how oil-derived contaminants and chemical additives in PW influence the performance of passive solar distillation systems. The study focuses on PW generated in the Permian Basin, the largest oil-producing region in the U.S. The study investigates the effects of oil-related compounds and chemical additives, commonly found in PW, on water evaporation rates and the quality of the distilled product. To achiev