Minimizing evaporation

[Trifoilum]

I'm at day 131 and just starting to build my Cistern and I fear I don't have enough time to find the materials + build the whole thing.

So I'm trying to sort of optimize my water usage.

I know that the more coconut shells I have, the more water I lose from evaporation; I also know that glazed vase (and presumably cooking pot) prevents evaporation, but what else can I do to optimize it further?

Is it better to put water in clay jars or in reservoirs?
Does putting them in places with high temperature hasten the evaporation? Will putting the water in the cellar slows it down?

[LightningGod]

From largest to smallest - Cistern, Jerry Can, Glazed Vase, Waterskin, Cooking Pot, Plastic Bottles, and Clay Jars have no evaporation. The Cistern will also not increase bug population while reservoirs and rain catchers will (so I put them in a nearby location).

A Well will not evaporate either, and self regenerates, as does the spring in the Dark Cave (explore with a candle if you haven't found it)

For non sealed containers, I usually shift my water up to the largest vessels to reduce evaporation and consolidate when I notice them dropping. If you have 10 coconut halves at 90%, use one to refill the others and so on as they reduce.

Stay cool. Overheating makes you sweat and lose water faster. Remove any unnecessary layers when at home. Taking naps in the cellar between 12 and 6 is a good way to stay cool. A Hammock is useful for this. Try to bring a clay jar and some salt water to wash with while out and about.

Try not to make water heavy meals during dry season. Most require a full cooking pot, which is two portions of water. Oil/fat based meals are much more economical.

Keep a vase of salt water and use it when you can - Washing, filling coolers, cooking Yams, making mud/clay.

Haul unclean water from the Wetlands for your animals and crops. They don't mind.

Mixing alternate sources of hydration can be handy for stretching water - Palm Wine (in moderation), Coconut Water (very sparingly) and Milk (mind the saturation) all help to make your water last.

If you have a rain coat/rain catcher, disassemble it in the dry season and make a Solar Still. But if you get a surprise rain, flip them back into catchers to get as much as you can.

If you get desperate, Banana Stalks should keep you alive until you get an Alembic fired.

[Trifoilum]

Thank you! That's a very comprehensive answer!

[LightningGod]

Glad I could help.