The comparative performance of a solar still and a solar still-flat plate collector system has been studied for the actual environmental conditions of Trichy, Tamilnadu, as a measure to improve the efficiency of the solar still. Performance of a solar still with fresh tap water and saline water has been studied followed by a combined solar still-flat plate collector system. It is observed that the combined solar still-flat plate collector daily efficiency was 20.4 and 23.6% more than still alone fresh water and saline water system, respectively. The productivity was 20.8 and 24.1% more than still alone fresh water and saline water system, respectively.