Abstract: Recovery of substantially pure water for reuse from waste feed solutions, saline solutions, etc. is carried out at considerably lower capital and/or operating costs using a modified absorption cycle. The process is carried out under vacuum so that relatively low temperature heat sources can be used to evaporate water as well as high temperature sources. The system comprises an evaporator, an absorber, a generator and condenser. A portion of the feed solution entering the evaporator vaporizes due to its latent heat and the vacuum of the system. The water vapor product is absorbed by an absorbent in the absorber. The absorbent solution is transferred to a higher pressure zone in the generator where the water held by the absorbent is vaporized. This vaporized water is condensed for recovery. A heat transfer medium is applied to each stage to either apply or remove heat as appropriate.