Is Purified Water The Same As Distilled Water? Pros & Cons

Most people are satisfied as long as the drinking water is clean and free from harmful chemicals. However, not every water that's safe for drinking is created equal. The level of treatment water undergoes determines how pure it becomes. Thinking about the two types of water we mainly drink, we ask: Is purified water the same as distilled water?

One is said to be purer than the other, but purity doesn't come without compromise. So, how should you stay hydrated: distilled water or purified water? Read on to learn more about the difference between the two.

Quick links to the article about distilled and purified water:

Why does tap water often need a purification boost?

Public water supply goes through a thorough treatment process to meet the standards of safety determined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

The agency sets legal limits on over 90 contaminants² to the point where they aren't clearly dangerous to human health. The limit also reflects the level of purity that public water systems can achieve using the best processes and technology available.

Related Read: Water Pollution Facts & Statistics.

Public drinking water treatment process

Coagulation and flocculation

They add positively charged chemicals to make suspended dirt and other particles clumpy. Then, the particle clumps merge into larger and heavier clumps called flocs.

Sedimentation and filtration 

Here, the flocs separate from the water and settle to the bottom of sedimentation basins. The water suspended at the top is then filtered to further remove impurities.

Disinfection

The last step is to kill off harmful bacteria using chemical disinfectants like chlorine, chlorine dioxide, and chloramine.

Although the EPA closely monitors public water supply, many other factors impact water quality. Groundwater pollution and a compromised water delivery system are some of those factors. Therefore, while tap water is generally okay, it's not as pure as it could be.

Pros and cons of purified water

Clean water that has been treated with any of the various purification methods to remove harmful chemicals, heavy metals, and harmful microorganisms is called purified water. The purified water source is often tap water, which people use to purify themselves.

Charcoal filters remove chlorine, a common chemical disinfecting public water supply. Chlorinated water has been linked to certain cancers.

Water purification systems work to make water clean and safe. However, they won't remove so-called essential minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

Pros

• Drinking purified water has been considered to have certain health benefits due to its ability to retain essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, and sometimes fluoride.
• Purifying water also removes the aftertaste that chemical treatments, organic, and metal plumbing would introduce into your drinking water.
• When you drink purified water, you may notice a noticeable sweetness because the healthy minerals it contains improve its taste.
• Purified water is usually easier and cheaper to make compared to distilled water.

Cons

• Sometimes, purification techniques retain harmful contaminants along with beneficial minerals. 
• Water filtration systems must be monitored closely and replaced regularly to maintain high water quality.
• Some purification methods remove the fluoride normally found in tap water. Fluoride prevents tooth decay and improves dental health.

How to purify water

Here are some of the most common methods of purifying water:

Boiling

Simply boiling water for a few minutes can kill many bacteria, parasites, and other diseases causing germs in the water. Boiling is the easiest way to get pure water. Let the hot water stand for a little while, and then pour it into a clean container.

To improve the taste of boiled water, some people add a pinch of salt per liter of water. A simpler 

Filtration

The filtration process involves passing the water through a physical barrier that stops foreign particles from passing through. The different types of water filters include activated carbon filtration, charcoal filters, and sediment filters.

You can have a home filtration system set up or buy a water filter pitcher. Whatever filter you buy, make sure it is certified by the American National Standards Institute.

Reverse osmosis 

Reverse osmosis involves pushing through a semipermeable membrane to remove contaminants. This filtration is effective at eliminating non-solid contaminants.

Deionization

This water purification process removes the molecules of mineral salts in water. Inside a deionization tank, ion exchange resins bind with the mineral contaminants. The minerals remain bound to the resins inside the tank while purified water passes through.

Pros and cons of distilled water

Distilled water is considered to be the purest water. It is made through a process called distillation, which involves boiling water and collecting the steam. Distilled water is free from any additives, minerals, and harmful contaminants. 

Distillation can remove¹ up to 99.5 percent of water's impurities, including dissolved solids, bacteria, heavy metals, and nitrate.

Ideally, distilled water should have a neutral pH of 7.0, but the water may absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, making it slightly acidic.

Medical facilities use distilled water for medical procedures. It is also preferred for mixing baby formula and in cooling systems. Some people also prefer distilled drinking water.

Pros 

• Drinking distilled water reduces the chances of ingesting chemical contaminants or waterborne microbes. Because it's pure water, distilled water has a longer shelf life than other types of water. 
• Some people believe that drinking distilled water helps prevent excess mineral content in the body. For example, excess fluoride can lead to fluorosis, while excess calcium carbonate may calcify blood vessels.
• Drinking distilled water can lessen the chances of developing kidney stones, which are sometimes caused by accumulated contaminants from tap water.
• Usually, drinking distilled water is best in situations where any small amount of contaminated water could cause issues, such as people with weakened immune systems or newborn babies.

Cons

• Distilled water lacks all the essential minerals typically found in purified water. However, the amount of mineral nutrients we get from water is negligible.
• Distilled water has a peculiar taste that might take some getting used to. Some people describe the taste of distilled water as flat.
• You need to take extra care to store distilled water. A contaminated container can compromise its pureness.
• The distillation process is neither quick, easy, nor cheap. Distillation units' operating costs are generally higher than other home water treatment methods.

How to distill water

To distill water, they boil water and collect the steam, which eventually cools and turns back into liquid. Boiling water is the only way to distill water, but there are other tools you can use.

One DIY method is to boil a pot of water while placing a bowl in it. You'll place the pot lid upside down on the pot and fill the top with ice cubes. The ice will condense the steam as it rises, and the condensation drips into the bowl. That's your distilled water. With this method, you can only collect small amounts of water per time.

If you don't want to use a DIY approach, you'll need a countertop water distiller kit. Those usually come in 4-liter sizes. You'll need to get a distillation machine if you need more distilled water. 

Typically, distillation devices are installed at the point of use. That means you won't install one for the entire home's water supply system, just in the kitchen.

Distilled water vs purified water: which is safer to drink?

Both purified water and distilled water have undergone processes to remove contaminants, so they are clean, healthy choices for daily drinking water. The main difference between the two is the level of purity. Which one you drink is just a matter of preference. 

However, depending on the state of your health, your lifestyle, and the condition of your environment, one may be a better choice for you than the other.

Purified water

Drinking purified water has some health benefits, thanks to the healthy minerals it contains, although the amounts are quite negligible (trace amounts). 

If your water purification system is working correctly, you should have no problem enjoying your tasty, refreshing, purified water. If contaminants are present, they are probably in such small amounts that they cannot affect you. 

The exception is if you are already immunocompromised, in which case you should ask your physician for advice.

Distilled water 

You can drink distilled water every day if you want to. Usually, “mineral depletion” is not a cause for concern as we don't depend on water as a source of minerals. We get the necessary minerals from food. Toothpaste is also a richer source of fluoride than tap water.

It is also ideal for mixing baby formula because it is the purest and safest water you can get. You can be sure your baby won't ingest any contaminants. 

People with health issues that leave them at increased risk of waterborne illnesses. Before you decide to make distilled water your daily drink water for health reasons, you should consult your physician.

Distilled water vs purified water: which is better for the environment?

Should you choose distilled or purified water for the sake of the environment? Let's see.

Energy use

The distillation process takes a lot of energy and time. A countertop water distiller takes about an hour to produce just one liter of water. Although there are water distillers that claim to be non-electric, you typically need to boil water for hours every day if you want to drink distilled water. 

Water purification systems typically don't need electricity. Reverse osmosis and the filtration process, for instance, use water pressure. 

Maintenance 

When your water filter gets old or dirty, you need to replace it. How often you replace it depends on the level of cleanliness of your city-provided water supply. If you have a borehole, then it depends on the purity of the groundwater. More contaminated water requires more frequent filter replacements.

Distillers need to be thoroughly cleaned regularly, as minerals and other solids accumulate within them to form scale and sediment. If the scale and sediment are not removed, distillers become less efficient and effective. Distillers are usually cleaned using an organic acid solution. Discarding the solution and rinsing the distiller generates wastewater.

Plastic waste 

Whether you drink distilled or purified bottled water, you are generating plastic waste. The best thing to do is make your tap water as pure as you'd like and use a reusable bottle.

However, filtered water is much easier and cheaper to make at home than distilled water. So, if you choose purified water as your daily drinking water, you'll probably find it easier to avoid plastic bottles.

Related Read: Is Canned Water Greener Than Bottled Water?

Conclusion: Difference between distilled and purified water

Purified water claims to have similar health benefits to mineral water and spring water, although it undergoes chemical processing. Distilling water is costly and energy-intensive but is the only option for situations that require sterility.

Whether you drink distilled water, purified water, mineral water, or spring water, the important thing is to stay hydrated with clean water. Considering how much energy goes into producing distilled water, we advise that you drink other types of water unless the situation calls for it. You should also do everything you can to avoid buying bottled water; they contribute to plastic pollution.