Distilled Water

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Water that has been heated to boiling, then cooled to condense the steam into a clean container, is distilled water. Along with being utilized for drinking water, it is frequently used in medicinal and scientific settings. What are the myths surrounding distilled water, though? Is drinking actually safe? Are there any minerals or other nutrients in it? In what ways does it differ from other kinds of cleansed water? You can make wise judgments about your hydration and health by being aware of the facts about distilled water. Continue reading to find out more about this crucial subject!

TL;DR

Distilled water is a type of purified water that has been boiled and condensed to remove impurities.

  • It is free from minerals, salts, and other contaminants.
  • It is used for drinking, cooking, medical purposes, and in industrial processes.
  • It can be purchased in stores or made at home with a distiller.

Distilled water is an essential part of many everyday activities and can provide numerous health benefits when consumed regularly!

Water is an important part of everyday living. We need it to keep ourselves healthy and hydrated throughout the day. Which makes you wonder what kind of water are you putting inside your body?

There are many types of water being marketed today and one of the most popular kinds of water we consume on a daily basis is distilled water. We drink it, but...

Have you ever asked yourself, what is distilled water?

If you are ready to learn more about distilled water, all of its benefits, applications, and the process of creating pure water out of regular tap water keep reading and the way you look at distilled water will change for the better!

What is distilled water?

What is water distillation? The process of distilling water requires regular water to be boiled so that some of the natural impurities and contamination can be eliminated.

Once the water has reached its boiling point, the steam collected will be condensed and collected in a clean container to avoid any contamination of the water.

What is in distilled water?

Actually, not much is left in water after it is distilled... and that is arguably the whole point!

The water distillation process (evaporating and condensing into a purified water catch) rids your water of over 95% of all known water contaminants. The most common contaminants found in regular tap water are salts and heavy metals.

As soon as the steam from the boiling water has been collected and reverted back to its liquid form, the water accumulated will be purified and that's distilled water. 

Water Distillation Process: 
How does it work?

Distilling water comes down to the following steps:

  1. 1
    Water is boiled and evaporated, thereby separating it from contaminants and impurities.
  2. 2
    Water is transformed into steam or vapor and is then captured and cooled.
  3. 3
    The steam is then condensed back into liquid in a clean container, creating distilled water.

Most contaminants found in water are metals, inorganic minerals, etc., which have high melting or boiling points. Water boils and evaporates much sooner than these contaminants (at 212 degrees F), so when it becomes steam, it leaves everything else behind.

Water Distillation: What is it good for?

What are the benefits of distilled water? What are the different uses of distilled water? Truth be told, there as so many uses and benefits that distilled water can offer us in our modern world, and they aren't just limited to household uses or drinking.

The purity of the this type of water and the overall lack of unwanted contaminants and minerals make it perfect to be used for science, vehicles, and much more. Here are a few of the major uses:

1. Why is distilled water good for drinking?

The body needs purified drinking water to sustain itself throughout the day. We excrete water through perspiration and urination, and the water we lose needs to be replaced. Drinking this type of water is a great way to keep your body hydrated without consuming toxins and impurities.

Some argue that drinking distilled water is not good because it lacks the organic minerals our body needs, we can achieve this by eating fruits and vegetables. That being said, this type of water is free of up to 99% of impurities and contaminants, ensuring it as a safe way to replenish all the liquids you have lost. Even filtered water from the tap or in bottles can't make the same claim. So, which would you rather have? Most distilled water purification fans choose water purity over the lack of minerals.

2. Distillation in the laboratory

When it comes to medical science and chemistry, water purity is important because contaminants can have a dramatic and drastic effect on the results of an experiment. This is why the use of distilled water is not just common in the medical science lab, it is preferred for medical use.

Using distilled water that has been purified to the point that 99% of all of its inorganic contaminants and other forms of toxins have been eliminated, ultimately makes for a more accurate result in the medical laboratory. By using this type of water, cross contamination and irregularities in the results are avoided.

Additionally, water distillation can be recreated inside the medical laboratory easily. This adds to the appeal of using water distillation because it is cheap and easy to come by. These are the main reasons why this type of water is a medical and science laboratory must-have.

3. Distillation in our modern world

There are many uses for distilled water inside the home because of its purity and lack of minerals. Some people use distilled water for their aquariums to keep the tanks free of the chemicals usually found in tap water. Distilled water is regularly used for wiping down kitchen surfaces, TV screens, laptop and computer screens, and other surfaces around the house or in the office. Distilled water is also good to use for our car battery water and cooling systems.

There are various other uses for this type of water for your everyday life and it makes our lives easier in ways that we are just not aware of. Everything around us must be cleaned and operated with water that is pure and safe to use and distilled water usually fits the bill.

A reliable water distiller is a handy machine to have at home because it makes it possible to turn normal tap water into the safe and much more preferred distilled water. It will also help you save a lot of money on bottled water expenses while allowing you to do your part in keeping the environment clean by lessening your use of disposable plastic bottles.

These water distillers are easy to use and are compact that they can fit right on your kitchen counter with no problem at all... but they usually aren't cheap! Although water distillers may come at a hefty price, they are a great investment in your health.

Distillation Vs. Regular Water

So, what about water distillation is different from regular water?

When compared with regular water, distilled water is much safer to drink because it goes through a process of distillation. Regular water is what we use for daily activities such as showering, watering our gardens, and washing dishes. Although sometimes regular water that comes right out of the tap is also consumed, it is not as safe as when water has been distilled before drinking.

Distillation Vs. Purified Water

Since we have already discussed distilled water, it is also good to discuss and explore other methods of creating drinkable water that are commonly used, whether in a larger or small scale. One of the most discussed topics when it comes to potable water consumption is “What is the difference between water distillation and purified bottled water?”

How is distillation different from purified bottled water? The difference between distillation and purified bottled water is arguably all technical at the end of the day. 

When you say “purified water” it means that the water may come from any kind of source. It can be regular tap water, rain water, spring water, etc. and it has gone through a purification process to eliminate any chemicals or contaminants that can be found in the water.

Distillation is just another form of purification. This means that distilled water is a form of purified water, but not all purified bottled water can be considered distilled.

There are other ways to create purified water such as deionization, reverse osmosis, and carbon filtration. If any kind of water undergoes any of these water purification processes they will be considered purified water.

Much like distillation, the process of making purified bottled water not only eliminates the harmful chemicals, salts, and other forms of contaminants it also eliminates some of the useful minerals our bodies can use.

Distillation Vs. Filtered Water

How is distillation different from filtered water?

Many people confuse filtered water with purified water. While distilled water uses heat to get rid of the harmful contaminants in water to make it purified for drinking, filtered water is the most basic way of cleaning water.

By using filters and water filtration stages, the water is filtered out of its contaminants and other harmful particles. Depending on the degree of filtration that you are using, your resulting drinking water may contain more or less contaminants after the process. Micro filtration is a more effective way of filtration because bigger particles cannot pass through the these stringent filtration stages.

Unlike the process of water distillation, water filtration alone is not enough to ensure that the water is safe and clean. In extreme situations, filtered water must still be treated with chemicals to make sure it is safe for drinking.

Bottled filtered water has been a long standing issue because many feel as though it is not safe to drink because it has been treated with chemicals or the filtration process is not enough to makes sure the water is potable and safe. The water distillation process can correct this, and purify water of many of its harmful elements all in one go.

Distillation Vs. Deionized Water

How is distilled water different from deionized water? What is the difference? Saying that these two types of water are the same is a common mistake.

Distillation is the oldest form of water purification known to man that is still commonly used in today’s modern world. The result of letting water go through distillation is pure and uncontaminated water. Deionized water is as pure, or sometimes even purer than distillation.

Deionized water is created through a series of intensive water purification processes. After the initial water purification process, the water goes through a reverse osmosis membrane. Then the water passes through a special deionizing medium which is responsible for removing the other ions that have been left in the water.

By going through these various and intensive processes of water purification, deionized water can result in water that is as pure or even purer than that of distilled water. So, if deionizers create purer water, why do we even bother with water distillation? 

Basically water distillation is still a much simpler and more convenient process to undertake. In deionization machines, sometimes a layer of activated charcoal filtration is added to remove inorganic minerals left after the process. This is because water deionization cannot fully remove these inorganic material byproducts.

Water distillation machines simply clean your water, making it a far more popular option for people who want drinking water without having to spend extra money on a more extensive purification process.

Water Distillation For One And All

Having access to water that is safe for drinking and cooking, and also very versatile is a fantastic way to live. Whether we are aware of it or not, distilled water makes our lives more convenient and safer. If you are still buying bottled water or just relying on filtered tap water, it might be time to make a switch to this type of water created on demand with a water distillation device. Do your part in keeping your home stocked with clean and pure water, all while lessening your carbon footprint.


5 Essential Tips for Understanding Distilled Water

  1. Distilled water is created by boiling water and collecting the steam, which is then cooled and condensed back into liquid form.
  2. Distilled water has a neutral pH level of 7, making it ideal for use in aquariums, car batteries, and other applications where a neutral pH is desired.
  3. Distilled water does not contain any minerals or other contaminants that can be found in tap or spring water.
  4. It is important to note that distilled water should not be used as a primary source of drinking water due to its lack of essential minerals.
  5. When using distilled water for cleaning purposes, it is important to rinse the area with tap or spring water afterwards to ensure all residue has been removed.

ALSO: Consider adding a few drops of lemon juice to your distilled water for added flavor and health benefits!

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About The Author

Joseph Bartley
Editor-In-Chief
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Joseph Bartley, also known as the WaterFilterFanatic, is a seasoned content writer who specializes in water filtration and water quality topics. On AllAboutWaterFilters, he has written a range of water filtration system reviews, water health and quality articles, swimming pool, hot tub and aquarium filtration guides, DIY methods to assist people clean their drinking water, and much more. Joseph enjoys spending his time working with the #AllAboutWaterFilters Editorial Team to provide some of the best quality water filtration content available on the web.

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