A Quick Breakdown
- Water without impurities is Purified Water, and water free of contamination via boiling and cooling is Distilled Water.
- Purified water is used in fish tanks, pharmaceuticals, Lab tests and Laser cutting, whereas, Distilled water is preferred in Canning fruits, photo firms, cosmetics and wet batteries.
- Purification still poses a threat of contamination, and Distillation removes 99% of minerals, leading to a mineral deficiency.
The most interesting part of the battle between distilled vs purified water is the fact that distilled water is purified water. This article will explain the manufacturing process, uses, health benefits, and more of those above. But before we get there, let’s check out the types of water and what makes them different from each other.
Table of Contents
Common Types of Water
The natural water is treated using various techniques to make them appropriate for multiple ways of usage. Though its molecular composition, H20, does not alter, its mineral content, taste, colour and functionality vary. Some such varied water types are:
1. Mineral Water
Naturally, mineral water contains many dissolved minerals. The threshold for water to be mineral water should contain at least 250 PPM (Parts Per Million) of total dissolved solids (TDS). Tap water rates at 300-400 PPM, meaning drinking tap water add necessary minerals to your body to enhance your health.
2. Spring Water
Springwater is the water deposited deep underground. The source of underground water is rain, roots, and the natural ability of soil to hold water. Springwater is rich in minerals and some nutrients. This water is collected with a borehole and filtered before being supplied. With no contaminations or additives, this water satisfies your palate the best and quenches your thirst.
3. Purified water
Interestingly, the purest form of water is a myth. Here’s why. Purified water is defined by the absence of impurities found in the water. Generally, the impurity load shouldn’t exceed 10 PPM to be classified as purified water.
Purified water is usually produced by purifying drinking water or groundwater through capacitive deionization, reverse osmosis, carbon filtering, microfiltration, ultrafiltration, ultraviolet oxidation, or electro-deionization.
How to make Purified water At home?
There are two popular approaches to purifying water at home. There are Boiling and Disinfecting.
- Boil water for 5 mins until it bubbles. You have your boiled pure water.
- Though using bleach might alter the taste, you can use household bleach containing 5.25% sodium hypochlorite. This disinfection method kills microorganisms in water. The two vital things to remember are (I) not to drink that water immediately and (II) to avoid fragmented or colour-added bleach products.
4. Distilled Water
We already mentioned that distilled water is purified water. So how is distilled water different from purified water?
Well, this water goes through a process called Distillation that removes all contaminations from water, and the membrane methods of reverse osmosis and nanofiltration remove most, or virtually all, minerals. There are various water distillers in the market which perform this process. Find the list of some finest water distillers here.
Like all purified water, it must be stored in a sterilized container to guarantee the absence of bacteria and its continuity. With a PPM of about one, it can be classified as the purest out of purified waters!
How to make Distilled Water at Home?
Distillation of water at home might sound difficult as a science experiment, but actually, it’s not. Follow the steps for manual ways to do it.
Step I: Fill a pot or vessel with halfway water.
Step II: Hang the cup right side up, tied with the pot lid’s handle
Step III: Boil the water for 25 minutes.
Step IV: Collect your distilled water drips from the lid to the cup.
Distilled vs Purified Water
Both distilled water and purified water are the purest forms of water you can find. The distilled water takes the cake as purer and has been used in medical facilities and laboratories.
Since they both are used for drinking purposes, many people are confused over the best type of water to drink. We’re here to help!
Health Benefits of Distilled Water
- Distilled water is essentially free from any contaminants.
- It is the purest form of water you can find.
- Distilled water is free of pesticides and bacteria, which could benefit those with weakened immune systems like HIV/AIDS or cancer patients.
- Distilled water effectively removes chlorine from drinking water, decreasing your exposure to chlorine.
- The absence of impurities can improve the taste of water.
Cons of Distilled Water
However, distilled water is purest with less dissolved minerals, but it is not necessarily the healthiest.
- Distillation removes around 99% of all the minerals found in tap water.
- Removing the impurities and electrolytes from water also removes beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium.
- Drinking distilled water exposes you to the risk of mineral deficiency that has severe consequences like fractures, preterm birth, heart diseases, and cavities.
Health Benefits of Purified Water
- Depending on the type of purification system used, purified water is free of heavy metals, chemicals, and other contaminants.
- Charcoal filters remove chlorine, the addictive chemical used by the water supply agency as a disinfectant.
- Purified water contains beneficial minerals to some extent based on the level of purification, which is good for health.
- Removing chemicals and organic waste in water improves water quality and taste.
Cons of Purified Water
Does that mean purified water is the best water to drink with no downfalls? No. It also has some potential drawbacks.
- Purified water may not be free of all the contaminations.
- The installation and maintenance cost of water purifiers will set you back hundreds of dollars.
- The addition of chemicals like fluoride in purified water is practised in some countries. Although this contributes to improved dental health, excessive fluoride level is toxic to the brain and nerve cells. This has been associated with learning, memory, and cognitive deficiencies.
- Purified water is often packed in plastic bottles and widely sold worldwide, contributing to plastic waste. These non-biodegradable wastes are expensive to recycle and dispose of.
Uses of Distilled Water vs Purified Water
Now that we know the significant differences between distilled and pure water, let’s go through some of their primary applications.
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Distilled water is purified water that uses the distillation method out of many others. This water is the closest thing you can get to the purest water with less than 0.5% impurities. Distilled water is free of all impurities, making the mineral content zero. This feature makes the distilled water more suitable for medical facilities than ingestion.
On the flip side, purified water is a straightforward solution to drinking water, provided that you consider nature and do not buy plastic bottles. If no water filter is available at home, you can DIY your water filtration system with these easy steps.
