When deciding what kind of drinking water is best for you, it can be very confusing. Many people don't know the answers to some fairly basic questions. Is distilled water better because it removes everything? Is filtered water safer? And most importantly, is purified water the same as distilled water?
The key to making a good choice for your own home is understanding the differences between distilled water vs filtered water. While both types of water can be used to purify water, there are differences in how they work and what remains after each process.
Understanding the Core Difference
The comparison of distilled water vs filtered water comes down to the way in which they both purify water and the result after the purification process.
When water is distilled, the water is boiled to create steam; the steam is then cooled back down to turn back into a liquid. Almost every impurity is removed from the water, including heavy metals, bacteria, salts, and chemicals. Therefore, distilled water has been purified to the highest degree.
On the downside, distilling water also removes naturally occurring mineral content such as calcium or magnesium; therefore, it tends to taste bland.
The difference between distilled water vs filtered water can be summed up with this: distilling removes all impurities, while filtering leaves some of them in.
What Is Filtered Water?
First, filtered water is defined as water that has been purified through the use of one or more filters. A filter uses various physical processes to remove unwanted particles from water but allows valuable minerals to remain.
More advanced filtration systems use adsorptive (absorption) and micro-filtering (removal of very small particles) technologies to effectively eliminate dangerous substances such as chlorine, heavy metals, chemical pollutants, and physically or chemically contaminated liquids from the water.
Furthermore, unlike the distillation process, which requires electricity and heating elements, filtered water can be produced easily and practically for everyday consumption. When comparing distilled water vs filtered water, this convenience plays a major role.
Distilled vs Purified Water: Clearing the Confusion
Next, many people have asked, "is purified water same as distilled" The answer is "no".
While all distilled water must be pure (meaning the water has to have come from a clean source), not all purged/disinfected water will be distilled.
In fact, purged or disinfected water refers to "cleaned water" regardless of the manner; therefore, purged or disinfected water may also be produced through numerous processes (i.e., filtration, ultraviolet (UV) treatments, reverse osmosis, and/or distillation).
This is why understanding distilled vs purified water is important. Distillation is one type of purification process, while "purifying" can be accomplished through several purification methods.
Practical Comparison: Distilled Water vs Filtered Water
|
Category |
Distilled Water |
Filtered Water |
|
Mineral Content |
None |
Retains beneficial minerals |
|
Taste |
Flat |
Clean, natural |
|
Energy Use |
High (requires heating) |
No electricity required (gravity-fed) |
|
Ideal Use |
Labs, medical equipment |
Drinking, cooking, and daily hydration |
|
Convenience |
Slow process |
Continuous, on-demand filtration |
Can You Drink Distilled Water Every Day?
Drinking distilled water can be used on a short-term basis, but over the long term, it is not a good option for a large percentage of people. This is mostly because there are no minerals in distilled water, whereas food provides your body with some minerals, and drinking some water provides your body with small but very important quantities of minerals.
One of the reasons why filtered water is a better option for everyday hydration than distilled water is that, when comparing distilled water vs filtered water, filtered water provides a much better balance in terms of safety and functionality.
Why Filtered Water Is a Better Choice
The Phoenix Gravity Water Filters team has extensive experience showing that filtered water provides a much better balance in terms of safety and functionality when compared to distilled water. The goal of Phoenix Gravity Water Filters is not to provide laboratory-quality water, but to provide safe drinking water that is viable for daily living.
Filtered water provides two distinct advantages over distilled water - removal of unhealthy contaminants while retaining naturally occurring minerals and better taste/overall health benefits. In addition to having more advantages over distilled water, filtered water is much easier to use. Using the Phoenix Gravity Water System to filter your water requires no electrical or installation means and is therefore usable even during power outages.
Filtering your drinking water with the Phoenix Gravity Water System will ultimately save you money on bottled drinking water or energy-intensive distillation methods. When consumers evaluate the difference between distilled water vs filtered water, they often determine that they do not need to drink completely distilled water regularly.
Final Thoughts
The comparison of distilled water vs filtered water is not about which method removes more impurities. Instead, it is about which option fits better into daily life.
Distilled water is extremely pure and useful for technical purposes. But for drinking, it may not be the best choice due to the lack of minerals.
Filtered water, on the other hand, provides a balance. It removes harmful contaminants while keeping beneficial minerals, making it more suitable for regular use.
Understanding the distinction between distilled vs purified water also helps clear confusion. Not all purified water is distilled, and different methods give different results.
In simple terms, if the goal is safe, healthy, and good-tasting drinking water, filtered water is the better option for most households.
FAQs
1. Is purified water same as distilled?
No, purified water is produced by several methods, including distillation. Distilled water is also considered to be purified water.
2. What is the main difference between distilled water vs filtered water?
As a general statement, distilled water has been distilled, and as a result, it has no minerals; whereas filtered water has gone through some filtering procedure, and therefore, there will be some beneficial minerals present.
3. Is distilled vs purified water the same comparison?
No. When comparing distilled vs purified water, you are comparing one method of producing purified water (distillation) with the broader range of available methods (i.e., purification techniques).
4. Which is better for daily drinking?
As a general statement, filtered water is the better choice for daily consumption due to having no contaminants, beneficial minerals, and a better taste than distilled water.
5. Why choose Phoenix Gravity Water Filter?
They provide clean, safe drinking water while not removing any essential vitamins and minerals. They are easy to use, low-maintenance, don't require electricity, and are recommended for household use.