Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Distilled Water?DownsidesSafetyUsesSafest Water

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is Distilled Water?

Downsides

Safety

Uses

Safest Water

Distilled water is generally safe to drink. However, it often tastes bland and can have downsides when consumed regularly, such as not providing the minerals the body needs.

This article will discuss the downsides of regularly drinking distilled water, the safety of distilled water compared totap water and purified water, what distilled water is used for, and other processes used to ensure water is safe to drink.

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A person pouring distilled water into a drinking glass

Distilled water isa type of purified water. During the distillation process, heat is used to boil water and produce steam. Impurities, such as sodium,calcium, magnesium, heavy metals, and other dissolved solids, are not vaporized and are left behind. The steam enters a cooling section and condenses back into a liquid.

The water that is collected from the steam can have up to 99.5% of the impurities removed. The water left in the boiling chamber has a much higher concentration of impurities and is discarded.

The boiling process typically kills bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms, but, depending on how the water is handled after distillation, these pathogens could be reintroduced.

Downsides of Drinking Distilled Water Regularly

There are 21 mineral elements believed to be essential to humans, 14 of which are established as essential for good health. In various combinations, these elements serve important functions, including affecting:

The minerals in drinking water vary depending on natural conditions. Some water has minerals intentionally added (such as fluoride) or contains elements leached from piping (such as copper).

Distillation removes these elements. Drinking distilled water instead of water containing these essential elements removes a source for obtaining them. This can lead to deficiencies.

For example, while water is not the main source of calcium and magnesium intake, elements essential for health, diet may not be sufficient to fully compensate for the absence of calcium and magnesium fromdrinking water.

Using demineralized soft water for cooking can cause significant losses of essential elements from foods such as vegetables, meat, and cereals, including up to:

This loss from using demineralized water for cooking can lead to a deficiency in the total intake of some essential elements that is even greater than expected with drinking demineralized water alone.

The health effects of deficiencies in micronutrients can include:

Some research suggests the intake of water that is low incalciummay be associated with a higher risk of the following:

Water that is low in magnesium appears to be associated with an increased risk of:

In some situations, distilled water can lead tooverhydration(too much fluid). Sweating depletes both water and salt. Drinking too much distilled or tap water after heavy sweating can create an imbalance of water and salts in the body, which can cause health problems and can even be fatal if the imbalance is too great.

This is why athletes drink sports drinks that have a balance of water, salts, and sugars toachieve proper hydration.

Can Babies and Young Children Drink Distilled Water?There isn’t a strong recommendation for or against using distilled water in infant feeding. Distilled water is generally considered safe for infant feeding but is not sterile. If used for an infant less than 4 months old (usually in makingformula), it would need to be sterilized first to kill microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.Most infant formulas contain low levels of fluoride. Regularly making formula usingfluoridated watermay increase a child’s chances of developing mild fluorosis (harmless, faint white markings on the teeth).Using demineralized or distilled water could lessen the chances of this happening.Talk to a healthcare provider about whether it would be beneficial to use distilled water for feeding your infant.

Can Babies and Young Children Drink Distilled Water?

There isn’t a strong recommendation for or against using distilled water in infant feeding. Distilled water is generally considered safe for infant feeding but is not sterile. If used for an infant less than 4 months old (usually in makingformula), it would need to be sterilized first to kill microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.Most infant formulas contain low levels of fluoride. Regularly making formula usingfluoridated watermay increase a child’s chances of developing mild fluorosis (harmless, faint white markings on the teeth).Using demineralized or distilled water could lessen the chances of this happening.Talk to a healthcare provider about whether it would be beneficial to use distilled water for feeding your infant.

There isn’t a strong recommendation for or against using distilled water in infant feeding. Distilled water is generally considered safe for infant feeding but is not sterile. If used for an infant less than 4 months old (usually in makingformula), it would need to be sterilized first to kill microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.

Most infant formulas contain low levels of fluoride. Regularly making formula usingfluoridated watermay increase a child’s chances of developing mild fluorosis (harmless, faint white markings on the teeth).Using demineralized or distilled water could lessen the chances of this happening.

Talk to a healthcare provider about whether it would be beneficial to use distilled water for feeding your infant.

Compared to Tap and Purified, How Safe Is Distilled Water?

The United States has one of the safest publicdrinking watersupplies in the world. Public drinking water systems consist of the following:

Public water systems regularly test for contaminants, and water utilities are required to publish Consumer Confidence Reports. This lets consumers know:

If contaminants exceed the allowed limit, the water must be treated to be potable (safe to drink), or another suitable source of water must be provided.

Chlorination is a conventional, time-tested water treatment option.

Monitoring of private water systems is the responsibility of the homeowner, making contamination more likely to go undetected.

Some bottled water comes from municipal drinking water or tap water. This water is usually treated before bottling, using treatments such as:

If the bottled water has been treated with distillation, reverse osmosis, or another acceptable method, it may meet the standards to be labeled as purified water.

How Much Water Should You Drink to Lose Weight?

What’s Distilled Water Used For?

Distilled water or sterilized water (including boiled then cooled tap water) should be used for purposes such as:

People who live in areas where water is contaminated, either from a natural disaster or due to the natural environment, may make or buy distilled water to avoid consuming harmful substances.

Distilled water has a flat, dull taste. Those who don’t like the taste of the water in their area may prefer distilled water for the blander taste.

Some people use distilled water in other ways, such as:

How to Create Distilled Water From Tap WaterThere are different ways to create distilled water from tap water. The American College of Chest Physicians provides an easy to understand,illustrated guideof one of the methods.

How to Create Distilled Water From Tap Water

There are different ways to create distilled water from tap water. The American College of Chest Physicians provides an easy to understand,illustrated guideof one of the methods.

When in Doubt: Safest Water (Available to You)

It’s important to know about the safety and quality of your water. In the United States, check the Consumer Confidence Reports for the public water in your area.

Most private water systems in the United States come from groundwater wells. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations used to protect public drinking water systems do not apply to individual water systems such as privately owned wells, rainwater collection, or other private water sources. Individual owners are responsible for the safety and regulation of their private water systems.

Contaminants and pathogens that may be found in private water systems include:

If you have a private water system, make sure to follow proper treatment guidelines to ensure your water stays safe to drink.

Contaminated water can look clean. If you are traveling, camping, or visiting anywhere with unknown water quality, try to find out:

It may be necessary to use disinfectant measures to killwaterborne pathogensbefore using it. Which method to use depends on the contaminants and your resources. Always read and carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions for water treatment products. Methods to disinfect water include:

Bottled water is another option. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled water based on the standards of the EPA for tap water. Bottled water producers must also follow the FDA’s good manufacturing practices for processing and bottling drinking water.

Check the label on the bottle or contact the company to find out where the water comes from and how it has been treated.

People with weakened immune systems need to guard against the parasiteCryptosporidium. Look for bottled water that is treated with measures that protect againstCryptosporidium, such as:

Summary

Distillation removes mineral elements that are important for human health, including calcium and magnesium. Cooking with distilled water can lower the mineral content of foods.Drinkingand cooking with distilled water are generally considered safe, but doing so regularly may lead to nutritional deficiencies and associated health concerns.

Public water in the United States is some of the safest in the world. It is regulated, monitored, and treated for contaminants that could cause health problems. Private water systems are not regulated and are the responsibility of the owner.

Distilled water may be used for medical purposes, including inCPAP machines, nasal irrigation, and contact lens cleaning. It may also be used in areas that have unsafe or undesirable-tasting water.

When traveling, camping, or going somewhere new, check the source, treatment, and safety of the water. Disinfecting the water or using bottled water may be necessary.

11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.University of Nebraska–Lincoln.Drinking water treatment: distillation.Verma KC, Kushwaha AS.Demineralization of drinking water: is it prudent?Medical Journal Armed Forces India. 2014;70(4):377-379. doi:10.1016/j.mjafi.2013.11.011University of Hawai‘i.Weird science: pure water and water mixtures.Alberta Health Services.Nutrition guideline - healthy infants and young children: water.New York State Department of Health.Guidance for use of fluoridated water for feeding during infancy.United States Environmental Protection Agency.Information about public water systems.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Bottled water everywhere: keeping it safe.AARP.5 times you shouldn’t use tap water.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Water disinfection.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Drinking water advisories.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Bottled water safety.

11 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.University of Nebraska–Lincoln.Drinking water treatment: distillation.Verma KC, Kushwaha AS.Demineralization of drinking water: is it prudent?Medical Journal Armed Forces India. 2014;70(4):377-379. doi:10.1016/j.mjafi.2013.11.011University of Hawai‘i.Weird science: pure water and water mixtures.Alberta Health Services.Nutrition guideline - healthy infants and young children: water.New York State Department of Health.Guidance for use of fluoridated water for feeding during infancy.United States Environmental Protection Agency.Information about public water systems.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Bottled water everywhere: keeping it safe.AARP.5 times you shouldn’t use tap water.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Water disinfection.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Drinking water advisories.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Bottled water safety.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

University of Nebraska–Lincoln.Drinking water treatment: distillation.Verma KC, Kushwaha AS.Demineralization of drinking water: is it prudent?Medical Journal Armed Forces India. 2014;70(4):377-379. doi:10.1016/j.mjafi.2013.11.011University of Hawai‘i.Weird science: pure water and water mixtures.Alberta Health Services.Nutrition guideline - healthy infants and young children: water.New York State Department of Health.Guidance for use of fluoridated water for feeding during infancy.United States Environmental Protection Agency.Information about public water systems.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Bottled water everywhere: keeping it safe.AARP.5 times you shouldn’t use tap water.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Water disinfection.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Drinking water advisories.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Bottled water safety.

University of Nebraska–Lincoln.Drinking water treatment: distillation.

Verma KC, Kushwaha AS.Demineralization of drinking water: is it prudent?Medical Journal Armed Forces India. 2014;70(4):377-379. doi:10.1016/j.mjafi.2013.11.011

University of Hawai‘i.Weird science: pure water and water mixtures.

Alberta Health Services.Nutrition guideline - healthy infants and young children: water.

New York State Department of Health.Guidance for use of fluoridated water for feeding during infancy.

United States Environmental Protection Agency.Information about public water systems.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Bottled water everywhere: keeping it safe.

AARP.5 times you shouldn’t use tap water.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Water disinfection.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Drinking water advisories.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Bottled water safety.

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