What's the Difference Between Filtered Water and Distilled Water

Water is essential for health, hydration, household needs, and industrial applications. While tap water meets basic safety standards for most purposes, people seek higher purity levels for drinking and cooking. Two popular purified options are filtered water and distilled water. While both are considered "clean”, they differ significantly in how they are processed, their purity levels, and their overall health impacts. This article explains the differences between filtered and distilled water, exploring which is better for drinking.

What is Filtered Water?

Tap water contains various impurities, including minerals, heavy metals, chemicals, and microorganisms. A filtration system helps remove these contaminants, providing cleaner, healthier, and better-tasting filtered water.

Depending on the filtration method, filtered water undergoes physical or chemical treatment to trap or eliminate impurities. The most popular filter types include:

• Carbon Filters: These use activated carbon to remove chlorine, volatile organic compounds, and unpleasant odours, improving taste and smell.
• Reverse Osmosis Systems: A highly effective solution that forces water through a porous membrane to remove heavy metals, nitrates, chemicals, and all other common contaminants.
• UV Filters: These use ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and viruses without altering the water's chemical composition.
• Ceramic Filters: Porous ceramic filters trap sediment, bacteria, microplastics, and other small particles.

By choosing the best filtration method for your needs, you can achieve healthy, perfectly safe drinking water suitable for babies, children and adults. For example, Waters Co water filtration systems remove up to 99.9% of harmful contaminants, including:

• Chlorine and chloramine
• Fluoride
• Sediment and rust
• Heavy metals (lead, copper, zinc, mercury, cadmium)
• Pesticides and herbicides
• Bacteria and viruses
• Forever chemicals (PFOA)
• Microplastics.

Waters Co filters remineralise and alkalise water, adding over 60 beneficial bioorganic trace minerals such as calcium and magnesium and balancing the water's pH level.

Is Distilled Water the Same as Filtered Water?

Both distilled and filtered water can offer high levels of purity, but the methods used to achieve this differ significantly. Distillation eliminates all additives, including essential minerals naturally present in the water. Since humans are not designed to consume completely pure water, distilled water lacks the familiar refreshing sensation and may taste flat.

What is Distilled Water?

Distilled water is a nearly 100% pure H2O. It is often used in laboratories and medical settings due to its high purity.

The distillation process involves heating water to create steam, cooling it down, then condensing it back into liquid. This process removes almost all impurities, including:

• Heavy metals
• Salts and minerals
• Chlorine
• Bacteria, viruses, and parasites
• Nitrates
• Volatile chemicals.

While distillation removes harmful contaminants, it also strips water of beneficial minerals and nutrients. As a result, distilled water is often regarded as "empty" water, lacking any flavour.

Key Differences Between Filtered and Distilled Water

The main differences between filtered and distilled water are their purity levels and mineral content. Filtered water is treated to remove only harmful impurities such as chlorine, sediment, and bacteria while retaining beneficial minerals. Plus, Waters Co filtration systems often introduce alkalising minerals to improve water quality.

Distilled water is created by boiling, evaporating, and condensing, effectively removing all contaminants, including essential minerals. It becomes ultra-pure with no taste, while filtered water retains its natural refreshing flavour.

Health Impacts of Filtered Water

Filtered water achieves a healthy balance between purity and nutritional value, offering multiple benefits. It can help improve digestion, support skin health, and prevent long-term health problems caused by waterborne diseases.

By retaining essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium, filtered water supports vital body functions, including bone strength, heart health, and muscle function. Many filtration systems also improve water taste and odour, encouraging hydration—a cornerstone of overall well-being.

Filtered water promotes healthy electrolyte balance, immune function, and overall vitality.

Health Impacts of Distilled Water

While distilled water offers unmatched purity, it has some adverse health effects in the long run:

• Potential mineral deficiency. Stripping water of minerals may lead to deficiencies in magnesium, potassium, and other essential nutrients the body needs.
• Electrolyte imbalance. Distilled water lacks electrolytes, critical for proper hydration, nerve function, and overall health.
• Acidity issues. Distilled water has a neutral pH, which can alter the body's pH balance over time, potentially leading to mild acidosis.

Costs of Filtration vs Distillation

Purification cost is another important factor when comparing distilled and filtered water.

Carbon-based filtration systems, such as countertop filters, are among the most cost-efficient options. They effectively remove common impurities, and their replacement cartridges are relatively inexpensive.

Reverse osmosis systems offer greater control over water purity yet are also more expensive. They can remove many contaminants, remineralise water, and improve its taste. However, their higher upfront costs and maintenance make them a larger investment.

Still, distillation is the most expensive method. Home distillation units require significant energy to heat water to its boiling point and condense steam. Plus, the purification process takes a long time. That's why the most cost-efficient strategy is opting for filtration for everyday needs and purchasing pre-bottled distilled water for specialised purposes, such as ironing clothing and for use in humidifiers.

Other Differences Between Filtered and Distilled Water

• Environmental Impact: Distillation is an energy-intensive process that can contribute to higher environmental strain. It may also leave behind highly saline or hard water, potentially disrupting local ecosystems. In contrast, water filtration systems are far more energy-efficient and eco-friendly, ideal for sustainable water use.
• Speed: Distillation is a time-consuming process, typically taking several hours to produce a usable amount of water. Even premium home distillers with faster cycles require waiting periods. Water filters, on the other hand, operate instantly. They can provide clean water on demand without waiting or manual intervention, making them far more convenient for daily use.
• Installation: Distilled water equipment requires precise conditions to ensure proper purification. Errors in home distillation setups and incorrect boiling times or temperatures can leave harmful substances like chlorine or volatile organic chemicals in the water. Filtration systems don't require any special knowledge to install and operate. The process is straightforward.
• Re-contamination: Distilled water lacks the beneficial minerals found in natural water, making it more prone to absorbing harmful substances from the environment. For example, it can dissolve the bisphenol A (BPA) compound in plastic containers. Contaminated distillation equipment can introduce new toxins into the water. Filtered water retains healthy minerals, preventing contaminants from infiltrating. Regular cleaning and cartridge replacement allow you to consistently clean water without re-contamination risks.

Comparison of Filtered and Distilled Water

Aspect	Filtered Water	Distilled Water
Purity Level	Removes most contaminants but retains minerals	Nearly 100% pure, removing all contaminants and minerals
Taste	A more natural taste	Bland due to lack of minerals
Mineral Content	Contains beneficial minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium	Stripped of all minerals
Processing	Physical or chemical filtration methods	Heating, evaporation, and condensation
Applications	Ideal for drinking, cooking, and household use	Best for laboratory work, medical uses, and appliances (irons, humidifiers, CPAP machines)

Filtered Water vs Distilled Water for Drinking

When it comes to drinking water, the choice between filtered and distilled water depends on personal hydration needs and health conditions.

Filtered Water for Drinking

Filtered water is the better option for most families because:

• It retains essential minerals beneficial for health.
• It tastes better due to the presence of natural minerals.
• It is free of harmful contaminants, ensuring safety.

Filtered water is also more affordable and accessible, as many filtration systems are designed to work with tap water. Its improved taste and balanced purity make it the most popular choice for households looking to ensure safe, healthy, and great-tasting water.

Distilled Water for Drinking

Distilled water is extremely pure and may be suitable for specific scenarios, such as:

• Medical conditions requiring mineral-free water.
• You're travelling to areas with questionable water quality.

However, there are better choices than distilled water for everyday hydration. The absence of minerals in distilled water may negatively impact body functions, disrupt electrolyte balance, and lead to mineral deficiencies.

Make a Safe Water Choice

Filtered water is ideal for everyday use, offering a balance of purity, taste, and nutritional value. According to a study by the World Health Organisation (WHO), consuming demineralised water over time can lead to dangerous health conditions. This makes distilled water a poor choice for drinking and cooking. If you want to drink clean, safe water and save money, consider installing a home water filtering system.

At Waters Co, we offer a wide range of high-quality filtration solutions. Unlike standard filters, Waters Co systems go beyond removing harmful contaminants; they also remineralise your water, replenishing essential minerals for improved taste and health benefits. Using a patented combination of 13 filtration technologies, we strive to deliver the best all-round quality.

Explore our selection of water jugs, benchtop filters, and under-sink systems, and feel free to contact us with any questions. Our expert support team is here to help you find the right solution for your household needs.