Even though most people are aware that staying hydrated throughout the day is essential for their health, many are unaware of what is actually in that water. We are bombarded daily with news of boil water advisories and contaminated tap water scares so its no wonder spring water consumption has skyrocketed. Unfortunately not enough information on that bottled spring water is available (in fact bottle water manufacturers face even less regulations than municipal water providers!)
That’s why we at Waterful.org are big proponents of distilled water and purified water. Distilled is our go to choice (see below our recommended water distiller, the Megahome Countertop Distiller) for most people that are sure they are getting all the daily required nutrients and vitamins from their diet.
Purified water is our go to choice for those worried they aren’t getting enough micronutrients (see our recommended water purifier here) because the better whole home purifiers can ensure your water has the exact recommended daily values.
Our Picks for the Best Water Distiller
Removes bad taste and odor from water through whisper-quiet operation that fits on any countertop
Quality construction contains no plastic parts that touch the water, only stainless steel
Includes long-lasting carbon filters to catch any contaminants not removed during the distillation process
Easy to maintain and clean with included tools
Slightly expensive but quality build makes up for it plus all the money you will save not buying bottled water
Can remove some beneficial minerals but these are easily added back in
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Our water scientists and engineers spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers .
Distilled Water vs. Purified Water vs. Spring Water
Distilled Water
Distilled water is obtained through the process of distillation. Water can contain many impure or toxic substances, like metals and other inorganic minerals, and contaminants. Since water has a lower melting and boiling point than these minerals, water simply turns into steam through the process of distillation and leaves behind the impure materials. The steam is then captured, contained and cooled, resulting in distilled water. The pH of distilled water should be 7, but since distilled water absorbs carbon dioxide from its surroundings, it becomes slightly acidic and has a pH of 5.8 to 6.
Distillation is not completely safe. Since distillation entirely depends on boiling the water and turning it into steam, it is important to note that various toxic compounds may still be found in water. All of these components and compounds have varying boiling points and while some might stay behind while the water evaporates, some might have a lower boiling point than water. This means that as the water heats up, these toxic compounds boil off with it. This is why distillation can never be the only way to purify water since it doesn’t remove all the toxins. You will have to use other purification methods. Plus, through distillation, you get rid of all the important minerals that your body needs.
Purified Water
Purified water is a term that means purifying water through some method, for instance, filtration or reverse osmosis. Water is purified to remove all the pathogens, impure chemicals and pollutants that can be hazardous for your health. Purified water has a very low level of impurity and can be used as tap water, not bottled water. It is safe to be consumed by humans and animals since it does not contain any harmful compounds that may become a health risk. Purified water also does not have a taste that can be a result of chemicals, organic matter or even metallic plumbing.
Purified water is produced by using tap or groundwater. It is essential to keep in mind that the process of purification does not remove microbes. One of the most common ways to purify water is by using the carbon filter and the reverse-osmosis water filter unit. This will allow the filters to collect only the pure water molecules through the use of a permeable membrane and all the toxic compounds will simply be filtered out. Purification and filtration systems that do not require the carbon filter can be installed in restaurants and even homes.
Spring Water
Unlike distilled and purified water, spring water comes from naturally occurring springs. Spring water rises from an underground basin to the surface. This water is completely natural and is usually found in mountains and valleys. Spring water is mostly found in areas that have a lot of rocks. One of these rocks is limestone, which has a soft texture and allows water to pass through it. Spring water is only produced when there is a lot of water underground, which allows some of it to rise above the ground.
When the water is rising through the rocks, it is naturally filtered. The water that rises is clear and contains various healthy minerals since it is completely clean and pure. Many people prefer drinking it as is but spring water can also contain harmful compounds or particles. Some spring water may also be different in color and should not be consumed without being purified. Bottled spring water needs to be passed through a filtration process before it is consumed. Unlike purified and distilled water, spring water still contains all its natural minerals even after it is filtered, which means your water will never taste unpleasant or have any sort of smell. Spring water has all the minerals your body needs to stay healthy and can be consumed by children and adults.
Distilled Water vs. Spring Water— Which One Should You Choose?
Since spring water comes from an underground source, it is not always purified. It may sound appealing to buy spring water from the store, but distilled water is a much better option than spring water since it has many health benefits.
Distilled water is known for its rigorous filtration process, which removes most of the harmful compounds and contaminants that may previously be in it. Another great thing about distilled water is that you can carry out the distillation process at home, which makes it economically beneficial. Unlike spring water that is not the best to consume, distilled water is pure and has the least carcinogenic chemicals. The only drawback of distilled water as opposed to spring water is that it may lack minerals that you may need.
Distilling your own water is better than buying distilled bottle water since it may not be pure since it is purified in huge amounts in different industries. Distilling water at home also means that your water is fresh as compared to store bought distilled water, which may be sitting in bottles for days or even weeks. It is not the best idea to drink old distilled water since it can easily be tainted by unpleasant odors and its taste can change. Home-distilled water is the best choice as it contains the least harmful chemicals or compounds. It is best to drink distilled water because it gives you several health benefits and is affordable.
