People have cleaned their water for thousands of years, and distillation is one of the oldest methods that still works. It boils water into steam, then condenses it back into a liquid and leaves the contaminants behind.
You have probably heard of distilled water, but you may not know how it is made or whether it is genuinely safe to sip every day.
Below we cover what distilled water is, how it is produced, and the real pros and cons, so you can decide whether it belongs in your glass.
Key Takeaways
- Distilled water is water that has been boiled into steam and condensed back into a liquid, a process that strips out minerals, salts, and impurities.
- Drinking distilled water is safe and lowers your exposure to waterborne microbes and to trace chemicals such as pesticides or nitrates that tap water can carry.
- Distilled water contains no calcium or magnesium, so it tastes flat and does not replace the electrolytes you lose through sweat and urine.
- You can drink distilled water every day as long as a balanced diet covers the minerals it lacks; it should not be your only source of them.
What is Distilled Water?
Distilled water is a type of purified water that has had both its sediment and mineral content removed (1). The process is straightforward: you boil water, collect the rising steam, and let it cool down to return to a liquid state (2). Because minerals and impurities don’t boil at the same temperature, they get left behind. The result is water free from microbes, minerals, and salt.
Filtering water is different. Standard filters remove microbes but usually leave the minerals alone. Spring water works this way naturally; it gets filtered by the rocks it flows over.
Aside from distillation, there are two other common ways to process pure water.
The first is reverse osmosis. This pushes water through a semipermeable membrane to filter out salt and impurities (3). It is a common method for desalinating seawater to make it drinkable (4).
The second method is deionization. This process uses ion exchange materials to pull salt and other mineral ions out of the water (5).
Many people turn to bottled water because they worry about tap water quality. In fact, bottled water consumption in the U.S. jumped from 16 gallons per person in 1999 to 42 gallons in 2017 (6).
Benefits of Drinking Distilled Water
Distillation is a reliable, time-tested method for purification. Here is why you might want to drink it:
1. Reduced Risk of Disease
Bacteria, viruses, and parasites need a specific environment to survive. When water is boiled and turned to steam, these dangerous microbes are left behind or killed by the heat. This makes distilled water a safe option if you are worried about waterborne illnesses.
2. Fewer Chemicals
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets legal limits on chemicals in drinking water (7). While they have zero tolerance for dangerous carcinogens, other chemicals are permitted in small amounts.
Depending on where you live, your tap water could still contain trace amounts of pesticides or nitrates. Distilled water removes these almost entirely. If your local municipal supply is questionable, distilled water offers a cleaner alternative.
Disadvantages of Drinking Distilled Water
Purity doesn’t always equal hydration perfection. There are some downsides to stripping water of its natural components.
1. It Tastes Flat
Minerals give water its flavor. When you remove them, the water can taste “flat” or unappealing. If you don’t enjoy the taste, you might end up drinking less, which defeats the purpose of staying hydrated.
2. Mineral Deficiency Risks
Calcium and magnesium are essential for your body (8). You typically get these from a mix of food and water.
If you rely solely on distilled water and eat a poor diet, you might miss out on these nutrients. Over a long period, severe mineral deficiencies can raise the risk of issues like osteoporosis or cardiovascular disease (9).
This is why the World Health Organization, after reviewing evidence covering tens of thousands of people, advises against using demineralized water like distilled as your only drinking source unless the minerals are added back in (10). For anyone eating a normal, varied diet, that margin is easy to clear.
3. Lack of Mineral Replacement
When you sweat or urinate, your body loses water and minerals (11). You need to replace them to keep your system running smoothly.
Since distilled water is empty of minerals, it hydrates you but doesn’t replenish those lost electrolytes. You must rely on food to bridge that gap.
Be Aware
4. Electrolyte and pH Imbalance
Drinking distilled water exclusively can affect your body’s pH and electrolyte levels.
Distilled water is naturally more acidic than tap water. While it starts with a neutral pH of 7, it quickly absorbs carbon dioxide from the air, dropping the pH to around 5.8 (12). This acidity, combined with a lack of minerals, is part of why health authorities caution against drinking only distilled water over the long term.
Symptoms of this imbalance include muscle cramps, fatigue, and headaches (13). This isn’t unique to distillation; reverse osmosis and deionized water can cause similar issues if they aren’t remineralized.
5. Environmental Impact
The distillation process leaves behind highly saline, mineral-heavy waste water. If not disposed of correctly, this brine can negatively affect the surrounding ecosystem.
6. Storage Contamination
Distilled water is “hungry” water. Because it has no minerals of its own, it easily absorbs substances from its container. This is a problem with cheap plastic bottles, especially in heat (14).
Chemicals like Bisphenol A (BPA) can leach from the plastic into your pure water (15). While the FDA regulates bottled water packaging (16), it is always safer to store distilled water in glass or high-quality stainless steel.
Common Uses for Distilled Water
Because it lacks minerals that cause limescale buildup, distilled water is useful around the house. Common uses include:
- Steam Irons: Prevents mineral clogging in the steam vents.
- Aquariums: Allows you to control the exact water chemistry for your fish.
- Car Maintenance: Used for cooling systems and topping up lead-acid batteries.
- Medical Devices: Essential for CPAP machines to prevent bacterial growth and mineral buildup.
- Houseplants: Great for sensitive plants that react poorly to chlorine or tap water minerals.
FAQs
Can You Drink Distilled Water Every Day?
Yes, you can drink distilled water every day, as long as a balanced diet supplies the calcium, magnesium, and other minerals it lacks. Storage matters too. Because distilled water holds no minerals of its own, it readily pulls trace substances from low-quality plastic, so keep it in glass or food-grade stainless steel.
Is Distilled Water Good for the Kidneys?
Distilled water is generally fine for healthy kidneys and may even help. Its purity means your kidneys process fewer inorganic minerals, which can lower the raw material behind certain kidney stones. If you have kidney disease or follow a mineral-restricted diet, check with your doctor before making distilled water your main source.
Can You Use Distilled Water for Cooking?
Cooking with distilled water works, but it is not ideal. Because it is mineral-free, distilled water pulls minerals out of your food, and WHO research found that boiling vegetables in demineralized water can leach up to about 60 percent of their magnesium and calcium into the cooking water. Tap or filtered water keeps more of those nutrients in the meal.
Is It Ok to Use Distilled Water to Make Coffee?
Distilled water is good for your coffee machine but poor for the flavor. With no minerals, it prevents the scale that clogs espresso makers and shortens their life. Coffee itself, though, relies on some mineral content to pull balanced flavors from the grounds, so a fully distilled brew often tastes flat or sour. Many baristas use lightly mineralized water as a compromise.
Does Distilled Water Help You Lose Weight?
No, distilled water does not directly help you lose weight. No evidence shows it burns fat any faster than regular tap or filtered water. Any water can support weight loss indirectly, since replacing sugary sodas with a zero-calorie drink cuts calories, but the type of water makes no difference on its own.
Should I Drink Purified or Distilled Water?
Purified water is the better everyday choice for most people. Both types are cleaned of contaminants, but many purified waters keep or add back beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium, while distilled water removes them entirely. Reach for distilled when you specifically need mineral-free water, such as for a medical device or appliance.
Is Boiled Water the Same as Distilled Water?
No, boiled water and distilled water are not the same. Boiling kills bacteria but leaves the dead microbes and all the minerals behind in the pot. Distillation goes further: it turns the water into steam, then condenses that steam in a separate container, so the finished distilled water leaves microbes, minerals, and salts behind.
Final Verdict: Is Distilled Water Safe?
Yes, you can drink distilled water safely. The key is balance. If you drink it regularly, eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, dairy, nuts, and whole grains to cover the calcium and magnesium the water leaves out. A few mineral drops or a pinch of trace-mineral salt in a pitcher works too.
Think about why you want to switch. If your local tap water is contaminated or you need pure water for medical equipment, distilled is a good option. If you just want cleaner water for everyday hydration, a standard filter is usually cheaper and better tasting.
