Can You Drink Distilled Water?
Medically reviewed by Karina Tolentino, RD
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 to tap water and purified water, what distilled water is used for, and other processes used to ensure water is safe to drink.
What Is Distilled Water?
Distilled water is a 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:
Bone and membrane structure
Water and electrolyte (charged minerals) balance
Metabolic catalysis (promoting chemical reactions to produce energy in the body)
Oxygen binding
Hormone functions
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 from drinking 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:
60% for magnesium and calcium
66% for copper
70% for manganese
86% for cobalt
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:
Increased morbidity (illness or disease)
Morbidity due to reduced immune defense systems
Impaired physical and mental development
Some research suggests the intake of water that is low in calcium may be associated with a higher risk of the following:
Fractures (broken bones) in children
Certain neurodegenerative diseases (diseases that destroy motor neurons, cells in the central nervous system)
Preterm birth and low birth rate
Some cancers
Water that is low in magnesium appears to be associated with an increased risk of:
Pregnancy disorders such as preeclampsia (high blood pressure and protein in the urine)
Some types of cancer
In some situations, distilled water can lead to overhydration (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 to achieve 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 making formula), 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 using fluoridated water may increase the chances of a child 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 public drinking water supplies in the world. Public drinking water systems consist of the following:
Community water systems: Supply water to the same population (at least 25 people or at least 15 primary residences) year-round
Noncommunity water systems: Composed of transient non-community water systems (provide water to 25 or more people for at least 60 days per year, but not to the same people and not on a regular basis) and non-transient water systems (regularly supply water to at least 25 of the same people for more than six months per year, but not year-round)
Public water systems regularly test for contaminants, and water utilities are required to publish Consumer Confidence Reports. This lets consumers know:
The source of the water
Contaminants present and their potential health effects
Treatment methods used by the utility
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:
Distillation: Water is vaporized and then condensed back into water.
Reverse osmosis: Minerals are removed by forcing water through membranes.
Absolute 1 micron filtration: Particles larger than 1 micron (0.00004 inches) are removed by flowing water through filters.
Ozonation: Ozone gas (an antimicrobial agent) is used to disinfect the water and is often used for bottled water instead of chlorine, which can add a residual taste or odor.
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.
What’s Distilled Water Used For?
Water straight from the tap contains low levels of microorganisms, such as bacteria and amoebas. This is safe to drink because these pathogens are usually destroyed by stomach acid. But they could cause problems such as serious infection if inhaled or introduced to vulnerable areas like eyes or nasal passages.
Distilled water or sterilized water (including boiled then cooled tap water) should be used for purposes such as:
Nasal irrigation (bulb syringes, neti pots, squeeze bottles, etc.)
Contact lens cleaning and rinsing
Portable humidifiers
Cleaning or rinsing an open wound
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:
In household appliances like irons to reduce mineral build-up
Watering plants
In fish aquariums
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 guide of 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:
Giardia
Campylobacter
Shigella
Escherichia coli (E. coli)
Salmonella
Arsenic
Gasoline
Nitrate
Phenol
Selenium
Yersinia enterocolitica
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:
The source of the water
If it has been treated
If it is safe to use for drinking and other activities such as cooking, brushing your teeth, or bathing
It may be necessary to use disinfectant measures to kill waterborne pathogens before 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:
Boiling water: Keep at a rolling boil for one minute (three minutes at elevations above 6,500 feet).
Disinfection: Chlorine dioxide tablets may be effective against Cryptosporidium if you carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions. Water that is contaminated with a chemical will not be made drinkable by disinfectants. Water disinfected with iodine is not recommended for pregnant people, people with thyroid problems, people with a hypersensitivity to iodine, or for continuous use for more than a few weeks at a time.
Filtration: A portable water filter with a filter pore size small enough (such as labeled as certified by National Sanitation Foundation standards 53 or 58) may remove parasites, but most don't remove bacteria or viruses. Reverse osmosis filters remove bacteria, viruses, and salt.
Ultraviolet (UV) light: Portable units that deliver a measured dose of UV light might kill some pathogens in small quantities of clear water. This method may not be effective in cloudy water as small particles may block the germs from the light.
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 parasite Cryptosporidium. Look for bottled water that is treated with measures that protect against Cryptosporidium, such as:
Distillation
Reverse osmosis
Filtration with an absolute 1-micron filter
Summary
Distilled water is made by vaporizing water then condensing the steam back into water. This process removes impurities.
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. Drinking and 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 in CPAP 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.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.
