Understanding the Difference Between Purified Water and Distilled Water

Optimal water intake is paramount for your overall health. Each cell in your body relies on water to function effectively, highlighting the necessity to stay hydrated throughout the day. While most people know about the significance of water intake, there’s often confusion about the type of water to drink.

In this article, we will try to understand the difference between purified and distilled water to find out which one is the best choice for your hydration.

What is Purified Water?

Purified water is water that has been processed and filtered to remove impurities like dust, dirt, mud, bacteria, viruses, pathogens, chemicals, and toxins, making it suitable for human use.

Here are the impurities that are removed during purification:

• Physical contaminants are dirt and dust particles caused by soil erosion and sedimentation
• Chemical contaminants include metals, pesticides, and toxins
• Biological contaminants consist of viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and parasites.
• New-age contaminants include heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, arsenic, chromium, and lead, personal care products like cosmetics, shampoos, and hair dyes, and microplastics from the trash in our water bodies

Here are different methods used to purify water:

1. Reverse Osmosis

Reverse Osmosis (RO) is a purification technology that passes water through a semipermeable membrane to filter the excess Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and impurities. They remove chemicals, pesticides, biological contaminants, and heavy metals like lead, mercury, and arsenic. RO purifiers are ideal for treating water with a TDS level of 500 to 2000 mg/l.

2. Ultraviolet

This purification technology employs ultraviolet rays at 253.7 nm to kill viruses and bacteria. It's fast and safe as it delivers water as pure as boiled water. UV purification is ideal for treating water with a TDS level of 1 to 200 mg/l. It can also be combined with RO to get RO+UV filtration.

3. Ultra Filtration

Ultra filtration delivers pure and safe water by eliminating bacterial contamination.1 It can be combined with RO and UV to provide superior purification.

Here are the benefits of having purified water:

1. Free of Impurities:

As mentioned before, purified water is devoid of harmful physical impurities, chemicals, toxins, bacteria, viruses, and pathogens.

2. Improved Taste and Odour:

Purified water often has a superior taste and smell compared to untreated water.

3. Reduced Health Risks:

Purified water lowers the risk of waterborne illnesses and health problems.

4. Versatility:

Suitable for drinking, cooking, and use in appliances without fear of contaminants.

What is Distilled Water?

Distilled water is a form of purified water obtained directly through the distillation process. This method involves boiling water and collecting the resulting steam, which returns to water upon cooling. This results in pure and clean water, free from physical impurities, minerals, bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and toxins. Distilled water is commonly used in laboratories and medical facilities.

Here are the impurities that are removed through distillation:

• Viruses, bacteria, and protozoa
• Chemicals such as sulfate and lead

Here are the benefits of distilled water:

1. High Purity:

Distillation removes pollutants and impurities, making it the purest form of water.

2. Ideal for Laboratory Use:

Recommended in laboratory experiments and medical settings for contaminant-free conditions.

3. Applications in Medicine:

Pure water is required for hygienic conditions in certain medical equipment and procedures.

4. Neutral Taste and Odor:

Distilled water typically lacks the taste and odours found in tap water, making it suitable for various uses.

Purified Water vs. Distilled Water: What Should You Choose

Both purified and distilled water are healthy for you. But, when it comes to choosing between the two, opt for purified water as it retains all the essential minerals like calcium and magnesium that are crucial for the healthy functioning of the human body. In fact, some water purifier manufacturers go the extra mile in retaining minerals in your purified water. For example, Aquaguard water purifiers come with Active Copper Booster Technology that infuses the right amount of copper into your water.

Aquaguard Water Purifiers for Safe and Clean Water

1. Aquaguard Glory RO+UV+MTDS+Alkaline+SS Water Purifier

This Aquaguard water purifier comes with a multi-stage purification process. It has an alkaline filter that increases the pH level of the water, making it alkaline. It also has a 6-stage filtration, making it an ideal choice for Indian households with water from diverse sources. The I-Filter removes suspended particles, the Chemi-Block eliminates unwanted chemicals, chlorine, and organic impurities, the UV E-boiling provides you with water that is as pure and healthy as boiled water, the Ultra Filtration removes harmful viruses and bacteria, and the Active Copper Booster Cartridge infuse the right amount of copper ions into your water. The water purifier also has an Activated Carbon filter which makes the water safer, healthier, and tastier by removing contaminants. Additionally, the water purifier is also equipped with a storage tank made of high-grade 304 stainless steel that’s durable, tough, and corrosive-free.

2. Aquaguard Marvel NXT RO+UV+MTDS+Alkaline+SS Water Purifier

Aquaguard Marvel NXT RO+UV+MTDS+Alkaline+SS water purifier comes with superior Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Ultraviolet (UV) technology. The RO technology removes contaminants like lead and mercury and eliminates disease-causing viruses and bacteria. Meanwhile, the UV E-Boiling technology ensures you get water as pure as water boiled for over 20 minutes. In addition to it, the I-Filter, Chemi-Block, Alkaline Cartridge, and TDS Regulator ensure pure and clean drinking water that is sweet-tasting and odourless.

3. Aquaguard Vector RO+UV+MTDS Water Purifier

This Aquaguard water purifier delivers pure and clean water through its superior RO and UV. The RO eliminates contaminants like lead and mercury and eliminates disease-causing viruses and bacteria. On the other hand, UV E-boiling delivers water as pure and clean as boiled water. The water purifier comes in a pearl white colour and chrome metallic finish that enhances your kitchen aesthetics.

4. Aquaguard Slim Tech UV Bar Inline Water Purifier

The Aquaguard Slim Tech UV Bar Inline water purifier is one of the slimmest Aquaguard yet. Its toughened glass exterior enhances your kitchen aesthetics and fits perfectly between the kitchen sink and cabinet. Additionally, the water purifier has a smart LED indicator that alerts the user in case of any emergency. The 5th Gen UV LED lamp gives you pure and clean water with zero wait time. The water purifier is equipped with Aquaguard’s patented Active Copper Booster Technology that infuses the right amount of copper into your drinking water.

5. Aquaguard Blaze Insta RO+UV+TA+Hot & Ambient Water Purifier

The Aquaguard water purifier offers hot and ambient water with zero wait time. The dual dispense technology in the water purifier dispenses hot and ambient water instantly. The child lock feature in the water purifier prevents accidental scalding while dispensing hot water. The water purifier also has a removable drip tray for hands-free filling into bottles.

Moreover, the 304 stainless steel tank in the water purifier enhances the durability of the machine. Furthermore, the water purifier has a copper tube that connects the hot water steam to the storage tank, ensuring zero risk of leaching.

Lastly, the water purifier has a multi-stage purification process–Sedi-Filter, Chemi Block, Reverse Osmosis Cartridge, UV E-boiling, Active Copper Booster Cartridge, and TDS Regulator to make sure you get purified water.

Conclusion

When in search of a pure and safe water source for daily use, purified water is often the preferred and practical choice. This not only ensures hydration but also contributes to reducing environmental impact by discouraging the use of single-use plastic bottles.

References

1. Gómez-López, V. M., Jubinville, E., Rodríguez-López, M. I., Trudel-Ferland, M., Bouchard, S., & Jean, J. (2021). Inactivation of Foodborne Viruses by UV Light: A Review. Foods, 10(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10123141/ Accessed on 22/02/2024