Bottled water comes in several forms. These include purified water and distiller water. But are they the same thing?
Because of worries about the quality of tap water, the market for bottled water is expanding, making it one of the most popular commercial beverages. According to World Atlas, China and the United States are the largest consumer of bottled water.
Bottled water is basically water packaged in glass or plastic container. It is a convenient and portable option for people on the go or who prefer the taste of bottled water to tap water.
There is a wide variety of water types available within the category of bottled water. Today, you can come across products such as purified, distilled, artesian, Seltzer, sparkling, spring, and mineral water.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DISTILLED AND PURIFIED WATER
Distilled water and purified water are what most consumers are accustomed to consume. And they are not the same thing. However, both forms undergo a process that removes impurities in water.
The process
Distilled water is made by distillation, a process that involves boiling water and then condensing the steam back into liquid form. This turns the impurities such as bacteria, and other contaminants as residues, which are consequently removed. This process also removes the minerals that are beneficial to the human health.
You might also like: What Exactly Is Hardness of Water?
Purified water, on the other hand, can be created by a variety of methods. Reverse osmosis, deionization, and carbon filtering are a few examples. Water is driven through a semipermeable membrane that only enables water molecules to pass through in reverse osmosis. Large molecules of contaminants are screened and eliminated. Ion exchange resins are used in deionization to remove minerals and salts (ions) from water. Activated carbon, a porous substance, collects and holds pollutants and contaminants in carbon filtering. In contrast to distillation, which creates distilled water, these procedures reduce contaminants from water, but may not remove all minerals or contaminants.
Having said that, distilled water is a type of purified water, but not all purified water is distilled. Basically, purified water is water generated using distillation, reverse osmosis, deionization, or other relevant procedures and meeting the criteria of “purified water”. The level of purity in purified water varies depending on the specific process used to remove contaminants and impurities.
Applications
Another difference between the two is their uses. The intended purpose will ultimately determine whether to choose distilled water or purified water. Purified water is the best option for drinking and cooking. However, distilled water can be a better choice if the water to use if for industrial or scientific applications that demand the highest level of purity.
The purity of distilled water makes it perfect for doing experiments that call for precise and consistent water quality. It is often used industrial settings and for scientific experiments that require pure water. Using distilled water can help ensure the accuracy and dependability of experimental results since in some circumstances, even trace levels of contaminants can cause chemical reactions to fail or produce inaccurate results. It is also used for making chemical solutions, and cleaning lab equipment.
In some cases, distilled water is not recommended for regular consumption. Since it is free form dissolved minerals that our body needs, drinking merely distilled water for an extended period of time might be unhealthy. This is where purified water might be a better option since purified water has undergone a process that does not get rid of all the healthy minerals.
You might also like: The Untold Truth About Cloudy Ice
However, in practice, it is not a real issue though. This is because the minerals that are removed during the production of distilled water are easily obtained fruits, vegetables, and other foods.
WHICH IS BETTER?
Both distilled and filtered water might be safer options for drinking water than tap water. However, for various reasons, some people prefer one over the other. Distilled water is fully free from minerals and pollutants, making it a popular choice for people who have particular medical concerns or want to avoid harmful contaminants. Purified water, on the other hand, may still include minerals that are good for your health.
Thus, the decision between consuming distilled or filtered water comes down to personal preference and individual health needs.
