There are many ways to purify water including reverse osmosis, filtration, UV and electrodialysis but the most common way is by distillation and deionizing the water. Whereas mineral content and impurities are regularly measured by parts per million in every day mineral water for instance, this purified water, formed by using the latest processing techniques is almost devoid of minerals and chemical impurities and it is not uncommon to measure them in parts per billion or trillion, the water is so pure. The ability to manufacture and filter this water in degrees of purity makes it ideal for use in laboratories, engineering and big industry. It is less known for it’s drinking quality.

Distilled water which is still our most common purified variety is produced by boiling the water to deionize it, until it is converted to steam at which point the impurities and minerals which are heavier, are left behind. The steam is then condensed back into water but in a much purer form. However, exposure to air can contaminate the water with bacteria, very quickly making it unsafe to drink. For some science labs where ultra pure water is required, a system of double-distillation is used.

A much cheaper option is deionizatation or demineralization water where the mineral ions are removed. The downside is that a great deal of the bacteria, viruses and other unwanted molecules are not removed significantly by these methods.

While purified waters are found mainly in science laboratories, vehicle lead-acid batteries also use it in the form of distilled and deionized water which is also recommended in the cooling systems of these vehicles, as the corrosive minerals normally associated with tap water are missing. Steam irons and other household appliance which rely on water work better with distilled or demineralized water as they are less likely to create scale. Humidifiers and aquariums are other users of purified water as are some car washes and window cleaners to stop mineral spotting on the cleaned surface.

This is all well and good but what about Purified Water to drink?

A bottle of purified water cannot be considered a healthy drink option because the minerals which our bodies rely upon have been removed. These minerals (present in ionized water) such as calcium, magnesium and fluoride contribute to our nutritious intake and create a deficiency when not present. Our bodies compensate relying on our mineral intake to create a natural balance. Too many minerals in our water and we run the risk of kidney stones, gall stones and even urinary stones.

Home purification devices are becoming more common place today in the form of distillers and reverse osmosis systems and continue to become a popular alternative to the more traditional filtration methods such as carbon water filters etc. Our municipal water contains many impurities and contaminants which the standard filters struggle with, unlike these purification methods which remove most during the process.

Although we can drink purified water, it is actively discouraged so that our bodies maintain a healthy balance. With a total lack of mineral ions in this water, unless we are absorbing the necessary minerals through our food, we are risk of a serious mineral deficiency and an additional source would be required.

It’s a fine line to tread, too many minerals and we risk illness, too few minerals and we risk the same. It’s always good to know what you’re drinking from the tap or in the bottled water you buy and what’s in it, in fact some would say it’s imperative. There are many test kits on the market and websites which will give you the composition of certain waters.

Simply put, the Reverse Osmosis (RO) solution is an extremely successful way of demineralizing water by moving it through a fine ‘RO membrane’ under pressure, leaving the impurities and contaminants on one side and the ‘purified’ water on the other. The pressure exerted during the process depends upon the type of water being treated, be it fresh or salt water, the concentration of contaminants and impurities etc. In fact, the process originated in the conversion of salt water into fresh water but has many other uses in industry, medicine and around the house.

There are many filtration systems used across the globe to purify or improve our drinking water and the RO system is just one.

RO systems typically comprise a number of important steps to ensure success. The water to be treated first needs to be filtered to clean it of larger particles such as rust from pipes and calcium. It can then be filtered again through active carbon to reduce the level of smaller particles such as chemicals or chlorine. This can be important depending on where the RO unit is operating as some of these chemicals can over time ruin the RO membranes. The water is then passed through the RO membrane with the option of then additional carbon filters and even UV light to make sure that all chemicals and microbes are removed. This invariably depends on the end use of the water, how pure the requirement and what the final chemistry of the water needs to be. The RO filters used are typically able to remove contaminant particles that are larger than 0.1nm in size and these filter fall into the finest filtration category of ‘Hyper-filtration’.

In countries where there is a poor or polluted water supply or where people are living out in the middle of nowhere, portable reverse osmosis systems can be used. Water from rivers, lakes and even the sea (desalination) can be treated using these units.

The US military use a reverse osmosis system extensively during training exercises and on the battlefield. Their ROWPUs or ‘reverse osmosis water purification units’, can produce huge amounts of purified water for the troops and a single unit can in fact provide enough for up to 6,000 men and women.

The Ro systems are extensively used worldwide in a diverse number of situations, from purifying rainwater for crop irrigation and industrial use where water shortages are common to purifying water used in power stations where purity is essential and in medicine where similar systems are used in the treatment of patients with kidney problems who need deionized water for dialysis machines. Our food and dairy industries also use huge amounts of purified water treated by reverse osmosis systems in the production of fruit juice, whey powders, milk concentrates and other heat sensitive products. RO is a more cost effective way of purifying water to be used in food production, rather than processes involving heat treatment. Even the wine growers of France who have historically frowned upon the use of RO water are utilizing the systems.

The disadvantages of RO in a household environment are in the main that the process is very wasteful, when the systems just cannot generate enough pressure and as a result, they are only about 10% efficient as opposed to industrial grade systems which approach 50% efficiency. Apart from this the demineralization process leaves the water too acidic which in turn can leach essential minerals from our bodies when we drink it, creating problems for bone,s organs and teeth. It is therefore essential for our health that some form of mineral intake is used to supplement purified water generated by RO systems.

By boiling water we create steam which when condensed, forms purified or distilled water where the contaminants and impurities are all but completely removed. Calcium, iron and other dissolved minerals and bacteria which are heavier than the water molecules are removed during the process which creates near pure H2O – molecules of hydrogen x 2 and oxygen x 1. This contaminant-free (deionized as opposed to ionized) water contains no dissolved impurities, gas or organic mineral or otherwise and should have a pH of 7. One down side of water produced by distillers is that it is devoid of taste and bland as all of the flavor giving minerals are absent. Still, this can obviously be altered by adding flavorings in the form of cordials or other fruit juices etc.

While distilled water is certainly safe for us to drink, it is more commonly used in science laboratories or in industry where the purest water is required for untainted results. Opinion is divided on whether it is healthier for us to drink distilled water or the more usual bottled mineral, spring or tap water. The main argument revolves around minerals. If water contains no minerals then the belief is that the water itself leaches these valuable elements and ions from our bodies. On the other hand the lack of minerals could be seen to flush excess impurities and minerals from our system.

Sodium fluoride is another major arguing point as distilled water is devoid of this element. Some believe that this can cause dental problems, others say that our bodies need no additional fluoride. The arguments rage.

If carbon dioxide is absorbed by distilled water when it is exposed to the atmosphere as some research suggests, then the water could invariably become more acidic with a lower pH level which in turn would be harmful and unhealthy for our bodies. What those who champion distilled water say is that we gain more minerals, nutrients and other valuable elements from our food, and therefore the effects of drinking a water without them should have no detrimental effect.

Just like spring, mineral and other purified waters, distilled water can normally be bought by the bottle at our local supermarkets and its consumption is quite widespread. Due to the purity of distilled water with a lack of contaminant elements and other chemical impurities, a lot of our major manufacturers use it as a base for their soft drinks and beverages.

Can we create our own Distilled Water?

Sure. The distiller equipment to produce distilled water is common and widely used by many households and is on the increase. Common water filtration products tend not to be able to filter anywhere near all of the thousands of chemicals, impurities and contaminants from our municipal water supply which is where distillation scores by eradicating the vast majority.

The process can also be used on sea and salt water in areas where there is insufficient fresh water to survive such as in arid coastal areas and on-board ships. Nuclear powered vessels also require huge amounts of coolant for their processes and distilling salt water is the ideal solution.

The process of producing distilled water can have prohibitive costs attached and another solution which is more cost effective may be reverse osmosis which we talk about elsewhere in the site.

So should we drink Distilled Water?

So long as we are sensible about it and do not forget about the value that mineral intake has on the health and well being of our bodies then yes, why not. Everything in moderation. Certain health needs will require an amount of distilled water as certain others will require an abundance of added minerals. Doctors and physicians are the best judge ultimately. It should not be forgotten that research has shown that by consuming mineral laden water, we are creating favorable cardiovascular effects which is obviously beneficial to our well-being.

Lots of people use distilled water as part of an internal cleansing, in just the same way that others abstain from drinking alcohol for a month or eating no carbohydrates etc etc.

Everything in moderation.

Hard water, whilst not a health risk can create a large number of problems for us because the inherent large numbers of dissolved minerals which make the water ‘hard’ in the first place build up in our pipes, taps and appliances. The high mineral content in hard water also stops our soaps and detergents doing their job. The main two components of hard water are calcium carbonate and magnesium. The higher the content of these two minerals, the ‘harder’ the chemistry of the water.

The harder the water, the more prominent the problems associated with it. Even after washing, our clothes, skin and hair can feel and look lifeless and rough. Our dishes, especially if you use a dishwasher, can be covered in hard to clean off stain spots or cloudy film on glasses. Our hot water systems are more at risk as the heat will intensify the situation. Pipes and appliances blocked with scale causing ineffective flow or complete failure are commonplace. If left untreated, the cost from an increase in charges from our energy suppliers can be as much as 25% – more overall if our systems fail and we have to renew appliances, pipework and even boilers.

So are there any benefits of Hard Water?

Sure. We all need calcium and magnesium in our diets and hard water can provide part of that, especially in areas where the mineral content is extremely high. If we could remove some of the minerals and change the properties of the calcium ions to stop the formation of limescale, this hard water would actually be pretty good for us and our appliances etc.

Is there anything we can do to lessen the effects of Hard Water?

We don’t have to do much to lessen the effects of hard water…

- There are detergents specially formulated to work with hard water, washing powders and other soap products that are specially formulated to deal with different degrees of hardness.

- Reducing the temperature of our boilers to around 50 degrees will ensure that deposits are reduced but also give us plenty of hot water for showers and baths.

- Most dishwashers today have the facility to include rinse aids which will help combat the effects

- Using one of many water conditioners, water softeners or even electromagnetic systems attached to your pipes can help further.

How do you know how hard your water is? Ask your supplier. Municipal water suppliers will have this information for you. If your water is from a private supply then there are numerous testing kits on the market to do self testing.

There are a variety of ways to treat hard water including carbon filters, softeners, reverse osmosis and electromagnetic conditioners. Some work better than others and obviously cost will also be a major issue. Unfortunately a good deal of sodium is added during the ’softening’ process which is not great for our health and so filters and the electromagnetic conditioners are considered the best answer as reverse osmosis is quite an expensive option.

For more information…. AllAboutWater.org