If you are wondering how pure is distilled water, the answer depends on your definition of purity. A 100% pure water solution would be free of anything than is not H20, whether those things are good or bad for your health. For drinking purposes, thats not the right kind of purity.
Any water that occurs naturally on our planet will contain dissolved minerals to some degree. These minerals contribute to hydration and good health. Once these minerals are in the body they are called electrolytes, with the two most important being potassium and sodium.
If you are wondering how pure is distilled water for drinking, it is the wrong kind of purity. Distillation removes dissolved minerals and anything with a higher boiling point than water. Chemicals, such as chlorine and its byproducts, would not be removed by distillation alone. Other steps would need to be taken.
When a pure water solution for drinking is required, you would want one that is free of all chemical contaminants, while retaining the trace minerals. This is pretty much the exact opposite of what results from distillation. A pure water solution without trace minerals is useful in certain industrial settings and other applications. It is the best option for coolants and is recommended for use in humidifiers and steam irons.
One factor that greatly affects the purity of distilled water is the cleanliness of the reservoir. If the reservoir is not sterilized prior to the process, there is a good chance that bacteria will be present. If the apparatus itself is not cleaned thoroughly and frequently, scales will form which has a negative affect on the water’s purity.
When an application requires a de-mineralized pure water solution, the process of deionization is used. The process will remove all mineral ions, but does not remove viruses or bacteria. Deionization can remove bromide and chlorine to a degree.
Other choices for reducing mineral content include reverse osmosis and chemical softeners. Again, these purification measures are not the best for in-home purifiers. Multi-stage purifiers are the best choice for that purpose. Those devices include granular carbon and other media to trap chemicals, as well as ion exchange to trap metals like lead. They also include a sub-micron sized channel that filters out cysts; parasites resistant to chemical disinfectants.
When it comes to drinking water, you may wonder how pure is distilled water that is sold in plastic bottles. Over time, the plastic will deteriorate and begin to leach contaminants into the liquids that are stored in them. This affects both the taste and the purity of the water. These chemicals are suspected of playing a role in some health problems as well.
Some companies claim to provide consumers with an ultra pure water solution for drinking. It is impossible to know if the water is free of cysts, E-coli, chemicals and other contaminants unless you know what method of purification they use. Independent studies have discovered all kinds of contaminants in different bottled beverages.
Remember the answer to how pure is distilled water, it does have some uses, but drinking is not among them. When considering your health and safety, as well as good taste, the best bet would be to install a quality purifier on your kitchen tap.
Derek Reeve is a dedicated advocate and passionate researcher of the best and safest drinking water purification systems.
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