Let’s start by understanding what distilled water is. It is obtained by distillation and contains no impurities or contaminants. Since it is contaminant-free, is it safe to drink it for an extended period? How does the body react to continuous consumption of distilled water? Read on to learn more about distilled water, if it is suitable for drinking, and better alternatives to distilled water.
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Distilled Water Explained
Distillation is a thermodynamic process that relies on the unit operation process of mixing liquid solids or liquids with different boiling components such that components with low boiling points evaporate and then condense, thus separating the entire mixture. It combines evaporation and condensation, two different unit operations, into one.
Unlike other separation methods like crystallization, filtration, extraction, and others, distillation uses only the system components and no additional solvents. That means no foreign impurities or elements are added during the process.
Distilled water is the water gotten from the distillation process. It is pure and suitable for drinking. That is why the process is often employed to purify impure water. Water distillation occurs by boiling the water, collecting the formed steam, and cooling it into liquid water.
Safety of Distilled Water
Distilled water is suitable for drinking but only in small amounts. Drinking distilled water for an extended period is unhealthy because distillation doesn’t remove some volatile substances in water. Therefore, its continuous consumption can lead to the loss of electrolytes and essential minerals in the body, resulting in blood pressure and heart issues. Distilled water for cooking is also not advisable because it reduces the food’s nutritional value.
Effects of Continuous Consumption of Distilled Water
Drinking distilled water continuously can lead to a trace element deficiency in the body, leading to various levels of physiological abnormalities or diseases, including memory loss, developmental delay, malnutrition, and others. In addition, the hypotonic nature of distilled water means drinking it for long periods can adversely affect plasma osmolality and water-electrolyte imbalances. Cells expand due to a hypotonic environment, leading to life-threatening situations like water intoxication, puffiness, and even coma. This clearly answers the question of whether you should drink distilled water.
In addition, distilled water is advantageous because the distillation process does not remove substances with boiling points lower than that of water. These include algae, chlorides, synthetic compounds, organic matter, and other harmful substances. Therefore, its acidity is higher than that of pure water. According to the laws of American and European countries, distilled water cannot be sold to the public for consumption. This is another indication of the suitability of distilled water for drinking.
What Type of Water Should You Drink Every Day?
We have established that distilled water is not ideal for everyday consumption. So, what type of water is suitable for drinking daily?
Tap water is not the answer. Even after boiling, tap water still contains some dirt, including bacterial carcasses, volatile substances, heavy metals, and more. Chlorine disinfection doesn’t resolve this issue either because the chlorine remains in the chlorinated water. With chlorination not working and boiling, leaving sediment, rust, and heavy metals behind, there is a need for an effective method of purifying water. This is where the reverse osmosis system comes in.
Reverse Osmosis (RO) is a technique that reduces most impurities in the source water by pressurizing the water molecules through a semi-permeable membrane. It is a more efficient and reliable method that has been severally proven to provide contaminant-free water suitable for drinking. It is also more economical than adopting bottled water as the source of drinking water.
The reverse osmosis water filtration system can efficiently reduce up to 99% of contaminants in water. These include chromium, radium, barium, cadmium, arsenic, lead, fluorine, and chlorine. It is also effective against salts like nitrates and sulfates, total dissolved solids (TDS), pesticides, herbicides, parasites, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This system also removes sediments, dirt, rust, and heavy metals.
The Waterdrop K19-H combines UV light, reverse osmosis, activated carbon, and PP cotton to reduce most impurities in drinking water effectively. This countertop water filter system is one of the best water purifiers in the market, delivering quality and reliable filtration.
Water filtered by a RO system remains the safest source of drinking water. It is safer than distilled water and more economical than bottled water. If you are in the market for a reverse osmosis system that ticks all the essential boxes, the Waterdrop K19-H will deliver the best water for your everyday consumption.
