A lot has been said about distilled water. But not everything is true, and some of the claims have even been made up by the water companies who sell it, but we believe it’s important that you know the facts when it comes to purified water. In order to help you tell know what’s what, we’re debunking some popular myths about distilled water that may or may not influence the way you see and use it.
Myth #1: You Should Drink Distilled Water
Now, if you’ve ever typed the question “can I drink distilled water?” into Google, you will have most certainly seen the tidal wave of blog posts, opinion pieces and websites dedicated to the topic. There are people around the World who drink distilled water and will hold steadfast to their belief that it’s the best water you can drink.
However, research has found the drinking of distilled water on a daily basis can be potentially dangerous. The ideal water for the human body ought to contain calcium and magnesium, among other minerals, which are absent from distilled water as a result of the distillation process through which it is made.
Myth #2: It Is Too Expensive to Own Your Own Home Distiller
When it comes to distilling your own water with a home water distiller, the reality is that this is an incredibly economical option, particularly if you have a job or hobby that requires the use of distilled water on a regular basis (we’ll get into that later). Home distillers generally use a relatively low amount of energy per gallon of water that they make and include the filters and vents you require to remove the contaminants that may be missed in the process of distillation. We recommend you buy a home water distiller from a reputable company, as there can be a number of deceitful and cheap imitations on the market that will provide a lower quality of distilled water than you may require.
Myth #3: You Can’t Use Distilled Water for Your Aquarium
Distilled water can actually have a number of specific uses in the aquarium, including such tasks as:
- Topping up the water levels that have been lost as a result of evaporation. Using distilled water to do so ensures a constant hardness level in the aquarium, since only the pure water evaporates leaving the salts and other minerals behind.
- Providing a more pure source of water for your fish.
It’s important to remember that distilled water should never be used by itself in an aquarium, but mixed with a certain percentage of tap water or even some commercially available salt mixes that will provide the fish with the essential minerals they need to survive.
Myth #4: Distilled Water is Not Suitable for Use in Hospitals
Believe it or not, distilled water plays an important role in a variety of functions in and around hospitals. Because of its pure qualities, it is regularly used to clean and sanitise surgical tools, while also playing its part in scientific research and practices. Another important use of distilled water is with the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. The distillation process removes contaminants and pollutants from the water, which protects both the patient and the equipment.
There are a wide variety of uses for distilled water, all of which are often surrounded by myths and opposing opinions. As the leading supplier of distilled water in the UK, we’ve built a reputation for ourselves which enables us to provide our customers with a little more clarity on distilled water and what it can and should be used for. Always feel free to contact us with any queries you may have with regards to distilled water; we’ll be happy to help.
