Distilled Water vs RO Water, What’s the Difference?

What Is Distilled Water? 

Distilled water is made by heating up water and turning it into steam. The steam is then cooled and condensed into pure, pristine drinking water. 

Also, standard distillation is able to remove 99.9% of harmful contaminants.

What Is RO Water?

Reverse osmosis removes contaminants by passing pressurized water through an ultra-fine semipermeable membrane. 

Also, an RO membrane on its own is not capable of removing all pollutants. However, high-quality RO systems with multiple stages of filtration can.

What Does Distillation and Reverse Osmosis Remove?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) monitors the levels of over 90 different contaminants in the public water supply. 

Also, distillation and reverse osmosis systems remove them:

• Algae
• Arsenic
• Bacteria
• Chlorine
• Copper
• Cryptosporidium (Crypto)
• Fluoride
• Herbicides
• Lead
• Mercury
• Nitrates
• Pesticides
• Pharmaceuticals
• Radium
• Rust
• Salt
• Sediment
• Sulfates
• Uranium
• Viruses
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

In addition, distillation and reverse osmosis systems can also remove “hard” minerals, like:

• Bicarbonate
• Calcium
• Chloride
• Magnesium
• Phosphate
• Potassium

Some RO systems even add healthy minerals back into your water during the final stage of filtration. Inexpensive RO systems, however, often lack the extra stages of filtration that fully sanitize, polish and remineralize your water. 

Is Distilled Water or RO Water Better for Your Health?

The debate around whether distilled water or RO water is healthier comes down to one key factor: mineral content.  

Distilled water does not contain minerals like calcium and magnesium, which are essential to human health. 

However, RO water typically includes a remineralization phase where healthy amounts of important minerals are added back into the water. 

Although humans get most of their minerals from food, drinking water is another key source. 

Many of these essential minerals act as electrolytes---nutrients that carry signals between cells and help the body produce energy.

Drinking mineralized water is especially important for athletes because they lose more electrolytes through sweat. 

Furthermore, mineralized water is also important for people who eat a poor diet because they consume fewer electrolytes through whole foods.  

According to the World Health Organization:

“Individuals who would receive the greatest benefit from the presence of minerals in drinking water are those individuals with marginal intakes from food sources.”

In other words, if you eat an unhealthy diet, mineralized water becomes extremely important for your health.

RO Water Has the Upper Hand

The bottom line is, distillation removes 99.9% of all minerals found in tap water, but it doesn’t put any of them back in, and this means less micronutrients for your body.

One meta-analysis of 65 studies found that drinking water that’s low in magnesium and calcium may increase the risk of bone fractures, premature birth and heart disease. 

Luckily, high-quality RO water is remineralized with the perfect ratio of electrolytes to give you more energy, stronger bones and a resilient immune system. 

Also, some RO systems even alkalize your water through the remineralization process.

Early research shows that alkaline water (pH 8.5-9) may reduce the risk of acid reflux, high blood pressure and diabetes.

When it comes down to it, remineralized RO water is healthier in the long run. 

With that said, drinking distilled water should still be relatively safe for people who eat a well-balanced diet.

Cooking with Distilled Water vs RO Water

Cooking with demineralized distilled water sucks the nutrients right out of your food. 

Research from the University of Wisconsin found that, “Such losses may reach up to 60 percent for magnesium and calcium, 66 percent for copper, 70 percent for manganese, and 86 percent for cobalt.”

However, cooking with mineralized RO water strips fewer nutrients from food, leaving them wholesome and nutritious.

Pros and Cons of Distilled Water vs RO Water

Distilled Water Pros

• Eliminates sediment and discoloration
• Eliminates 99.9% of harmful chemicals and pesticides 
• Removes 99.9% of pathogenic microorganisms
• Removes chlorine and other disinfectants used at local treatment plants
• Ideal for patients with HIV/AIDS and certain cancers who are at risk of becoming sick from impurities in water
• In-home filters prevent “hard” minerals from gunking up, calcifying, and staining appliances
• In-home filters reduce plastic water bottle consumption

Distilled Water Cons

• Removes 99.9% of beneficial minerals and electrolytes
• Can easily pull minerals and trace amounts of plastic from its containers
• Cooking with distilled water reduces the nutritional content of the food

RO Water Pros

• Eliminates sediment and discoloration
• Eliminates 99.9% of harmful chemicals and pesticides 
• Removes 99.9% of pathogenic microorganisms
• Removes chlorine and other disinfectants used at local treatment plants
• Protects your pipes from “hard” water
• Remineralizes with magnesium, calcium and other electrolytes
• Alkalizes and balances pH
• Improves taste
• In-home filters prevent “hard” minerals from gunking up, calcifying and staining appliances
• In-home filters reduce plastic water bottle consumption
• Cooking with remineralized RO water does not reduce the nutritional content of food

RO Water Cons

• More waste water
• May reduce water pressure and slow flow rate

What’s the Best Drinking Water Solution for Your Family?

In the long run, a reverse osmosis system with a remineralizing filter is the best drinking water solution for most families. 

Not only will it remove 99.9% of the bad stuff, but it will also support proper nutrition with healthy electrolytes. 

Cloud Water Filters even sync to an app on your phone so that you can monitor your water quality 24/7. 

Click here to learn more!