How is distilled water different from filtered water?
The goal of both 'filtering' and 'distilling water' is to produce water with fewer impurities. The main difference between distilled water and filtered water is that there is an active process involved in producing distilled water, whereas with filtered water, as it name suggests, water simply goes through a non mechanical filtering process only.
Water is an essential resource for industrial and commercial applications, and its quality is of utmost importance. Water can contain various impurities, including minerals, metals, bacteria, viruses, and chemicals. These impurities can have harmful effects on human health, household appliances, and industrial equipment. Hence, the need for water treatment methods such as filtration and distillation. In this article, we will explore the differences between distilled water and filtered water.
What is Filtered Water?
Filtered water is water that has undergone a physical or chemical process to remove impurities. The process can include mechanical filtration, such as passing water through a mesh or a membrane, or chemical filtration, such as adding activated carbon or other chemical compounds that attract and trap impurities.
Filtered water is commonly used for various purposes, including household drinking, cooking, and bathing. Many homes have built-in water filtration systems that can remove impurities such as chlorine and sediment. Additionally, filtered water can be purchased in bottles, often marketed as purified water.
Filtered water is an effective method of removing impurities, but it does not remove all contaminants. Some contaminants, such as heavy metals, pesticides, bacteria and viruses, can pass through filtration systems, especially if they are not properly maintained. Furthermore, filtration systems will become clogged over time, reducing their effectiveness.
What is Distilled Water?
Distilled water is water that has undergone a process of evaporation and condensation to remove impurities. The process involves boiling water to produce steam, which is then captured and cooled, causing it to condense back into the pure liquid form. During this process, nearly all impurities are left behind in the boiling vessel, and only pure water is captured.
Distilled water is commonly used for various purposes, including laboratory experiments, medical procedures, and industrial processes. It is also used in household appliances such as irons and humidifiers to prevent mineral buildup that can damage the appliances.
Differences between Filtered Water and Distilled Water
The main difference between filtered water and distilled water is the process used to remove impurities. Filtration removes impurities by physically or chemically trapping them in a filter, while distillation removes impurities by boiling and condensing water.
Another difference between the two methods is the level of purity achieved. Filtered water can remove many impurities, including chlorine, and sediment, but it cannot remove all impurities such as heavy metals bacteria and viruses. Distilled water, on the other hand, produces water that is almost pure, with virtually no impurities.
Furthermore, the two methods have different applications. Filtered water is commonly used for household drinking, cooking, and bathing, while distilled water is commonly used for laboratory experiments, medical procedures, and industrial processes.
Which is Better: Filtered Water or Distilled Water?
The choice between filtered water and distilled water depends on the intended use. For household purposes such as drinking, cooking, and bathing, filtered water is generally sufficient. It is effective in removing some impurities, retains minerals, and is readily available.
However, for applications that require almost pure water, such as laboratory experiments and medical procedures, distilled water is the preferred choice. It is the most effective method of producing water with a very low conductivity, making it suitable for applications that require high purity.
Additionally, distilled water is useful in household appliances such as irons and humidifiers and CPAP machies.