Demineralized Water vs Distilled Water – Challenges in Water Treatment
Demineralized water is made by passing water through a filter that removes minerals. This process doesn’t remove all water impurities, but most of them. On the other hand, Distilled water is made by boiling water and then condensing the steam.
This process removes is effective in removing all the impurities from the water, including minerals to a major extent.
The main difference between distilled and demineralized water is that demineralized water has had its mineral content removed leaving behind impurities while distilled water removes the impurities from water but still contains some dissolved minerals.
Demineralized Water vs Distilled Water – Which Type of Water is Better?

There are pros and cons to both types of water. Demineralized water is less likely to cause mineral buildup in appliances, but it may not taste as good as distilled water.
Distilled water is more expensive to make, but it is completely free of impurities. Distilled water is often used in medical settings because it is sterile and free of contaminants.
While demineralized water is often used in industrial settings because it does not corrode metal pipes and equipment.
Ultimately, the best type of purified water depends on your personal preferences and needs.
If you want to know more details about both types of water, we have provided in-depth information on what demineralized or distilled water is, how they’re obtained, what are their health benefits and drawbacks, and also answered the frequently asked questions by the people about them.
Do note that if you have a specific health condition, then you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional to determine which type of water is better for you.
Keep reading to learn more!
What is Demineralized Water?
Demineralized water, also known as deionized water, is water that has had its mineral ions and salts removed.
These ions can be found in natural water sources, but they can also come from things like pollutants and chemicals.
The process used to remove these ions is called ion exchange.
✔️ What are the Benefits of Demineralized Water?
There are many benefits of drinking demineralized or mineral-free water, which make it fit to use for a long time. Some of them are listed below.
- It can help to improve the taste of your drinking water by removing any unwanted minerals in the water.
- It can also help to extend the life of your appliances by preventing mineral buildup in their inner workings.
- Drinking demineralized water can also help to improve your overall health by providing you with pure, clean drinking water free of any harmful contaminants.
- It has a longer shelf life than other water types because it doesn’t contain any minerals dissolved in water that can promote bacterial growth.
- This type of water is really helpful when water with lower salt levels or poor conductivity is required.
- It is also used for many applications, like the production of lithium-ion batteries, washing different computers, and other product chips, and higher purity water for fish aquariums.
- Cosmetics products have a lot of portions of demineralized water.
How to Do Water Demineralization At Home?
There are a few different ways that you can go about demineralizing water at home, and the method that you choose will likely depend on how much water you need to treat and what kind of budget you are working with.
Ion Exchange
One way to demineralize water is through ion exchange. In this process, the ions in the water are exchanged for other ions.
The water passes through a bed of ion exchange resin- cations and anions that have a charge on them.
The positively charged beads will attract the negative ions in the water (such as chloride and sulfate) and exchange them for hydrogen and hydroxide ions.
It is an effective way to remove minerals from water. However, it is important to note that this purification process does not remove all of the minerals from the water.
Some of the minerals may remain in the solution and will need to be removed by other means such as reverse osmosis or distillation.
Reverse Osmosis
Another way is through the process of reverse osmosis.
This works on the principle of passing the water through a semipermeable membrane that doesn’t allow harmful substances, impurities, salts, and dissolved solids to pass through it.
This method is typically very effective at removing minerals from water and providing you with quality water, however, RO systems are a bit expensive to purchase and install.
If you use it in conjunction with a softening system, you can get soft water and also filter out sodium ions from it.
Distillation Process
The last way to demineralize water is through distillation. This process involves boiling the water and then condensing the steam back into liquid form.
The organic and inorganic impurities and harmful chemicals in the water like coliform bacteria, protozoa, and viruses will be left behind in the boiling process, leaving you with pure, distilled water.
It is the easiest process to distill water at your home and it’s also very effective to purify water.
Water Filter Pitcher or Faucet Mounter Filter
If you are looking for an affordable and easy way to demineralize water at home, you can try using a filter pitcher or faucet-mounted filter.
These water purification systems remove many of the dissolved minerals from water, making it taste better and improving its quality.
❌ What are the Disadvantages of Demineralized Water?
While there are many benefits to drinking demineralized water, there are also some potential disadvantages that you should be aware of as well.
Leach Minerals From Your Body
One of the main disadvantages of demineralized water is that it can leach minerals from your body if consumed in large quantities.
When you drink demineralized water, your body doesn’t get the minerals it needs from the water, so it has to take them from other sources, such as your bones and teeth.
This can lead to mineral deficiencies and health problems over time.
Moreover, demineralization makes it difficult for the body to absorb vitamins and other nutrients because they need minerals for proper absorption.
It can be Corrosive
Another disadvantage of demineralized water is that it can be corrosive. This means that it can damage pipes and fixtures in your home.
If you have ever seen a pipe that is rusty or has mineral deposits on it, this is likely because it was exposed to demineralized water.
Doesn’t Taste Good as Other Water Types
Finally, demineralized water just doesn’t taste as good as other types of water. This is because the minerals in water give it a subtle flavor that many people enjoy.
When those minerals are removed, the water can taste flat and unappealing.
Is it Okay to Drink Demineralized Water?
Yes, it’s perfectly safe to drink demineralized water as long as you don’t drink too much of it over time.
While it is possible for demineralized water to leach minerals from your body, this is only a concern if you drink large quantities of it on a daily basis.
What is Distilled Water?
Distilled Water is water that has been boiled and then condensed back into liquid form.
The impurities in the water are left behind during the boiling or distillation process, leaving you with pure H2O or distilled water.
Also Check: What is Natural Spring Water?
This is because these impurities have a higher boiling point than the water, so once the water reaches its boiling point, it starts evaporating and collecting in the other container.
Is Distilled Water Good For You?
There are a few reasons why you might want to choose distilled water over other types of water. Here are some of the benefits:
Free of Impurities
One of the main advantages of distilled water is that it’s completely free of impurities, chemicals, and bacteria.
If you’re concerned about what’s in your tap water, switching to distilled water is a great way to ensure that you’re getting pure H2O.
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Longer Shelf Life
Since the level of water purity is really high, it has a much longer shelf life than other types of water. This means that you can stock up on distilled water without having to worry about it going bad.
Affordable
Although distilled water isn’t as cheap as tap water, it’s still more affordable than most bottled water on the market.
And since it has a longer shelf life, you won’t have to buy it as often as you would other types of water.
How do you distill water?
The most common method is to use a distillation unit, which can be purchased online or at some home improvement stores.
But if you want to distill water at home without spending much, all you need is a pot, some ice, and a clean container to collect the final product in.
Simply boil the water and then place the pot of boiling water on top of a bowl of ice. The steam will condense on the ice and then drip down into the clean container below giving you pure water for use.
Is it okay to drink and use Distilled water?
Yes, it is perfectly safe to drink and use distilled water. In fact, it is often the preferred choice of water for many people because of its purity and affordable process for getting it.
Some people find that it has a “flat taste” because it lacks the minerals like sodium ions, calcium, and magnesium that give water its flavor.
If you have any medical equipment that needs to be sterilized with distilled water, you need to be very careful when using it since it can corrode metals if not used properly.
FAQs
Where to Get Demineralized and Distilled Water?
There are a few different places where you can get both distilled and demineralized water depending on where you live.
- One option is to get it online from any retailer that delivers it in both small and large quantities.
- Another option is to get it from your local grocery store or home improvement store in either gallon jugs or smaller bottles. This depends on the daily consumption of water for your whole house applications.
You must get the water from the approved brands by your country’s water quality control agencies.
Is Demineralized Water the same as Distilled Water?
The quick answer is no. While both types of water have had their impurities removed, demineralized water has also had its minerals removed as well.
Moreover, distilled water is not technically considered “demineralized water”.
Even though it is almost the same as demineralized water, it also removes some bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and other harmful chemicals besides some minerals from water which isn’t the case with demineralised water.
Demineralized Water vs Deionized Water – Are Both The Same?
The main difference between demineralized water and deionized water is that demineralized water has had its minerals removed through a process of ion exchange, while deionized water has had its ions removed through the process of reverse osmosis.
The deionization process nearly removes all the minerals from the water, so it is often referred to as demineralized, DI, or Demin water.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a few different options when it comes to choosing what type of drinking water you want.
Tap water, bottled water, filtered water, demineralized water, and distilled water are all great options that offer different benefits.
You’ve also learned the differences between distilled and demineralised water, how they’re helpful in removing minerals and salts, viruses, or bacteria, and provide you with highly purified water for drinking.
It’s important to learn the health benefits, drawbacks, and processes to obtain the type of drinking water that is right for you and your family.