Filtered Water vs. Distilled Water: Key Differences

Generally, it’s not a good idea to drink directly from your water taps. Most cities have hard water flowing through the pipe. The same water also often contains impurities and harmful chemicals. Therefore, many have looked into water purification systems. However, while filtered water and distilled water both remove contaminants and impurities from the water, they are not exactly the same. Knowing the key differences between the two will help you live healthier with the proper water purification system.

What Are the Differences Between Filtered Water and Distilled Water?

While both can be called purified water, filtered water, and distilled water differ from each other on quite a few aspects, including:

• Water content

• Purification method

• Purification speed or time consumed

• Equipment cost

• Taste

The table below provides a general summary of the key differences between the two.

Filtered Water vs. Distilled Water: What They Remove

Distilled water is made using a process that removes everything from the water. Filtered water is made using a process that, depending on the technology in the filter you choose, only removes specific chemicals, minerals, impurities, and pollutants from the water.

Filtered Water

When someone uses the term “purified water,” they are most likely referring to filtered water. Most water filtration systems remove lead, chlorine, bacteria, calcium, minerals, salt, and carcinogens from the water supply.

However, filtered water retains microorganisms and dissolved oxygen in the water source.

Distilled Water

Water distillation removes everything from the water supply, leaving it completely empty. While distilled water is 100% free of contaminants, it also loses all healthy, natural minerals and dissolved oxygen. Distillation is also the only way to completely remove microorganisms from your water supply. 

Process and Systems

The process and system used are the main differences between filtered water and distilled water. Filtered water uses a water purification system, which can be a whole-house system or a partial system. Meanwhile, Water distillers are standalone equipment not connected to your plumbing system.

Water Purification Systems

The three most common water purification systems are reverse osmosis systems, water softeners, and water filtration systems.

Reverse osmosis is the most expensive house water purification system and costs $12,000 to $18,000 with installation included. Reverse osmosis also creates the most wastewater, which can be a heavy burden on your utility bill.

Water softeners cost $1,500 on average, though it ranges between $200 and $6,000, mainly depending on your home’s size. Other filtration systems include carbon filters, sediment filters, mechanical filters, and UV filters.

Water Distillers

While most water filtration systems are whole-house systems, water distillers often come in a set capacity. For example, a high-capacity house distiller can process 42 gallons of water a day. Other common capacities include 5 gallons, 8 gallons, and 12 gallons.

On average, it takes 45 minutes or more for a full round of distillation, limiting how much distilled water you can use daily. There may also be times that you have to wait for the water tank to fill back up.

An affordable countertop water distiller with a lower capacity costs $300 to $500, whereas a larger automatic unit starts at around $1,300 with some models costing $7,000 or more. A local water specialist can answer any questions you may have about these systems.

Usage, Health Benefits, and Disadvantages

Filtered water and distilled water are suitable for different purposes. This is mainly because the different water content determines what benefits and concerns each comes with.

Disadvantages and Benefits of Filtered Water

Filtered water is most suitable for daily consumption as cooking water, drinking water, or for showering purposes. Many people also prefer the taste of filtered water over unfiltered tap water. Plus, a water filter allows you to spend less money and waste less plastic as opposed to buying water bottles every week.  

However, water filters do not remove hard water minerals. If you are concerned about hard water stains in your water fixtures and plumbing systems, you should consider installing a whole-house water softener so that filtered water runs through your household.

Disadvantages and Benefits of Distilled Water

Distilled water is great for pickling or canning, plant propagation, or other scenarios that require a highly sanitized water source. However, we do not recommend you drink distilled water regularly.

The distillation process removes healthy nutrients and minerals from the water. As a result, drinking distilled water regularly can cause certain health problems, such as tooth decay due to a lack of fluoride in the water. Distilled water can also alter your body’s pH level and cause excessive acid exposure, known as acidosis.

The only time you should use distilled water as drinking water is if you have a compromised immune system. Even then, you should still make up for the missing nutrients with supplements to keep yourself balanced.

Other Limitations

Overall, water distilling has more restrictions and is far more time-consuming. The process also has a stricter sanitation requirement, resulting in a higher maintenance demand, as contaminated equipment will cause the process to fail. In comparison, a water filtration system is less restrictive and more manageable. 

Also, the distillation rate is approximately 5:1, meaning it takes about 5 gallons of tap water to produce one gallon of distilled water, let alone the high energy volume required to power a water distiller. Therefore, water distillation can put a heavy burden on your utility bills and inevitably comes with high waste.