If you are searching for water purification options, many people probably suggest reverse osmosis. And if you have concerns about contaminants, some may recommend using distilled water. But have you ever thought about the difference between reverse osmosis water purification and distilled water?
Both are commonly used water purification methods, but there are substantial differences between them that may have an influence on your choice of home water treatment system. Here is an overview of both to help you make an informed decision when it comes to choosing a water purification system.
The Basics of Reverse Osmosis and Distilled Water
Reverse Osmosis
Reverse Osmosis is a water filtration system that has several fine membranes through which water passes. This system may have four or more membranes that remove contaminants and other impurities from your water to the microscopic level. Additionally, it has a mineral filter that adds vital minerals into the drinking water, making it healthy for your consumption. Plus, it also improves the taste of water, making it refreshing and crisp.
Distilled Water or Distillation
Distilled water is generated through a process called distillation. It involves boiling water to the point that it transforms into steam. After boiling, the contaminants and impurities settle at the base of the distillation system while the steam collects in a condenser and cools down. When the temperature of the condenser drops, the condensed water transforms into liquid. Finally, these water droplets pass through carbon filtration, which removes any contaminants or chemicals that might have left in the boiled water. This process gives you highly purified water with a minute amount of dissolved solids.
You can get purified drinking water from both reverse osmosis and distillation, but for residential purposes, only reverse osmosis is a practical choice.
Is the Water We Receive Through Reverse Osmosis Also Distilled?
Now you must be wondering that both processes purify water by removing contaminants and impurities, giving you safe water for drinking or other uses. So is reverse osmosis water also distilled or vice-versa?
The answer is ‘No.’ Although both methods provide safe and clean water by removing solid particles and minerals from the water, distillation doesn’t eliminate volatile chemicals such as chloramines as effectively as reverse osmosis does. Distilled water is only a short-term water purification solution, while reverse osmosis offers a long-term and very effective solution to get purified water.
Which One is a Better Choice?
While both distillation and reverse osmosis eliminate everything present in water, such as invisible impurities and solid minerals, including healthy components, the reverse osmosis water purification system moves a step forward. Its special mineral filters can add healthy mineral content back into the water, unlike distillation. However, if you are taking distilled water, you should take a mineral-rich diet to compensate for the deficiency of healthy nutrients. With reverse osmosis, you don’t have to worry about taking extra minerals. You’ll get the benefits of purified water along with healthy and good-tasting water, making it a better choice for consumption.
In a nutshell, distilled and reverse osmosis both provide purified forms of water, but they’re not the same. Reverse osmosis performs water filtration by passing it through multiple stages of filtration stripping off all the minerals. In the final filtration stage, it adds healthy minerals back into the water. Distillation, on the other hand, also purifies water but doesn’t add healthy minerals to the water. This means you get plain tasteless water without healthy nutrients. However, the choice depends solely on your preferences.
