Are There Any Benefits to Purified Water?

January 9, 2026 •

4 min read

According to the World Health Organization, over 2.1 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water. This highlights a global need for cleaner water sources and raises a critical question: Are there any benefits to purified water for those with access to municipal supplies?

Quick Summary

Purified water removes contaminants and impurities like bacteria, chemicals, and heavy metals. This can improve taste and lower health risks associated with tap water, though the process may also remove beneficial minerals.

Key Points

Superior Purity: Purified water undergoes rigorous processes like reverse osmosis to remove a wider range of contaminants than tap water, ensuring a safer drinking source.
Improved Taste: By removing chemicals like chlorine, purification eliminates unpleasant tastes and odors, which can encourage higher daily water intake.
Reduced Health Risks: Drinking purified water lowers your exposure to harmful substances such as heavy metals and bacteria that may be present in tap water.
Potential Mineral Loss: Some purification methods, like distillation, strip water of beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium, which might require dietary supplementation.
Consider the Trade-offs: Choosing purified water involves weighing the benefits of enhanced safety and taste against the potential loss of minerals and the added cost.
Ideal for Vulnerable Individuals: For people with compromised immune systems, pregnant women, or small children, purified water offers an extra layer of protection from waterborne illnesses.

What is Purified Water?

Purified water is water that has been treated to remove impurities and contaminants to make it suitable for drinking. The starting source can be tap water, groundwater, or another water source. Through various processes like reverse osmosis, distillation, and deionization, water purification significantly reduces the levels of dissolved solids and other impurities, often to a much stricter standard than regular tap water. In essence, it is a category of water defined by the treatment process it has undergone.

Common Water Purification Methods

Reverse Osmosis (RO): This process uses a semipermeable membrane to remove ions, molecules, and larger particles from drinking water, effectively removing a wide range of contaminants. RO is highly effective, but can also strip water of its beneficial minerals.
Distillation: This method involves boiling water and condensing the steam back into a liquid. Distillation removes bacteria, viruses, and chemicals, but also eliminates almost all minerals, which can result in a flat taste.
Activated Carbon Filtration: Carbon filters work by absorbing impurities, improving the taste and odor of the water, especially by removing chlorine. While effective for specific contaminants, carbon filtration is less comprehensive than RO or distillation.
UV Sterilization: This technique uses ultraviolet light to kill or inactivate harmful microorganisms like bacteria and viruses without chemicals. However, it does not remove chemical contaminants, heavy metals, or improve taste.

The Benefits of Purified Water

Choosing purified water can offer several health and quality-of-life benefits.

Reduces Exposure to Harmful Contaminants

Perhaps the most significant advantage is the removal of a broad spectrum of harmful substances. Municipal tap water, while generally safe, can still contain trace amounts of contaminants such as chlorine, lead, pesticides, and industrial pollutants. For vulnerable populations, like young children and those with compromised immune systems, this extra layer of safety can be crucial.

Improves Taste and Odor

Many people dislike the taste of tap water, which can be affected by chlorine and other chemicals used during treatment. The purification process removes these taste-altering compounds, leaving a cleaner, fresher-tasting water. This often encourages people to drink more water, helping to increase overall hydration.

Supports Organ Function

By reducing the number of toxins and impurities your body processes, purified water can be beneficial for the liver and kidneys. These organs don’t have to work as hard to filter out unwanted substances, which can be particularly helpful for those with pre-existing kidney issues.

Helps Detoxification and Digestion

Adequate hydration with clean water is essential for flushing toxins and waste products from the body. A well-hydrated system supports a healthy digestive tract and helps prevent issues like indigestion. It also aids in the efficient transport of nutrients and oxygen throughout the body.

Potential Disadvantages of Purified Water

While beneficial, purified water is not without potential downsides, especially regarding mineral content.

Loss of Beneficial Minerals

Certain purification methods, particularly reverse osmosis and distillation, remove not only contaminants but also beneficial minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium. These minerals play important roles in bodily functions, and long-term exclusive reliance on demineralized water could potentially lead to deficiencies if not supplemented through diet.

Flat Taste

The lack of minerals that are naturally present in water can lead to a 'flat' or tasteless quality. While some may prefer this neutral taste, others find it unappealing. This can sometimes make it harder for individuals to drink enough water throughout the day.

Cost and Environmental Impact

Whether from bottled sources or home purification systems, purified water can be more expensive than tap water. For bottled water, there is also the significant environmental cost associated with plastic waste. Home systems, while more environmentally friendly in the long run, require an initial investment and ongoing maintenance.

Purified Water vs. Tap Water: A Comparison

To make an informed decision, it's helpful to compare purified and tap water side-by-side.


Feature	Purified Water	Tap Water
Purity Level	Very high; removes 99% or more of contaminants.	Varies by municipality; meets EPA minimum standards but may contain trace contaminants.
Contaminants	Significantly reduced or eliminated, including heavy metals, bacteria, and chemicals.	May contain trace amounts of chlorine, lead, fluoride, and other pollutants.
Mineral Content	Reduced or absent depending on the purification method, which can be a drawback for some.	Contains naturally occurring minerals that are beneficial for health.
Taste and Odor	Neutral and clean, as taste-altering chemicals are removed.	Can have a chlorine or metallic taste depending on local treatment and piping.
Cost	More expensive due to purification processes, either for bottled or in-home systems.	Typically the most affordable option.
Accessibility	Available via bottled sources, home filters, or larger systems.	Readily available from household faucets.

How to Choose the Right Water Source for You

Your ideal water choice depends on several factors, including your health, location, and personal preferences. If you live in an area with questionable tap water quality or have specific health concerns, a home purification system is a good investment. Always research your local water reports to understand what potential contaminants are present. If you opt for a purification system, ensure it is properly maintained to avoid recontamination.

Conclusion: Making an Informed Choice

Drinking purified water offers clear benefits, primarily the assurance of a clean, safe, and pleasant-tasting water source, free from a wide range of harmful contaminants. While it can remove beneficial minerals and presents potential costs, these factors can often be mitigated through a balanced diet or remineralization techniques. Ultimately, for many, the peace of mind and improved quality offered by purified water outweigh the potential downsides, making it a healthy and reliable choice for daily hydration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Purified water is often considered better because it has undergone additional treatment to remove more contaminants than standard tap water, leading to a purer and cleaner-tasting product. However, tap water in many developed countries is regulated and generally safe.

Yes, some common purification methods such as reverse osmosis and distillation remove beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium, in addition to contaminants. Some systems, however, have remineralization stages to add these back.

Yes, but if relying solely on purified water (especially demineralized varieties), it's important to get essential minerals from a balanced diet or supplements to avoid potential deficiencies over time.

Purified water is treated more extensively than filtered water. While standard filters might remove particles and chlorine, purification methods like reverse osmosis remove a wider array of contaminants, including dissolved solids, bacteria, and viruses.

Purified water is often recommended for preparing infant formula, as it is free of contaminants. However, it is crucial to speak with a pediatrician about the appropriate water type, especially concerning fluoride levels.

No, purified water does not cause dehydration. While it lacks minerals, dehydration is caused by a net loss of fluids and electrolytes, which are primarily replenished through diet and other beverages.

Bottled purified water contributes significantly to plastic waste and carbon emissions. In-home purification systems, while requiring energy, are generally a more environmentally conscious choice for consistent access to purified water.