Does Purified Water Still Contain Minerals?

December 7, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), purified water is defined as containing no more than 10 parts per million (ppm) of total dissolved solids. However, this strict level of purity leads many to wonder: does purified water still contain minerals? The answer depends entirely on the purification method used, with some processes removing nearly all dissolved solids and minerals, while others retain them.

Quick Summary

Different purification methods impact mineral content uniquely. Distillation and reverse osmosis drastically reduce minerals, while carbon filters largely retain them. The health effects of consuming demineralized water are debated, with many people getting sufficient minerals from their food. Some purification systems add beneficial minerals back into the water for a healthier, better-tasting product.

Key Points

Purification methods vary: Different processes, like reverse osmosis or distillation, have different effects on mineral content.
RO and Distillation remove minerals: Reverse osmosis and distillation remove most minerals along with contaminants, but some RO systems can add them back in.
Carbon filters retain minerals: Simple carbon filtration is designed to remove taste and odor, not beneficial minerals.
Minerals are mostly from diet: For the average healthy person, dietary sources provide the vast majority of essential minerals, making mineral loss from purified water less of a concern.
Long-term risks are possible: Extended, exclusive consumption of heavily demineralized water without a mineral-rich diet might disrupt electrolyte balance.
Choose based on needs: Your ideal water choice depends on your priorities—absolute purity, mineral content, and taste.

Understanding the Truth About Purified Water and Minerals

When you see a bottle of purified water, it's easy to assume it is completely devoid of everything but H2O. However, the term "purified" covers a range of processes, each with a different outcome for the water's mineral profile. Knowing the distinction between these methods is key to understanding what's really in your glass.

How Different Purification Methods Affect Mineral Content

Purification aims to remove contaminants like bacteria, viruses, and chemicals to make water safe to drink. Whether healthy minerals are removed alongside the harmful impurities depends on the technology employed.

Reverse Osmosis (RO): This process forces water through a very fine, semi-permeable membrane that filters out most dissolved solids, including unwanted contaminants and essential minerals like calcium and magnesium. Some advanced RO systems include a remineralization stage to add these beneficial minerals back in.
Distillation: Considered the most thorough purification method, distillation involves boiling water and collecting the steam as it condenses back into liquid. This leaves virtually all minerals and contaminants behind, resulting in water with an extremely low mineral count and a characteristic flat taste.
Deionization: This chemical process uses ion-exchange resins to remove mineral salts by replacing them with hydrogen and hydroxide ions. While highly effective at removing minerals, it doesn't remove uncharged organic molecules, viruses, or bacteria.
Carbon Filtration: Standard activated carbon filters are primarily designed to remove chlorine, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other compounds that affect taste and odor. They do not significantly remove beneficial minerals.
UV Treatment: Ultraviolet (UV) light is used to disinfect water by killing bacteria and viruses. This process does not alter the mineral content of the water at all.

The Health Debate: Demineralized Water vs. Mineral-Rich Water

For most people with a balanced diet, the trace minerals from drinking water contribute an insignificant amount to their overall daily intake. However, some studies have linked exclusive, long-term consumption of demineralized water with potential health issues.

Arguments for Purified Water:

Removes harmful contaminants and pollutants often found in municipal tap water.
Provides clean, consistent-quality water, which is especially important in areas with questionable tap water or for individuals with weakened immune systems.
Allows you to control your mineral intake through a balanced diet, rather than relying on an inconsistent water source.

Arguments for Mineral-Rich Water:

Minerals like calcium and magnesium found in natural spring water or remineralized purified water are highly bioavailable, meaning the body absorbs them easily.
Epidemiological studies have shown associations between soft (low-mineral) water and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Some experts note that minerals in water help regulate a healthy electrolyte balance in the body, especially for those who are physically active.

Comparison Table: How Purification Methods Affect Water


Feature	Reverse Osmosis (RO)	Distillation	Carbon Filtration	UV Treatment
Mineral Removal	Highly effective (90-99%). Some systems add minerals back.	Removes virtually all minerals.	Retains most naturally occurring minerals.	Retains all minerals.
Contaminant Removal	Removes a wide range, including salts, heavy metals, and chemicals.	Removes a very wide range, including heavy metals and bacteria.	Removes chlorine, VOCs, and improves taste/odor.	Kills bacteria and viruses but not chemical contaminants.
Taste	Neutral, clean taste. Can taste better with remineralization.	Flat, bland taste due to lack of minerals.	Improves taste by removing chlorine.	No effect on taste.
Best For	Daily drinking, especially where tap water quality is poor.	Medical devices like CPAP machines and laboratory use.	Improving the taste and odor of already safe tap water.	Disinfecting microbiologically contaminated water.
Cost	Higher initial cost, ongoing filter replacement.	Can be slow and energy-intensive for large quantities.	Low initial cost, regular filter replacement.	Typically used in combination with other filters.

Making an Informed Choice About Your Drinking Water

The best water for you depends on your priorities: guaranteed purity, taste, mineral content, or cost. If you are concerned about contaminants like lead or heavy metals and want the safest, cleanest water possible, a system using reverse osmosis or distillation provides the highest level of purification. If you want to avoid potential mineral loss, choose an RO system with a remineralization filter or rely on mineral-rich natural spring water. A simple carbon filter may be sufficient for those with already safe municipal water who simply want to improve taste.

Ultimately, whether purified water still contain minerals depends on its treatment. For daily consumption, the potential drawbacks of demineralized water are often negligible for people with healthy diets. However, it is a nuanced topic with pros and cons for every option available.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice regarding your dietary and health needs. For further reading on water quality regulations, visit the official website of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Conclusion

The question of whether purified water retains its minerals is not a simple yes or no. The definitive answer rests on the specific purification technology utilized. Processes like reverse osmosis and distillation are designed to strip water of nearly all dissolved solids, including minerals like calcium and magnesium, while methods like carbon filtering and UV treatment are much less aggressive towards them. While purified water offers the highest degree of safety from contaminants, those concerned about mineral intake can choose systems that reintroduce minerals or simply rely on a balanced diet to meet their nutritional needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, while distilled water is a type of purified water, 'purified' is a broader term. Distillation is a specific process that removes virtually all minerals by boiling and recondensing water, whereas other purification methods like reverse osmosis or carbon filtering may have different effects on mineral content.

Distillation removes the most minerals. The boiling process separates pure water (steam) from nearly all dissolved solids, leaving them behind.

For most people with a balanced diet, drinking demineralized water is not harmful because the body gets the majority of its minerals from food. However, some sources suggest exclusive, long-term use could potentially affect electrolyte balance, particularly for athletes.

Some purified water brands reintroduce beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium after the filtration process. This remineralization can give the water a more pleasant, less bland taste.

A mineral deficiency from drinking purified water is unlikely if you maintain a healthy, balanced diet. Most people get the minerals they need from food, but relying solely on demineralized water could potentially lead to issues if your diet is also lacking in minerals.

Spring water contains naturally occurring minerals, which some people prefer for taste. However, it may also contain contaminants depending on its source. Purified water guarantees the removal of harmful substances, offering a higher level of safety and consistency.

You can add minerals back to purified water using a remineralization filter on your reverse osmosis system, adding a pinch of Himalayan salt, or using mineral drops. Some water filters specifically retain or add back beneficial minerals.