Is Distilled Water Completely Safe to Drink?

December 10, 2025 •

7 min read

Distillation removes over 99.9% of minerals and contaminants from water, but is distilled water completely safe to drink for long-term health? Experts weigh the pros and cons, examining how its unique purity affects hydration, nutrition, and overall health.

Quick Summary

Explore the safety of drinking distilled water, its benefits and drawbacks, and learn how its mineral-free state affects hydration and long-term health. Compare it to tap and purified water.

Key Points

Not for Long-Term: While safe for occasional consumption, long-term use of distilled water as your main hydration source is not recommended because it lacks essential minerals.
Purity Has Benefits: Distillation removes nearly all contaminants, making it ideal for certain medical applications, sensitive equipment (CPAP), and use during travel or emergencies.
Mineral Deficiency is a Risk: Exclusive, long-term reliance on distilled water can lead to deficiencies in important minerals like calcium and magnesium, especially if diet is insufficient.
Watch for Electrolyte Imbalance: The absence of electrolytes means distilled water is less effective for rehydration after intense exercise and can contribute to imbalances in people with certain health conditions.
Taste is Different: Many find the flavor of mineral-free distilled water to be flat and unappealing, which may discourage adequate hydration.
Appliances Love It: Using distilled water in humidifiers and irons prevents mineral buildup, extending the life and efficiency of these devices.

What is Distilled Water?

Distilled water is a form of purified water created through the process of distillation. It involves boiling water and collecting the resulting steam. As the water boils, it leaves behind impurities, minerals, and other dissolved solids. The steam is then cooled and condensed back into a liquid state, resulting in water that is exceptionally pure, containing almost nothing but hydrogen and oxygen (H2O). This process is highly effective at removing bacteria, viruses, and heavy metals.

The Distillation Process

This age-old purification method involves a few key steps:

Boiling: The source water is heated to its boiling point, turning it into steam.
Evaporation: The pure water vapor rises, leaving behind contaminants and minerals with higher boiling points.
Condensation: The steam travels to a separate chamber where it cools, condensing back into pure liquid water.
Collection: The newly condensed distilled water is collected in a clean container, ready for use.

Is Distilled Water Completely Safe for Drinking?

Yes, distilled water is safe to drink, especially in the short term and as part of a balanced diet. However, it is not recommended as a sole source of long-term hydration due to its lack of essential minerals. While its purity is a benefit, this same feature is also its biggest drawback for regular consumption.

The Benefits of Distilled Water

There are several scenarios where the purity of distilled water is a distinct advantage:

Free of Contaminants: Distillation removes nearly all impurities, including bacteria, viruses, pesticides, and heavy metals, making it a safe choice in areas with questionable tap water.
Ideal for Medical Use: Its purity is crucial for sterilizing medical equipment, preparing certain medical solutions, and for patients with compromised immune systems.
Protects Appliances: Using distilled water in humidifiers, steam irons, and car batteries prevents mineral buildup (limescale), which can cause damage over time.
Optimal for Certain Home Uses: It is recommended for CPAP machines to prevent mineral residue and for neti pots to avoid introducing contaminants into the sinuses.

The Risks of Drinking Distilled Water

For general drinking, the mineral-free nature of distilled water presents potential issues:

Lack of Minerals and Electrolytes: The distillation process removes beneficial minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Over time, relying solely on distilled water can lead to deficiencies, especially if dietary intake of these nutrients is low.
Electrolyte Imbalance: The World Health Organization (WHO) has noted that drinking demineralized water can increase urine output and lead to electrolyte imbalances, which can cause fatigue, muscle cramps, and weakness.
Flat Taste: With all dissolved minerals removed, distilled water has a bland, or “flat,” taste that some people find unappealing. This can potentially reduce a person’s overall water consumption.
Acidity: When exposed to air, distilled water absorbs carbon dioxide, forming a mild carbonic acid. This can lower its pH, making it slightly acidic, which is not ideal for long-term consumption.
Potential for Leaching: Because distilled water is aggressively pure, it can absorb small amounts of minerals from the storage container it is in. For example, if stored in certain plastic containers, it may absorb minute amounts of chemical residue.

Who Should Be Cautious with Distilled Water?

While generally safe in moderation, certain individuals should be more mindful of their intake or avoid it altogether unless advised by a healthcare professional:

Athletes: Heavy sweating causes the loss of electrolytes. Distilled water cannot replenish these, so athletes should opt for electrolyte-enhanced drinks instead.
Infants (under 6 months): Though sometimes used for mixing formula, it is crucial to consult a pediatrician first. In some cases, the formula itself provides the necessary minerals, but tap water is usually sufficient.
Individuals with Chronic Conditions: Those with chronic kidney disease, endocrine disorders, or malabsorption syndromes should avoid distilled water as it could worsen pre-existing electrolyte imbalances.
Malnourished Individuals or Those Fasting: People with depleted mineral reserves should avoid distilled water to prevent further imbalance.

Distilled Water vs. Other Water Types: A Comparison


Feature	Distilled Water	Tap Water	Filtered/RO Water
Purity	Highest (virtually pure H2O). Removes all contaminants and minerals.	Varies by municipality. Contains small amounts of minerals, additives, and potential contaminants.	High purity. Removes contaminants but may retain some minerals (filtered) or almost none (RO).
Mineral Content	0% minerals.	Varies, but contains some beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium.	Varies. Some filters retain minerals; RO removes most unless remineralized.
Taste	Flat and bland due to lack of minerals.	Taste varies with mineral and chlorine content.	Improved taste, often described as clean and fresh.
Cost	Relatively expensive to purchase or produce at home due to energy costs.	Low cost, as it comes from the municipal supply.	Varies based on the system. High initial cost for RO systems, but often lower long-term cost than bottled water.
Best For	Appliances (irons, humidifiers), medical use (CPAP, sterilizing), infant formula (if advised), specific plants (carnivorous).	Everyday drinking, cooking, bathing, gardening (in most cases).	Everyday drinking, cooking, ice making; provides balanced purity and flavor.

What About Cooking and Other Household Uses?

Distilled water excels in applications where mineral absence is an advantage, but it can be a disadvantage in cooking. Because it contains no minerals, it will not impart any unwanted flavors during washing or boiling. However, the lack of minerals can also lead to a flatter taste in water-heavy dishes like soups or rice. Many chefs prefer using purified or tap water for the flavor benefits.

For example, coffee and tea connoisseurs often prefer water with a specific mineral content to extract the best flavor profile, making distilled water a poor choice for brewing. Its primary household value remains in non-consumable applications where mineral buildup is a concern.

Conclusion: The Balanced Perspective on Distilled Water

Is distilled water completely safe? Yes, for short-term use and specific non-drinking applications. It offers a level of purity unmatched by most other water sources, making it excellent for medical and household equipment. However, for long-term, daily consumption, the answer is more nuanced. The removal of essential minerals and electrolytes can pose risks for some individuals, potentially leading to deficiencies and imbalance. A well-balanced diet can often compensate for the missing minerals, but many people find the lack of minerals in drinking water to be a major drawback. Ultimately, for most people, filtered tap water or remineralized purified water provides a healthier, more balanced option for daily hydration and cooking.

World Health Organization Report on Demineralized Water

Keypoints

Safe in Moderation: While safe to drink occasionally, distilled water is not recommended as a primary, long-term source of hydration due to its lack of minerals and electrolytes.
Superior Purity: The distillation process effectively removes nearly all contaminants, bacteria, and viruses, making it extremely pure.
Mineral Deficiency Risk: Long-term, exclusive consumption of distilled water can lead to mineral deficiencies in calcium and magnesium, especially if diet is insufficient.
Alters Taste and Hydration: The absence of minerals gives distilled water a flat taste, which may reduce overall water intake. It does not rehydrate as effectively as mineralized water during intense physical activity.
Ideal for Appliances: Its purity makes distilled water perfect for household appliances like steam irons and humidifiers, preventing mineral buildup and extending their lifespan.
Specific Medical Uses: Distilled water is required for medical sterilization, certain lab procedures, and sometimes for preparing infant formula under a doctor's supervision.

FAQs

Question: Can I drink distilled water every day? Answer: It is not recommended to drink distilled water as your sole source of hydration every day. While safe in small amounts, long-term consumption without a mineral-rich diet can lead to deficiencies.

Question: Will drinking distilled water pull minerals from my body? Answer: This is a common misconception. While distilled water lacks minerals, it does not actively leach them from your body in a dangerous way for the average, healthy person with a balanced diet. However, your body does lose electrolytes through sweat and urine that distilled water cannot replenish.

Question: What are the main benefits of drinking distilled water? Answer: The main benefit is its exceptional purity, as it is free from contaminants like bacteria, viruses, pesticides, and heavy metals. This can be advantageous in areas with contaminated water supplies or for individuals with compromised immune systems.

Question: Is distilled water the same as purified water? Answer: Distilled water is a type of purified water, but not all purified water is distilled. Purified water is a broad term for water from which chemicals and contaminants have been removed, which can be done through various methods like reverse osmosis, filtration, or distillation.

Question: Why does distilled water taste flat? Answer: Distilled water tastes flat or bland because the distillation process removes all dissolved minerals, salts, and other compounds that give water its familiar taste. What remains is pure H2O with no flavor.

Question: Can I use distilled water for mixing baby formula? Answer: Distilled water is sometimes used for mixing baby formula, especially for infants with weakened immune systems. However, most tap water is safe, and the formula itself provides the necessary nutrients. Consult a pediatrician for advice.

Question: Is distilled water suitable for making coffee or tea? Answer: Distilled water is not ideal for brewing coffee or tea. The lack of minerals prevents proper extraction of the flavor compounds from the beans or leaves, resulting in a less satisfying, dull taste.

Question: What about using distilled water for cooking? Answer: Distilled water can be used for cooking, and for some dishes like pasta or rice, it can help maintain a clean flavor profile. However, for water-heavy recipes like soups or broths, the absence of minerals can result in a flatter, less robust taste.

Citations

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is not recommended to drink distilled water as your sole source of hydration every day. While safe in small amounts, long-term consumption without a mineral-rich diet can lead to deficiencies in essential minerals like calcium and magnesium.

This is a common misconception. While distilled water lacks minerals, it does not actively leach them from your body in a dangerous way for the average, healthy person with a balanced diet. However, your body does lose electrolytes through sweat and urine that distilled water cannot replenish.

The main benefit is its exceptional purity, as it is free from contaminants like bacteria, viruses, pesticides, and heavy metals. This can be advantageous in areas with contaminated water supplies or for individuals with compromised immune systems.

Distilled water is a type of purified water, but not all purified water is distilled. Purified water is a broad term for water from which chemicals and contaminants have been removed, which can be done through various methods like reverse osmosis, filtration, or distillation.

Distilled water tastes flat or bland because the distillation process removes all dissolved minerals, salts, and other compounds that give water its familiar taste. What remains is pure H2O with no flavor.

Distilled water is sometimes used for mixing baby formula, especially for infants with weakened immune systems. However, most tap water is safe, and the formula itself provides the necessary nutrients. Always consult a pediatrician for specific advice.

Distilled water can be used for cooking, and for some dishes like pasta or rice, it can help maintain a clean flavor profile. However, for water-heavy recipes like soups or broths, the absence of minerals can result in a flatter, less robust taste.

Distilled water is not ideal for brewing coffee or tea. The lack of minerals prevents proper extraction of the flavor compounds from the beans or leaves, resulting in a less satisfying, dull taste.