Is Distilled Water Safe to Drink? Unpacking the Myths and Facts

January 8, 2026 •

4 min read

According to the CDC, distillation is a highly effective method for removing most contaminants from water, including bacteria, viruses, and heavy metals. This raises the question for many: Is distilled water safe to drink daily, or does its purity come with hidden risks?

Quick Summary

This article explores the safety of drinking distilled water, detailing the distillation process and comparing it to other water types. It examines the pros, including its purity, and the cons, particularly the lack of essential minerals like calcium and magnesium. It provides guidance on who can drink it safely and for which applications it is best suited.

Key Points

Generally Safe: Distilled water is safe for consumption, particularly for short-term use, as it is free from contaminants, viruses, and bacteria.
Lacks Minerals: The distillation process removes essential minerals and electrolytes like calcium and magnesium, which give water its taste and contribute to hydration.
Long-Term Caution: Relying on distilled water exclusively for prolonged periods is not recommended, as it can potentially lead to mineral deficiencies or electrolyte imbalances if your diet is not otherwise rich in nutrients.
Best for Appliances: Its lack of minerals makes distilled water ideal for use in humidifiers, steam irons, and CPAP machines to prevent mineral buildup.
Balanced Diet is Key: If you choose to drink distilled water, it is crucial to ensure you get adequate minerals and electrolytes from a healthy, balanced diet of foods like fruits and vegetables.

What is Distilled Water?

Distilled water is a type of purified water created by boiling and condensing water vapor back into a liquid state. This process leaves behind virtually all impurities, including minerals, salts, and contaminants, resulting in a product that is nearly 100% pure H₂O. The removal of everything but hydrogen and oxygen is what gives distilled water its characteristically flat or bland taste.

The Distillation Process Explained

The process is straightforward: water is heated to its boiling point, turning it into steam. This steam rises, leaving non-volatile compounds behind in the original container. The steam is then captured and cooled, causing it to condense back into liquid water, which is collected in a separate, sterile container. While highly effective at removing many common contaminants like heavy metals and bacteria, some volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with a lower boiling point than water can be carried over and may require additional filtration.

Is Drinking Distilled Water Safe?

In short, yes, drinking distilled water is generally safe for most healthy individuals as part of a balanced diet. However, experts caution against making it your sole source of hydration for extended periods. The primary concern is not what distilled water contains, but what it lacks: essential minerals.

Potential Risks of Regular Consumption

The primary health risks associated with drinking distilled water long-term are tied to its demineralized state.

Electrolyte Imbalance: Distilled water lacks electrolytes such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which are crucial for maintaining proper nerve function, muscle contractions, and fluid balance. The body naturally maintains a precise balance of these minerals. If you are not replenishing them sufficiently through food, relying exclusively on demineralized water can lead to an imbalance, especially during heavy sweating.
Mineral Deficiency: While drinking water isn't the primary source of minerals for most people, it can contribute to a person's daily intake, particularly in areas with "hard" water. Long-term consumption of only distilled water could exacerbate a diet already low in these key nutrients, potentially leading to deficiencies.
Taste and Hydration: Many people find the flat taste of demineralized water unappealing, which can lead to reduced overall water intake. Staying hydrated is paramount for health, and drinking water that you dislike the taste of can be a hindrance.

The Benefits of Distilled Water

Despite its drawbacks for daily drinking, distilled water offers significant benefits for specific uses where its purity is an advantage.

Free of Contaminants: Distillation effectively removes nearly all bacteria, viruses, pesticides, and heavy metals. This makes it an ideal option in emergencies or for those concerned about local tap water quality.
Prevents Mineral Buildup: The lack of minerals prevents the buildup of scale, which can damage appliances. This is why it is often recommended for use in steam irons, humidifiers, and CPAP machines.
Sterilization and Laboratory Use: Its high purity is essential for medical sterilization procedures, laboratory experiments, and cosmetic manufacturing, where impurities could interfere with results or cause contamination.

Distilled Water vs. Other Water Types

Here is a comparison of different water types to help you decide which is best for your needs.


Feature	Distilled Water	Tap Water	Purified Water (RO/Filtered)	Spring Water
Mineral Content	Almost Zero	Varies greatly by location	Low (often re-mineralized)	Varies naturally
Purity	Highest (removes minerals and most contaminants)	Good (regulated by EPA, but can contain trace minerals/chemicals)	High (removes most contaminants, may retain minerals)	Generally good (filtered naturally)
Taste	Flat and bland due to lack of minerals	Varies (often influenced by minerals and chlorine)	Cleaner taste than tap; can be improved with remineralization	Often fresh and clean
Best For	Appliances, CPAP, medical use, emergency drinking	Daily drinking in areas with good tap water	Daily drinking for taste and contaminant concerns	Daily drinking for natural mineral content

Is Distilled Water Safe to Drink Long-Term?

For daily, long-term hydration, most nutritionists do not recommend relying solely on distilled water. The best approach is to obtain minerals from a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and consume water that contains minerals. However, short-term or occasional use is generally not considered harmful for most healthy people. If you have specific health conditions, such as kidney disease or are on a special diet, it is always best to consult with a healthcare provider before making significant changes to your water intake.

Conclusion

Drinking distilled water is safe from a contamination standpoint due to its extreme purity. However, its lack of essential minerals means it is not ideal as a primary source of hydration for the long term for most people. While it is beneficial for specific applications like medical equipment and household appliances, everyday drinking is better served by mineral-rich alternatives like tap, spring, or purified water that has been remineralized. Ensuring your body receives a balance of hydration and minerals from a healthy diet and varied water sources is the best practice for overall well-being.

Useful Links

World Health Organization: Guidelines for drinking-water quality

Frequently Asked Questions

There is a myth that distilled water actively 'leaches' minerals from your body. While it is true that distilled water lacks minerals, it won't strip your body of its own mineral reserves if you maintain a balanced diet.

Due to the absence of dissolved minerals and gases, distilled water often tastes flat or bland to many people, unlike the more familiar flavor of tap or mineral water.

This depends on the quality of your tap water. In areas with contaminated tap water, distilled water offers a safer alternative due to its high purity. However, healthy tap water provides beneficial minerals that distilled water lacks.

Distilled water can be used for infant formula, but it must be sterilized by boiling it first. It is best to consult a pediatrician for guidance, as formula contains specific nutrients and minerals that balance the intake.

Drinking distilled water can potentially lead to increased urine output and electrolyte loss. While it won't directly cause dehydration, it is less effective at replenishing lost electrolytes during heavy sweating compared to mineral-rich waters or sports drinks.

Besides specific medical applications and emergencies, distilled water is commonly used in household appliances like steam irons and humidifiers, as well as in laboratories and for car batteries, due to its high purity and lack of mineral content.

The idea that distilled water has special detoxifying properties is a myth. The body's natural detoxification processes are highly efficient, and drinking any type of clean water supports this function, not just distilled.