What does purified water do to the human body?

January 1, 2026 •

4 min read

Globally, over 2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water, making purification a critical consideration for health. Understanding what purified water does to the human body is essential, as its effects extend beyond simple hydration to influence mineral balance, detoxification, and overall wellness.

Quick Summary

Purified water removes harmful contaminants, aiding detoxification and overall health. However, some methods also remove essential minerals, which can affect the body's electrolyte balance.

Key Points

Removes Harmful Contaminants: Purified water is highly effective at removing bacteria, heavy metals, and chemicals like chlorine, reducing the risk of waterborne illnesses and toxic exposure.
Aids Detoxification: By providing a cleaner water source, purified water supports the body’s natural detoxification processes, helping organs like the kidneys and liver to function more efficiently.
Can Cause Mineral Deficiency: Aggressive purification methods such as reverse osmosis and distillation remove essential minerals like calcium and magnesium, which can lead to deficiencies over time without dietary supplementation.
Impacts Electrolyte Balance: The removal of minerals affects the water's electrolyte content. Prolonged reliance on mineral-deficient water could potentially disrupt the body’s fluid and electrolyte balance.
Provides Consistent Purity: Unlike tap water, which can vary in quality depending on location, purified water offers a reliable, consistent level of purity that many find preferable.
Taste Can Be Affected: The removal of minerals can leave purified water with a 'flat' taste that some people find less appealing than mineral-rich spring water.

The Dual Impact of Purified Water

Drinking purified water provides a cleaner source of hydration by removing harmful contaminants, but it is not without potential drawbacks. The impact on the human body is twofold: on one hand, it protects against waterborne illnesses and toxic substances; on the other, certain aggressive purification methods can strip water of beneficial minerals. The overall effect depends on the purification process used and the individual's overall diet and mineral intake.

The Benefits: What Purified Water Removes

One of the primary benefits of drinking purified water is the reduction of harmful substances. Most purification processes are highly effective at eliminating elements that can cause health problems.

Removal of Harmful Contaminants

Purified water undergoes rigorous treatment to remove potentially dangerous chemicals and biological agents. Methods like reverse osmosis, distillation, and carbon filtration are used to filter out a wide range of contaminants, including:

Bacteria, viruses, and parasites: These can cause serious waterborne illnesses, and their removal is especially beneficial for those with weakened immune systems.
Heavy metals: Toxic metals like lead and copper are effectively removed, which is crucial as prolonged exposure can cause stomach distress and brain damage.
Chemicals: Chlorine, used as a disinfectant in municipal water, along with other chemicals and pesticides, are largely eliminated, improving the safety and taste of the water.

Supporting Natural Bodily Functions

By providing a clean, unburdened source of hydration, purified water aids several important physiological processes:

Enhanced Detoxification: The body's natural detoxification organs, such as the kidneys and liver, function more efficiently when supplied with clean water. Purified water helps flush out waste products and toxins without introducing new impurities.
Improved Hydration: When water is free from unpleasant tastes and odors caused by chemicals like chlorine, people often find it easier to drink more throughout the day, leading to better hydration.
Better Skin Health: Proper hydration helps flush toxins from the system, which can contribute to clearer, healthier, and more radiant-looking skin.

The Drawbacks: What Purified Water Can Lack

While removing contaminants is a major advantage, some advanced purification methods also remove beneficial minerals that are crucial for bodily functions.

Depletion of Essential Minerals

Methods like reverse osmosis and distillation, which are exceptionally thorough at removing impurities, also strip away essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium. These minerals, though often obtained from food, are also a source of dietary intake from water. Overreliance on mineral-deficient water can lead to several issues:

Electrolyte Imbalance: Minerals function as electrolytes, helping to regulate fluid balance, nerve signaling, and muscle function. A long-term deficiency can disrupt this delicate balance.
Poor Bone Health: Calcium and magnesium are vital for bone density. A prolonged lack of these minerals can increase the risk of fractures and other bone health issues.
Potential Dehydration: Some experts suggest that water lacking minerals may not be absorbed as efficiently by the body's cells, potentially leading to a feeling of thirst even after drinking.

Bland Taste

The removal of minerals can also result in a 'flat' or bland taste that some people find unappealing. The characteristic flavor of spring or mineral water comes from its natural mineral content, which is absent in highly purified water. This can be a minor issue, but for some, it might decrease their overall water consumption.

Purified vs. Other Water Types

To better understand the role of purified water, it helps to compare it with other common water sources. Your ideal choice depends on factors like your location, health, and personal preferences.


Feature	Purified Water	Spring Water	Tap Water
Source	Tap water or groundwater	Natural underground spring	Municipal water system
Processing	Intensive filtration (RO, distillation)	Minimal filtration, maintains natural composition	Regulated treatment (chlorination, filtration)
Mineral Content	Stripped of most minerals (sometimes added back)	Contains natural minerals and electrolytes	Varies widely by location; may contain minerals and trace contaminants
Contaminants	Nearly all removed (e.g., bacteria, metals, chemicals)	Often less contaminated than tap, but depends on source	Can contain trace amounts of contaminants or treatment chemicals
Taste	Neutral, consistent, can taste 'flat'	Fresh, natural, and can have a distinct taste	Varies; sometimes has a chemical or metallic taste
Safety	Very high purity, especially in areas with poor tap water	Generally safe, but relies on source quality and testing	Safe in most regulated areas, but can be susceptible to local issues

How Purification Methods Affect the Outcome

Different purification methods have varying effects on the final product. Reverse osmosis (RO) and distillation are aggressive, removing both contaminants and minerals. Some RO systems, however, now include a remineralization stage to reintroduce beneficial minerals, offering a cleaner and more balanced end product. UV purification, another method, primarily uses ultraviolet light to kill microorganisms without removing dissolved solids, leaving the mineral content largely untouched. Understanding your filtration system is key to knowing what you're consuming.

The Bottom Line: Is Purified Water Right for You?

For many, especially those in regions with questionable water quality or those with compromised immune systems, purified water is a safe and healthy choice that effectively removes potential dangers. The primary health consideration for consistent purified water consumption is ensuring you are not missing out on essential minerals. This can be addressed by maintaining a balanced diet rich in mineral-dense foods, opting for a purification system that remineralizes the water, or seeking supplements if necessary. The best approach to hydration is a personal one, weighing the benefits of purity against the potential drawbacks of mineral loss.

For more information on the distinctions between water types, consider consulting an authoritative resource such as this guide from Healthline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Purified water is considered better than tap water in areas where the municipal water supply is of questionable quality or contains unpleasant tastes and odors. It removes contaminants that may be present in tap water, but for people in regions with safe tap water, the difference may be minimal.

Long-term, exclusive consumption of purified water that has been stripped of minerals by methods like reverse osmosis or distillation can potentially lead to a mineral deficiency. However, this is largely dependent on the rest of your diet providing adequate minerals.

Drinking more water, including purified water, can aid in weight management by boosting metabolism and helping you feel full. Since purified water is free of calories and sugar, it can be a healthy alternative to sugary drinks.

Drinking purified water will not cause dehydration. It is an effective way to hydrate. Some theories suggest that water lacking minerals may be slightly less effective at cellular hydration, but this is a minor concern and is easily balanced with a proper diet.

You can remineralize purified water by adding mineral drops, a pinch of pink Himalayan salt, or using a purification system with a built-in remineralization stage. Alternatively, ensure a balanced diet with plenty of mineral-rich foods to compensate.

Purified water is generally good for kidney health because it is free of harmful contaminants and helps with flushing toxins from the body. Individuals with pre-existing kidney conditions should consult a doctor regarding their specific mineral intake.

The term 'purified water' refers to any water that has undergone processes like reverse osmosis, distillation, or deionization to remove contaminants, regardless of its original source. It is not tied to a specific bottled brand but to the treatment process.