Depending on who you talk to, purified water is considered one of two things: 

1. Water that has been through a process (such as activated carbon filtration, distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis, or ion exchange) to remove any impurities (such as heavy metals, pollutants, and solids), or... 

2. Water that is free from specific impurities, including bacteria and viruses!

We prefer the second definition because it matches what the U.S. EPA recommends. 

So purified water (or pure water) is water that is free from impurities, including bacteria and viruses!

Distilled water is water that has gone through a process called distillation. 

During distillation, water is boiled, and the steam is collected and cooled back into a liquid.

This process removes most viruses, bacteria, and many contaminants, but it does not remove all of them for several reasons including differences in boiling points and volatility.

The Drawbacks Of Distilled Water

• It lacks beneficial minerals (like magnesium, calcium, and other electrolytes)! That’s why the vast majority of health experts say you should NOT use distilled water as everyday drinking water (or home water).

• It can have an empty, flat, or unfamiliar taste! Removing healthy minerals can alter water taste.

• It takes hours to get clean water! Even a small, countertop distiller can take up to 6 hours to produce just one gallon of distilled water!

• Water distillation can be expensive and energy-intensive! The energy needed to boil water and power distillation equipment can harm the environment and raise your energy bills!

• Proper storage is a hassle! Distilled water can easily absorb impurities and contaminants in the environment if it’s not stored properly. Just like a clean white shirt is more likely to show stains than a colored shirt, distilled water is more likely to absorb impurities than water that has minerals in it. That’s why distilled water should be stored in a clean, airtight container and in a cool, dark place.

What Is Distilled Water Best For?

As mentioned, distilled water should not be used as daily drinking water because it lacks minerals that can have important health benefits. But due to its cleanliness, distilled water is often used in laboratories and for medical procedures. Plus, its lack of minerals make it a good choice for Neti Pots as well as certain appliances (like irons, steam cleaners, and sleep apnea devices) to prevent buildup and clogging associated with hard water.

Filtered water is any water that has been through a physical filter to remove certain contaminants.

In other words, it’s any water supply that has gone through any filtration process or filtration method.

The No. 1 Drawback Of Filtered Water Is That Not All Filters Are Created Equal. That’s why water quality depends on the quality of your filter!

For example, Reverse Osmosis (R.O.) filters target beneficial minerals and produce significant waste! 

And typical carbon filters ONLY regulate as few as 5 of the 365+ dangerous contaminants found in tap water. Which means they can leave you vulnerable to hundreds of hidden dangers including cancer-causing arsenic and PFAS!

That said, our premium filters target hundreds of dangerous contaminants typical carbon filters can’t without targeting beneficial minerals. 

In fact, our best-selling filtered water pitcher is the ONLY pitcher on the planet proven to protect you from 365+ dangerous contaminants without targeting beneficial minerals!

So don’t confuse the most popular water filters with the most effective. Because when it comes to water filtration, filter quality is key! 

What Is Filtered Water Best For?

It depends on your filter / filtration system! However, our filtered water is ideal for everyday use like cooking, cleaning, and drinking. 

Since our filters target hundreds of dangerous contaminants, our filtered water is far cleaner and safer than tap water and typical bottled water. And since our filters do not target beneficial minerals, you don’t have to worry about many of the drawbacks associated with purified water, distilled water, and R.O. water.

Purified water is water free from bacteria and viruses. Distilled water is water that goes through the distillation process (which removes the majority of viruses and bacteria). And filtered water is water that is filtered by a physical filter to reduce a range of contaminants based on the quality of the filter.

If you care about your water quality and cleanliness, then Clearly Filtered is for you! Cheers!