Purified

Distilled water

Written by the VitaWhat editorial team · Medically reviewed by Steve Davis · Last reviewed 19 July 2026 · Editorial policy

Water boiled to steam and re-condensed, leaving impurities behind.

Where it comes from

Boiled so it evaporates, then the steam is condensed back to liquid, leaving minerals and contaminants behind.

What it contains

  • Essentially pure H₂O with almost no minerals or contaminants

Benefits

  • Extremely pure — used in labs, irons and medical devices

Cautions

  • Not ideal as your only drinking water long-term (no minerals, flat taste)
  • Can slightly leach minerals if it replaces all intake

Sources & references

  1. WHO — Drinking-water
  2. UK Drinking Water Inspectorate

Related entries

Deionised waterPurified / reverse-osmosis waterAlkaline waterArtesian waterFiltered waterGlacier / iceberg water
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