Is Distilled Water Safe to Drink Every Day?

The Short Answer: Yes, Distilled Water Is Safe for Daily Drinking

Distilled water is completely safe to drink every day. It is simply water that has been purified through distillation, a process that boils water into steam and then condenses it back into liquid, removing virtually all dissolved solids, chemicals, heavy metals, and contaminants. The result is pure H₂O with 0 to 5 parts per million (ppm) total dissolved solids (TDS).

At Puretap Water Distillers in Ontario, we have been producing and delivering distilled water for over 40 years, and thousands of families across the GTA, Toronto, and Mississauga rely on distilled water as their primary drinking water every day.

What Does Science Say About Drinking Distilled Water?

Health organizations around the world confirm that distilled water is safe for human consumption. The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that the mineral content of drinking water is not a significant source of daily nutrient intake. Studies consistently show that the vast majority of essential minerals, over 99%, come from the food we eat, not from the water we drink.

The concern that distilled water “leaches minerals from your body” is a common myth that has been debunked by nutritional science. When you drink distilled water, it is absorbed into your bloodstream and used by your cells just like any other water. Your body regulates mineral balance through your diet, not through the mineral content of your water.

Benefits of Drinking Distilled Water Daily

There are several compelling reasons why people choose distilled water as their everyday drinking water.

Free of contaminants: Distilled water contains no chlorine, fluoride, lead, mercury, PFAS (forever chemicals), microplastics, or pharmaceutical residues that can be found in tap water. A 2023 U.S. Geological Survey study found PFAS in 45% of U.S. tap water samples, and Canadian municipal water faces similar challenges.

Consistent purity: Unlike tap, spring, or reverse osmosis water, distilled water delivers the same level of purity every time, 0 to 5 ppm TDS. There is no variation based on season, filter condition, or source.

Better taste: Many people prefer the clean, neutral taste of distilled water. Without chlorine or mineral flavors, distilled water lets coffee, tea, and cooking ingredients shine.

Ideal for sensitive health needs: Distilled water is recommended for use in CPAP machines, baby formula preparation, medical sterilizers, and for people with compromised immune systems.

No scale or buildup: Appliances last longer with distilled water because there are no dissolved minerals to form scale deposits in kettles, humidifiers, and steam irons.

The “Missing Minerals” Myth, Debunked

One of the most common concerns people raise about distilled water is the idea that it lacks essential minerals. Here is why this concern is not supported by science.

Tap water typically contains trace amounts of calcium, magnesium, and other minerals, but these amounts are nutritionally insignificant compared to what you get from food. For example, a single glass of milk provides more calcium than 20 liters of mineral-rich tap water. A handful of almonds contains more magnesium than most people drink in water all week.

Your body is designed to get minerals from food, fruits, vegetables, dairy, grains, and proteins. Water has never been and should never be relied upon as a primary mineral source.

Who Drinks Distilled Water Every Day?

Distilled water is trusted daily by a wide range of people and industries. Families across Ontario who want the cleanest water for cooking, drinking, and baby formula use distilled water from Puretap. Medical and dental offices use distilled water in autoclaves and sterilization equipment. Laboratories rely on distilled water for accurate testing. Businesses and offices use distilled water coolers for their staff. People with CPAP machines use distilled water nightly as recommended by manufacturers.

How Puretap Distilled Water Is Made

At Puretap, our distillation process involves four key steps. First, raw source water is heated to boiling, which turns it into steam and separates it from dissolved solids, heavy metals, chemicals, and contaminants. Second, the pure steam is cooled and condensed back into liquid water in a sterile environment. Third, every batch is tested to verify 0 to 5 ppm TDS. Finally, the water is stored in sterile stainless-steel tanks and sealed in BPA-free bottles for delivery across Ontario.

This process has remained the gold standard for water purification for centuries, and it is the same method used in pharmaceutical manufacturing and hospital settings.

Distilled vs. Other Water Types for Daily Drinking

When choosing water for everyday consumption, it helps to understand how distilled water compares to other options.

Tap water in the GTA typically measures 180 to 320 ppm TDS and may contain chlorine, fluoride, and trace amounts of PFAS or heavy metals from aging infrastructure. Spring water varies between 80 to 250 ppm TDS depending on season and source, with occasional microbial or organic content. Reverse osmosis water ranges from 10 to 30 ppm TDS but depends on filter maintenance and can harbor bacteria in holding tanks. Distilled water from Puretap consistently measures 0 to 5 ppm TDS with no chemicals, bacteria, or contaminants detected.

Where the mineral question actually matters

The honest answer is that it matters in a few narrow situations, and almost never for a healthy adult in Ontario.

The World Health Organization has published on demineralized water and noted that populations relying on it as their only water source, with a diet already short on calcium and magnesium, can run into problems. That is a real finding and it is worth stating plainly rather than waving away. It is also a description of circumstances that do not apply to most people reading this.

Here is where it does deserve thought:

• You drink almost nothing else and eat a very restricted diet. Minerals come overwhelmingly from food. If the food is covering it, the water does not need to.
• Infant formula. Follow your paediatrician and the formula maker. Many formulas are designed around water with a known mineral profile.
• Endurance athletes and heavy sweaters. The issue there is electrolytes generally, not distilled water specifically, and it is solved with food or an electrolyte mix.
• Medical conditions affecting electrolyte balance. Ask your doctor. That is not a dodge, it is the correct answer.

For everybody else the mineral content of drinking water is a rounding error next to what is on the plate. A litre of tap water in the GTA might carry 60 mg of calcium. A glass of milk carries around 300 mg.

How to drink it without overthinking it

Treat it as water. Drink it when you are thirsty, cook with it, make coffee with it. If you want minerals in it there are mineral drops sold for the purpose, and they work, but most people try them once and decide they preferred it plain.

The one thing worth doing is storing it properly. Keep it sealed, keep it out of direct sun, and use a bottle that has held nothing but water. Distilled water picks up whatever it touches faster than tap water does, which is exactly why it is so useful in equipment and exactly why the container matters.

If the practical question is where to get it, our guide to where to buy distilled water in the GTA compares the options on price per litre.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drink distilled water every day long-term?

Yes. There is no scientific evidence that drinking distilled water daily causes any health problems. Millions of people around the world drink distilled water as their primary water source. Your body gets its essential minerals from food, not water.

Does distilled water dehydrate you?

No. Distilled water hydrates you exactly the same as any other water. It is pure H₂O and is absorbed and used by your body normally.

Is distilled water safe for babies and children?

Yes. Many pediatricians recommend distilled water for mixing baby formula because it is free of contaminants that could affect infant health. It is equally safe for children of all ages.

Can I use distilled water for cooking?

Absolutely. Distilled water is excellent for cooking because it does not add any unwanted flavors or chemicals to your food. Many professional chefs prefer distilled water for this reason.

Where can I get distilled water delivered in Ontario?

Puretap Water Distillers delivers distilled water across the Greater Toronto Area, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Hamilton, and throughout Ontario. Visit puretap.ca to place an order or call us for same-week delivery.

How is distilled water different from purified or filtered water?

Distilled water goes through a complete phase change, liquid to steam to liquid, which removes virtually everything except pure water. Filtered and purified water use physical or chemical barriers that can miss dissolved chemicals and degrade over time. Distillation is the most thorough purification method available.