What Is the Difference Between Distilled & Boiled Water?

Boiling and distillation help make water safer to drink.

Boiling and distillation are two methods of making water safer to drink. Although boiling is the recommended method in an emergency situation, it does not purify water as thoroughly as distillation.

Boiling Process

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends boiling water before drinking if there is any doubt whether the water is safe. Bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute, and let it cool completely before drinking.

Boiling Effectiveness

Boiling water kills most bacteria, parasites and viruses that can lead to illness such as diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Distillation Process

Distillation begins with boiling, but it is a more in-depth process. In distillation, steam produced through boiling is captured and cooled. The steam turns to condensation, which is free of impurities and safe to drink, according to the Cyber-Nook website.

Distillation Effectiveness

Distillation kills illness-causing germs and eliminates other contaminants such as heavy metals, salts and many chemicals, according to FEMA.

Considerations

Although boiling does not purify water to the extent of distillation, it is much less time consuming and provides larger amounts of drinking water. Acquiring a gallon of pure water through distillation usually takes between two and five hours, according to Cyber-Nook.

References

• FEMA: Guidelines for Managing Water Supplies--Treatment
• CDC: Water Treatment Methods
• Cyber-Nook: Drinking Water Treatment Methods

Resources

• OutdoorSafe: Making Water Safe to Drink
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Ground Water and Drinking Water
• The Farm: Water Distillation Principles