The human body is nearly two-thirds water. Our brain alone is composed of 75% so it’s no wonder why clean drinking water is essential to our everyday health. Water plays a critical role in many of our body’s functions: it brings nutrients to cells, gets rid of wastes, protects joints and organs, and it maintains our body temperature.
However, not all water is alike. Let’s look at the difference between spring, distilled, and purified water so you can make an informed decision as to what type of water you should be consuming.
What Is Spring Water?
Spring water is groundwater that is naturally rich in minerals. When in its purest form, it contains the highest mineral content of any type of water, especially when compared to bottled water or municipal water which have been shown to contain respective levels of antibacterial chemicals, chlorine, and pharmaceuticals.
Depending on the source, spring water is high in the minerals: potassium, sodium, magnesium and calcium. Studies show that heart disease and osteoporosis could be reduced with the consumption of calcium-rich and magnesium water.
As a consumer, you should be cautious about misleading labels on bottled spring water. The purity claims made by some brands refer to the source of water and not the water itself. If the label reads “100% pure,” this just means that 100% of the water came from a spring or an underground source. In fact, over half of the bottled water sold in the marketplace is repackaged and resold from municipal tap systems.
Spring water should not be confused with brands that market their product as “glacier water” or “mountain water”. These labels are not regulated and may still contain harmful chemicals and microbes. The same goes for “purified “water labels. It is important to do your own research on the brand you are consuming.
What Is Distilled Water?
Distilling is a purification method that involves boiling and evaporation; The water is first boiled and then the condensed steam is returned to a liquid, removing impurities and important minerals. Due to its lack of minerals, many consumers have reported a “flat” taste when consuming distilled water, so although it is safe to drink, it is most used in aquariums, for watering plants, and in car cooling systems.
What is filtered water?
Filtered water is tap or municipal water that has been run through a carbon filter to remove bacteria, chlorine, pesticides, and chemicals while preserving the minerals.
In certain areas, tap water is not safe for consumption and can make you ill from an infection or from the accumulation of toxic contaminants, such as heavy metals and pesticides, so filtered water is often a top choice for human consumption. In most grocery stores, filtered water is marketed as “bottled water” or “spring water”. It is also important to note that not all manufacturers take the extra step of filtration to remove chemicals and microbes from filtered water so read the labels and do your own homework before purchasing.
A carbon filter can not only remove chlorine from filtered water but can also improve the taste.
What is purified water?
Purified water is water that has been processed or filtered to remove impurities and contaminants such as chemicals, bacteria, and toxins that are found in tap water. This purification makes water more suitable to consume without any bad taste due to impurities.
Contaminants that can be removed from purification:
Minerals and metals like copper and lead
Chemicals and pollutants
Harmful fungi
Algae
Parasites
Metals like copper and lead
Bacteria
Purified water undergoes rigorous filtration systems that extend beyond what common “filtered water” does and therefore is far superior. The result is pure, delicious water that is cleaner than spring, tap, filtered, and distilled water.
To purify your own water, you might want to consider the AquaBrick Portable Water Purification System. It will purify ANY source of non-salt water making it safe, clean, and portable drinking water. Please learn more HERE.
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Sources:
1. Scott. (2021, August 5). Berkey water filter: Filtered water vs. purified water. Conscious Water. https://www.consciouswater.ca/filtered-water-vs-purified-water-what-is-the-difference/#:~:text=Filtered%20water%20goes%20through%20a,pathogens%20removed%2C%20such%20as%20bacteria.
2. Karen. (2023, June 6). What is the difference between purified and filtered water: Independent Water Yakima Inc..Independent Water Service, https://independentwateryakima.com/what-is-the-difference-between-purified-and-filtered-water
3. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Spring. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/spring-water