The Difference Between Reverse Osmosis Vs Distilled Water

Categories: Reverse Osmosis

There are two main options for removing contaminants from water, these are reverse osmosis and distillation. Both are great and will be effective at removing contaminants, but they differ in how they work and have their own practical benefits when used day in and day out. 

This guide will focus on reverse osmosis vs distilled water, and their key differences, to hopefully help you better understand which is the better choice for you. 

First, a brief introduction to both RO water and distilled water;

What is Reverse Osmosis Water?

Reverse osmosis is a water filtration method that pushes water through a semi-permeable membrane to remove dissolved salts, chemicals, and other contaminants. 

The result is highly purified water that’s ready for drinking, brewing, cooking, and even for use in fishkeeping or industrial settings.

Reverse osmosis systems typically include several filtration stages and can be set up as compact under-sink units, ideal for use in your home. Then come your typical parts and accessories. You’ll also find accessories like booster pumps, RO membranes, and dedicated taps, which fine-tune your setup if needed.

What is Distilled Water?

Distilled water is produced by boiling water into steam, then condensing it back into liquid form, leaving most minerals, heavy metals, and impurities behind. 

This method is commonly used in laboratory work, for steam irons, or for car batteries, where mineral-free water is needed.

Distilled water is incredibly pure, but it lacks beneficial minerals, and the distillation process is energy intensive and slow. 

It’s typically more expensive to produce at home and less sustainable for everyday drinking.

What Are The Key Differences Between RO & Distilled Water?

Purification Process

  • Reverse Osmosis: Filters out contaminants using a multi-stage membrane system.

  • Distillation: Uses heat to vaporise water, leaving impurities behind.

Mineral Content

  • Reverse Osmosis: Often retains or reintroduces small amounts of minerals.

  • Distilled Water: Contains no minerals unless manually added after purification.

Taste

  • RO Water: Crisp, clean, and often preferred for drinking.

  • Distilled Water: Tastes flat or neutral due to the absence of minerals.

Environmental Impact

  • Reverse Osmosis: Uses less energy but does waste some water during filtration.

  • Distillation: Energy intensive due to the constant boiling.

Ease of Use

  • RO: Once installed, a home system gives an on-demand supply of pure water. Plus, replacement filters are fairly affordable.

  • Distilled: Requires purchase or operation of a bulky and slow distiller.

Cost

  • RO: Initial setup cost can be higher, but ongoing use is economical.

  • Distilled: Typically more expensive long-term, especially when purchased in bottles.

Depending on what you need, be it for a particular industry or to deal with certain contaminants, it’s worth taking some time to explore the different systems available.

Which Should You Use?

Like most things in life, it depends:

Choose reverse osmosis if you want a reliable, sustainable, and cost effective system for home use that provides clean drinking water with improved taste. Think everyday hydration, cooking, and brewing.
Choose distilled water for specialist activities, like lab work, medical equipment, or appliances requiring mineral-free water. Remember, it’s not recommended as your main drinking water source due to the lack of nutrients.

Learn More About Water Purification

The differences between distilled and RO water are fairly simple to understand, however if you have any further questions or queries, our Help Centre has all the answers. Or, dip into our water filtration guides for product comparisons and installation tips.

Whichever option you choose, Finerfilters has the products and expertise to help you achieve the cleanest, healthiest water for your needs.