Most bottled water is not distilled. “Bottled” describes how the water is packaged, while “distilled” describes how it was treated. A bottle may contain spring water, mineral water, purified water, reverse osmosis water or distilled water.
If you specifically need distilled water, do not assume that any bottled water will work. Check the label for the words “distilled water” or “vapor distilled.” A label that says only “purified water” does not necessarily mean the water was distilled.
| Type of bottled water | What it means | Is it distilled? |
|---|---|---|
| Distilled water | Water was vaporized and condensed back into liquid | Yes |
| Purified water | Water meets a purification standard and may be treated by distillation, reverse osmosis, deionization or another suitable process | Possibly |
| Reverse osmosis water | Water was forced through a membrane that removes many dissolved substances | No |
| Spring water | Water came from a qualifying underground formation or spring | Usually not |
| Mineral water | Water came from an underground source with naturally occurring minerals | No |
| Drinking water | A broad label for water intended for drinking | Not necessarily |
Is bottled water the same as distilled water?
No. Bottled water and distilled water are overlapping categories, but they are not the same thing.
Some distilled water is sold in bottles or gallon jugs, so it is both bottled and distilled. However, most bottled water on store shelves has been treated by another method or comes from a spring or underground source.
The distinction matters when distilled water is required for a CPAP machine, humidifier or other appliance. Ordinary spring or purified bottled water may still contain enough dissolved minerals to leave scale behind.
What is distilled water?
Distillation separates water from many of the substances dissolved in it. Water is heated until it becomes vapor. That vapor is collected, cooled and condensed back into liquid water, while most minerals and other nonvolatile substances remain behind.
This is not simply a matter of boiling water to “destroy contaminants.” The important part is collecting and condensing the vapor separately from the original water.
Distillation is particularly effective at reducing dissolved minerals. Properly designed systems may also use additional treatment because some volatile compounds can evaporate with the water.
The US Food and Drug Administration lists distillation alongside reverse osmosis, filtration and ozonation as treatments used by bottled-water producers.
Is purified bottled water distilled?
It might be, but “purified” does not automatically mean “distilled.”
Purified water is the broader category. Under the US bottled-water standard of identity, purified water may be produced by:
- Distillation
- Reverse osmosis
- Deionization
- Another suitable purification process
Distilled water is therefore a type of purified water, but not all purified water is distilled.
Reverse osmosis can also remove much of the mineral content from water, but it is a different process. If you are comparing the two for drinking, you may also want to read about remineralizing reverse osmosis water.
How can you tell whether bottled water is distilled?
Read the product label rather than relying on the bottle’s appearance, brand name or words such as “pure” and “crisp.”
Look for one of these descriptions:
- Distilled water
- Vapor-distilled water
- Purified by distillation
If the label says only “purified water,” inspect the smaller print for a description of the treatment method. It may say reverse osmosis, deionization, distillation or filtration.
Health Canada similarly advises consumers to examine bottled-water labels for the treatments applied. Its bottled-water guidance notes that water other than spring or mineral water must carry a description of the treatment it has undergone.
Formulas and production methods can vary between countries and change over time, so the label on the bottle you are buying is more reliable than an old list of brands online.
What brands of bottled water are distilled?
Distilled water is commonly sold in gallon jugs under supermarket, pharmacy and water-company brands. The simplest approach is to search the water or household-care aisle for a container explicitly labelled “distilled water.”
Smartwater is a familiar example of bottled water marketed in the United States as purified through vapor distillation. Electrolytes are then added for taste. This means it is vapor-distilled, although it is not mineral-free by the time it reaches the consumer.
That distinction may matter for equipment requiring low-mineral distilled water. For those uses, a plain jug labelled “distilled water” is usually a more straightforward choice than drinking water with minerals added afterward.
Is Dasani bottled water distilled?
Dasani is not currently marketed as distilled water in the United States. Its official product information describes it as purified water with magnesium sulfate and potassium chloride added for taste.
The label does not identify the finished product as distilled water, so you should not use Dasani as a direct substitute when a device specifically requires distilled water.
Can bottled water be used instead of distilled water?
Only if the bottle is labelled distilled, or the instructions for your particular use allow another type of water. The right answer depends on what you are doing with it.
| Use | Can ordinary bottled water replace distilled water? |
|---|---|
| Everyday drinking | Usually yes. Distilled water is not required for ordinary hydration. |
| Cooking | Usually yes, although different mineral levels may slightly affect taste. |
| CPAP humidifier | Check the device manual. Some water tubs require distilled water, while certain cleanable tubs permit potable water. |
| Room humidifier | Distilled or demineralized water is preferable when the manufacturer recommends it, particularly to reduce mineral deposits and white dust. |
| Steam iron or appliance | Follow the appliance manual. Recommendations differ between manufacturers. |
| Laboratory, medical or automotive use | Do not substitute ordinary bottled water unless the relevant instructions explicitly permit it. |
Using bottled water in a CPAP machine
Do not assume that water is suitable for a CPAP humidifier merely because it is safe to drink.
Requirements can even differ between water tubs made for the same CPAP model. For example, Resmed says its AirSense 11 Standard water tub should use distilled water only, while its Cleanable water tub may use drinking-quality water.
If distilled water is temporarily unavailable, consult the manufacturer’s instructions rather than improvising. Philips has published separate cleaning guidance for certain humidifiers when tap or bottled water must be used temporarily.
Using bottled water in a room humidifier
Minerals in tap, spring and ordinary bottled water can accumulate inside a humidifier or be dispersed as fine white dust by some ultrasonic and impeller models.
The US Environmental Protection Agency recommends water labelled “distilled” to reduce mineral exposure from portable humidifiers. Purified water is not necessarily equivalent because it may have been produced by a process that leaves more minerals behind.
Water choice does not replace regular cleaning. Empty, clean and dry the humidifier according to its manual to limit microbial growth.
Is distilled water safe to drink?
Commercial distilled water sold as drinking water is generally safe to consume when it meets the applicable bottled-water standards. It contains very little dissolved mineral content and may taste flat compared with spring or mineral water.
Distillation removes minerals from the water itself. That does not mean the water literally strips minerals from your body when you drink it. Most people obtain the majority of their essential minerals from food rather than relying on drinking water as their main source.
You do not need distilled water for normal hydration simply because it has undergone more intensive treatment. Safe tap water, spring water, mineral water and properly treated purified water can all be reasonable drinking choices.
Never drink water sold for industrial or laboratory purposes unless it is also clearly labelled as suitable for human consumption.
Is distilled water more sustainable than other bottled water?
Not automatically. Distillation requires energy to heat water, and single-use bottles require materials, manufacturing and transport.
If your local tap water is safe, using a reusable bottle will usually create less packaging waste than regularly buying disposable bottles. The EPA recommends reusing suitable water bottles and other containers as one way to reduce plastic waste.
Home reverse osmosis avoids many single-use bottles, although RO systems produce reject water. That water may sometimes be recovered for appropriate household uses. Here are 10 possible uses for reverse osmosis wastewater.
Frequently asked questions
Is all bottled water distilled?
No. Most bottled water is spring, mineral, purified, reverse osmosis or drinking water rather than distilled water.
Is bottled water the same as distilled water?
No. Bottled water describes the packaging. Distilled water describes water produced through distillation. Distilled water can be bottled, but a bottle of water is not necessarily distilled.
Is purified water the same as distilled water?
No. Distilled water is one type of purified water. Purified water can also be produced through reverse osmosis, deionization or another suitable process.
Is spring water distilled?
Spring water is not normally distilled. Its name refers to its underground source. If spring water were subsequently distilled and sold as distilled water, the label should identify that treatment.
Does boiling water make it distilled?
No. Boiling alone does not create distilled water. You must capture the water vapor and condense it into a separate clean container.
Can I use purified bottled water in place of distilled water?
Only when the relevant manufacturer or instructions allow it. If a CPAP machine, humidifier or other device specifies distilled water, choose a bottle explicitly labelled “distilled.”
The bottom line
Most bottled water is not distilled. Bottled water may come from several sources and can be treated in several different ways. Distillation is only one of them.
If you specifically need distilled water, ignore vague marketing language and check for “distilled water,” “vapor distilled” or “purified by distillation” on the label. If it says only “purified,” do not assume it was distilled.
For ordinary drinking, the distinction is mostly about treatment method, mineral content and taste. For CPAP machines, humidifiers and technical uses, it can affect mineral buildup and whether the water meets the equipment manufacturer’s instructions.
