What is Pure Water? Is it drinkable, where is it used and how is it obtained?
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Water is the basic source of life and we use different forms of it every day without realising it. While drinking water contains natural minerals, some areas may require pure water containing only H2O. Pure water plays a critical role at many points from scientific research to the operation of medical devices.
What is Pure Water (Distilled Water)?
Pure water is an artificial form that is obtained by undergoing various purification processes in the laboratory environment or in special industrial devices and does not exist in nature on its own. It is often referred to as demineralised water or distilled water in scientific literature and technical fields. Useful minerals necessary for human health such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium in normal drinking water are 98 to 100% destroyed in pure water. Since it does not contain any dissolved substances, it is also known as "Hungry Water" in the language of chemistry and tends to actively dissolve and absorb minerals in the pipes and containers it comes into contact with.
Is Pure Water Drinkable?
The issue of whether pure water is safe to drink is one of the most confusing issues among consumers. According to medical research and World Health Organisation (WHO) reports, drinking pure water is harmful to human health and is not recommended. Because the human body meets a significant portion of its daily electrolyte and mineral needs from the water it drinks. When pure water is consumed, it can also dissolve the existing minerals in the body and cause them to be excreted through urine (electrolyte imbalance). In addition, according to WHO data, using pure (demineralised) water while cooking reduces the calcium content in food by 60% and the magnesium content by much higher levels. This leads to serious mineral deficiency problems in the long term.
How is Pure Water Obtained?
Different technologies are used to remove impurities from water. The continuously increasing market share of consumables such as filters and resins in ultrapure water systems shows how critical these production processes are for the industry. Essentially pure water is obtained by three basic methods:
Distillation
Distillation, the oldest and most well-known method, is based on the principle of boiling and vaporising water. As boiling water turns into gas (vapour), it leaves behind heavy metals, minerals and salts. The resulting pure water vapour is passed through special cooling pipes, converted back into a liquid state and collected in a separate container.
Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis, an advanced filtration technology, is the process of passing water through semi-permeable membranes with pores so small that only water molecules (H2O) can pass through by applying high pressure. Industrial reverse osmosis systems can purify water by 99%.
Deionisation
This method uses ion exchange resins to separate the electrically charged ions (calcium, sodium, chloride, etc.) in the water. The water passing through the positively and negatively charged resin beds is purified of all ionic impurities and reaches an absolute degree of purity. It is usually applied as a complementary step to make water "ultra-pure" after the reverse osmosis process.
Where is Pure Water Used?
The range of uses of pure water is much wider than the ordinary consumer can imagine. Today, technology and manufacturing sectors are highly dependent on pure water. So much so that the global ultrapure water market size is expected to grow from USD 9.32 billion in 2025 to USD 22.06 billion by 2035. In particular, the semiconductor industry (microchip production) alone consumes approximately 56 per cent of the total global ultrapure water volume.
Laboratory and Medical Sector
In sensitive experiments, no other elements should be present in the water in order not to distort the results. For this reason, absolutely pure water is used for analyses in chemistry and biology laboratories. These waters are graded according to international TS EN ISO 3696 (Water used in analytical laboratory) standards. In addition, during the sterilisation of medical devices in hospitals, distilled water is used to prevent lime or biological residues in the devices.
Automotive and Industry (Battery and Radiator Water)
Pure water is of great importance in the automotive industry. Using ordinary tap water in the engine cooling systems (radiators) of vehicles and lead-acid batteries leads to rapid corrosion, clogging and loss of performance due to the lime and minerals in the water. The basic component of fluids known as battery water or radiator water is pure water because it does not scale.
Daily Home Appliances
The place where housewives and daily users come into contact with pure water the most is steam household appliances. Steam irons, steam cleaners and some special humidifiers are designed to be used with pure water or demineralised water in order not to leave residue and limescale behind after boiling. Using tap water in these appliances will cause the appliance to become clogged with limescale and break down.
What are the Properties of Pure Water?
Pure water is known for being odourless, colourless and tasteless. Although this feature seems to be common with ordinary drinking water, it is completely different chemically. Its electrical conductivity is very low. Since there are no ions in it, it has almost no capacity to conduct electric current. Due to this feature, it can be used safely in electronic devices and laboratories.
The pH value of pure water is theoretically neutral, i.e. 7. However, when it comes into contact with air, carbon dioxide dissolves and the pH value can become slightly acidic. This requires the use of pure water in a laboratory environment in a short time. All these properties make pure water valuable not only for drinking purposes but also for technical and scientific purposes.
What is the Difference Between Pure Water and Normal Water?
There are significant differences between pure water and drinking water consumed in daily life. These differences can be listed as follows:
- Pure water consists only of the H2O molecule. However, drinking water contains minerals and ions
- Drinking water contains minerals such as calcium and magnesium that the body needs. Pure water does not contain these substances.
- The electrical conductivity of pure water is very low. The conductivity of other waters is higher.
- Pure water is mostly used in industry and laboratories, while drinking water is for consumption in daily life.
These differences clearly show that pure water is not suitable for drinking purposes for human health. Drinking water contains minerals necessary for a healthy life. Pure water is preferred for special uses.
Differences between Normal Water, Soft Water and Pure Water
There is a confusion of concepts that we frequently encounter in our field observations and customer installations. Most consumers think that the water purifier they buy at home produces "pure water". However, quality purification systems produce "soft" and drinkable alkaline water by adding healthy minerals back to the water after purifying the water from harmful substances. In the table below you can see the main differences between these types of water. The term "soft water" is used only for water with a reduced calcium and magnesium content, which does not form limescale but is tasty to drink.
| Feature | Normal (Tap) Water | Pure Water (Distilled Water) | Soft (Purified) Water |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mineral Content | High (Calcium, Chlorine, Lime etc.) | None (0%) | Balanced (Useful minerals) |
| Electric Conductivity | High (thanks to minerals) | Almost Zero (Insulator) | Low / Medium |
| Is it drinkable? | Depends on the network (Contains chlorine) | No (Unhealthy) | Yes (It is the most ideal drinking water) |
| Holiday Profile | May be heavy, calcareous or chlorinated | Insipid, bitter and tasteless | Delicious, soft drink |
| Area of Use | General cleaning, mains | Laboratory, Industry, Battery, Iron | Daily consumption, tea, food |
What are the Benefits of Pure Water?
The benefits of pure water vary according to the area of use. Firstly, it prolongs the life of devices because it prevents mineral and limescale build-up. This is a great advantage especially for laboratory equipment, medical equipment and industrial machinery. When the cleaning of these devices is done with pure water instead of tap water, the life of the devices is extended.
Another benefit is that it increases the reliability of experimental results. The use of water without ions makes it easier to obtain error-free results in chemical analyses and biological experiments. Therefore, pure water is an indispensable part of scientific research.
In the cosmetics industry, pure water is also useful because it does not contain any substances that would spoil the formulation of the products. It increases the reliability and shelf life of the products. At the same time, the fact that it is free from impurities that can harm human skin is an important advantage for the cosmetics industry.
Another benefit of pure water is related to environmental impacts. The use of pure water in reusable water systems reduces waste generation. Thus, both the environment and human health are protected.
The definition, properties and usage areas of pure water make it valuable in scientific and industrial fields rather than daily life. Since it does not contain minerals necessary for human health, it may cause mineral deficiency when consumed for a long time. However, it plays a critical role in the protection of devices, the reliability of experimental studies and the creation of hygienic conditions.
The importance of pure water obtained with reliable treatment systems is increasing. Especially the contribution of membrane filters technology to this field is great. In the light of all this information, Rainwater brand stands out for those who care about quality in water treatment solutions.
This special type of water obtained with membrane filter technologies stands out with its reliability. Water purification equipment Rainwater, which offers quality solutions in the field of water treatment devices, also draws attention as an important choice in obtaining pure water.
Is Pure Water Acid or Base?
Since pure water consists only of H₂O molecules, it is neither acid nor base, i.e. neutral. This is indicated by a pH value of 7. Water contains very small amounts of H⁺ and OH- ions, and equilibrium is established when these are equal to each other.
However, it is difficult to find completely pure water in nature. For example, when water comes into contact with air, it absorbs carbon dioxide, which can lower its pH value slightly, making it slightly acidic. In short, pure water in the laboratory is neutral, but the pH value of the water we use in daily life may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Difference of Pure Water from Normal Water?
The most obvious difference is the content. Normal water adds magnesium, sodium and calcium to its body when it comes from underground or from dams. Pure water is an artificial water that is completely purified from these minerals and heavy metals and processed in laboratory standards. It does not conduct electricity and does not calcify.
Is boiled water pure water?
No, absolutely not. Boiling water in a kettle at home only kills living microorganisms and bacteria in the water. Calcium, magnesium and heavy metals in the water remain in the boiled water. In order for a water to be pure (distilled), the boiling vapour must be captured without mixing with the air and distilled by liquefying it again in a separate clean container.
Is purified water pure water?
This is the point where consumers are most mistaken and purification water brings to mind the question of whether it is harmful. Household standard water purifiers do not produce pure water. After the reverse osmosis filter purifies the water from heavy metals, "Alkaline and Mineral Filters" in the system, which is necessary for human health calcium and magnesium back into the water. Thus, the device produces not pure water, but extremely healthy, pH balanced and delicious "soft drinking water".
Is tap water pure water?
Tap water is not pure water. Mains water is chlorinated by municipalities for disinfection purposes and contains high levels of lime and dissolved minerals because it comes from underground sources. Tap water therefore has a high conductivity and leaves lime deposits when used in steam appliances.
What does pure water taste like?
It is the minerals in water that give it the refreshing taste we are used to. Since pure water contains no minerals, it has an extremely bland, flat, even bitter and metallic taste for some people. It is not suitable for the human palate.
How long does pure water last?
The shelf life of pure water depends on storage conditions. As soon as it comes into contact with air, its "hungry water" feature is activated; it absorbs carbon dioxide in the air and starts to absorb the properties of the container it comes into contact with. Pure water left open loses its purity within a few hours and becomes slightly acidic (pH 5.8). For this reason, it should be stored in vacuum and special glass/plastic containers without air.
