What is the Difference Between Purified Water and Filtered Water

Water is an essential element for our survival. It is vital to stay hydrated and maintain good health. There are various types of water in the market today, and those variations include mineral water, spring water, tap water, and distilled water.

With the increasing awareness about the importance of clean drinking water, it is more important to understand the difference between filtered water and purified water.  While both types of water may seem similar, there are some critical differences between their purification techniques.

Purified Water

Purified water goes through a process that significantly reduces or even eliminates all impurities found in water. Methods such as distillation and reverse osmosis are commonly used in this process.

The distillation process involves boiling water and collecting the steam, which leaves behind the contaminants.

On the other hand, reverse osmosis forces water under pressure through a semipermeable membrane, which will remove impurities. This results in water free from bacteria, viruses, and harmful chemicals, making it safe for consumption.

Filtered Water

Filtered water is the result of a process specifically targeting and removing certain contaminants from the water without completely stripping it of all impurities. The method used to filter water can vary, but it typically involves a physical barrier or a chemical process.

Activated carbon filters trap impurities in a bed of small, porous granules. Ceramic filters, on the other hand, use tiny holes in the ceramic material to block contaminants. Both are standard filtering processes.

The filtered water may still contain some minerals, which can contribute to the water’s taste and nutritional content. This method is often used for treating tap water in homes and offices to improve the taste and remove harmful substances while preserving beneficial minerals.

What Each Type of Filter Removes

Different types of filtration methods are designed to remove various impurities present in the water, enhancing its overall quality and taste:

1. Activated Carbon Filters: this process removes chlorine taste and odors from the water. The carbon granules within the filter attract and trap these impurities, significantly improving the water’s taste and smell.
2. Sediment Filters: Sediment filters screen out large particles like dust, sand, and rust. These suspended particles and sediments are common in untreated water and can clog up other types of filters if not removed in advance.
3. High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filters: HEPA filters are incredibly fine and capable of screening out extremely small particles that others may miss. These include some types of bacteria and viruses, making them a crucial part of comprehensive water purification systems.

Choosing Between Purified and Filtered Water

While purified water stands out for its high purity levels, it might not be the most beneficial type of water for everyone due to the absence of beneficial minerals. The purification processes out minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium, all essential for our health. But they get removed along with the harmful impurities.

On the other hand, filtered water retains these minerals while removing many other contaminants, providing a healthier option for regular human consumption. However, the efficacy of filtering depends heavily on the type and quality of the filter used, and less robust filters may only effectively eliminate some harmful substances.

Therefore, when choosing between purified and filtered water, it’s crucial to consider your specific needs and budget. If the goal is to remove as many impurities as possible, purified water may be the better choice. However, if you prefer water with some mineral content and your primary concern is improving the taste and removing specific contaminants, filtered water would be more suitable.

Other Labeling Terms Demystified: Distilled, Demineralized, and Deionized Water

Distilled Water

Distilled water is created through distillation and heated until it turns into steam. The steam is then collected and recondensed into liquid form, leaving most minerals and impurities behind. Distilled water is a type of purified water with an extremely high purity level, making it a preferred choice for laboratory use or medical applications.

Demineralized Water

Demineralized water, often referred to as deionized water, has had all its mineral ions removed. This includes cations like sodium, calcium, iron, copper and anions such as chloride and sulfate. The demineralization process involves ion exchange resins that replace the mineral ions in the water with hydrogen and hydroxyl ions, resulting in water that is free from dissolved minerals. Demineralized water is often used in industries where water purity is critical, such as power plants and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Deionized Water

Deionized water, as the name suggests, is water from which ions have been removed. It’s created using a chemical process that removes almost all the mineral salts from the water. The deionization process is similar to demineralization and results in highly pure water. Like distilled and demineralized water, it is mostly used in environments where water purity is crucial, such as laboratories and hospitals. However, due to the lack of essential minerals, it’s not typically used for drinking.

In summary, while distilled, demineralized, and deionized waters all represent highly purified forms of water, their uses, merits, and drawbacks can vary. It’s important to understand these differences when deciding on the type of water appropriate for your specific needs.

Helpful Water Tests: Know What’s Really in Your Glass

Testing your water is an effective way to ensure the safety and quality of the water you consume. Various water testing kits are available on the market, which can help you assess the quality of tap and filtered/purified water.

1. pH Water Test: This test checks the alkalinity or acidity of your water. The pH levels of water can influence how it tastes and smells. Neutral pH is 7, while anything below is considered acidic and above is basic.
2. Water Hardness Test: This test measures the concentration of calcium and magnesium ions in your water. Hard water, high in these minerals, can cause limescale buildup in your pipes and appliances.
3. Water TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) Test: This measures the total concentration of all inorganic and organic substances in a liquid. High TDS levels may indicate a high concentration of heavy metals or salts, which can affect the taste of the water and potentially its safety.
4. Water Lead Test: Lead in water is a serious issue, as lead is a toxic metal that can have long-term health effects. This test is especially important if you live in an older home that may have lead pipes.
5. Chlorine Water Test: This test measures the chlorine content in your water. While chlorine is used to disinfect water, high levels can lead to a strong taste and smell and contribute to health issues.

You can better understand your water’s quality by conducting these tests on your tap water and your filtered or purified water. This can help you decide if you need a water filter or a more advanced water purification system and what contaminants you need to remove from your water. Remember, the goal is not just to have clear water but clean, safe water free from harmful substances.

You Should Consider a PureAquaTek Dispenser for Your Office Water Needs

When considering a water solution for your office needs, PureAquaTek is an ideal choice. This innovative water dispenser provides a combination of filtration and purification technologies ensuring not only the removal of harmful contaminants, but also the retention of beneficial minerals necessary for your health.

The dispenser is efficient, cost-effective, and easy to maintain which makes it suitable for an office environment. It operates quietly, dispenses water quickly, and has a sleek and compact design that easily fits into any office setup.

We here at PureAquaTek have awesome three dispensers with a freestanding design. The three models are for both home and office use.

• TEK-12 – Sports a state-of-the-art reverse osmosis purification to produce bullet ice and hot, cold, and ambient water from recessed spigots.
• TEK-9 – Its compact size, large dispensing area and rate for bottles, multiple water options, and LED Ultraviolet light (UV) to maintain system cleanliness make the W9 our most innovative model.
• TEK-DMI – The Tek-DMI features the latest LED UV filters and technologies to provide continuous clean-tasting water without bulky 5-gallon or plastic single-use bottles.
• TEK-4 Sparkling – Its compact size, sizeable dispensing area for bottles, and multiple water options, including sparkling water. Its flexible configuration makes it one of our most popular models.

These dispensers are connected directly to your existing sink water line, and we do the installation for you. Our dispensers are great for small spaces or open offices.

Moreover, the PureAquaTek Dispenser offers the convenience of both hot and cold water, catering to different beverage preferences throughout all seasons. By choosing the PureAquaTek Dispenser, you are investing in the health and well-being of your office team while also demonstrating a commitment to sustainable practices by reducing the use of disposable plastic water bottles.