Comparing Water Filtration to Distillation
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Comparing Water Filtration to Distillation
There are significant differences between water that has been filtered and water that has been distilled. Up until the 1970s, distillation was a proper technique for water purification, but is now considered to be much less effective than filtration.
How Does Distillation Work?
The distillation process is not considered to be the most efficient way to decontaminate water, nor is it the most cost-effective solution to the problem of drinking water contamination. Distilling water requires two containers and a series of tubes. Contaminated water is heated to it's boiling point, and steam from the water is transferred, through the tubes, into an other container, where it condenses into liquid form. The idea behind the distillation process is to leave all of the contaminants behind in the original container, resulting in fresh clean water in the second container.
Distillation does effectively remove contaminants that have a higher boiling point than water, such as heavy metals, pesticides, and some minerals. However, this technique does not remove chlorine, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), or any other contaminants that have boiling points below that of water. Virtually all water filters remove chlorine from water, and the best water filters are also able to greatly reduce the presence of VOCs. When you compare water filters to distillation, there is no question that filtration is a better solution for producing safe drinking water.
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