If you are considering buying a countertop water distiller, first learn about distillation and compare it to other treatment methods.

First off, any treatment method is better than no method. But why use distillation for your purification needs when another option provides better-quality water at lower cost? Do your homework before making a decision you may regret later.

Why You Shouldn’t Use a Countertop Water Distiller

Countertop water distillers use distillation, which was developed over 40 years ago for industries requiring mineral-free water. Because of the effectiveness of this method in treating water for such industries, its use for homes became a reality.

But lo and behold, the purification industry didn’t realize it was creating a bed for the potential development of health problems. What did the industry learn? Distillation deprives your body of essential minerals by stripping them out of the water you drink.

Dr. Zolton Rona, noted author of the book titled “The Joy of Health,” states “The longer one consumes distilled water, the more likely the development of mineral deficiencies and acid state.” So what does this mean?

When we consume distilled water, we are in essence consuming substance with an acid state–water that’s unstable. Once it enters our bodies in an acid state, it’s important for it to become stable. How does it become stable? In short, it pulls minerals from our teeth and bones in order to neutralize the acid. Without neutralizing acid, our bodies become breeding grounds of free radicals, causing an increased risk of cancer.

Countertop water distillers are not effective for removing synthetic chemicals. Before water reaches a boiling point in order to vaporize and condense, the chemicals vaporize and condense. This happens because virtually all chemicals boil before water boils.

Countertop water distillers generate drinking water at a very slow rate. The cost of generating this vital substance can be anywhere from 20 to 26 cents per gallon, which is expensive compared to sub-micron carbon filtration.

Other Alternatives

Reverse osmosis is a process that allows the passage of water through a semi-permeable pore structure while filtering out the inorganic contaminants and essential minerals. This process, like distillation, was used in industrial applications requiring the removal of minerals.

Reverse osmosis is not effective for removing synthetic chemicals, such as herbicides, because their molecules are smaller than water molecules. So in order for this method to filter out synthetic chemicals, it must be used in conjunction with carbon filters.

One concern with using this method is the amount of water it wastes in proportion to the amount it filters. By some estimates, it wastes about two to three gallons for every gallon of water it filters. Filtering water can cost as much as 18 to 24 cents per gallon, which is expensive in comparison to sub-micron filtration.

Activated carbon block filters are the most common, effective, and inexpensive systems for filtering water. Experts often recommend the multi-stage activated carbon filters, which include media with sub-micron pore structures for filtering out THMs–the byproducts of chlorine treatment–and cysts, such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia.

The EPA recognizes activated carbon filters as the best filters for removing THMs and VOCs (volatile organic chemicals), contaminants often found in our municipal drinking water supply.

These systems also use a patented method called ion exchange for putting the essential minerals back into the filtered water.

A multi-stage carbon filter costs only about 10 cents per gallon and isn’t hard to install. To treat drinking water or water for cooking, you can choose among the countertop or under-the-sink varieties.

Do not get duped into paying your hard-earned money for a filtration system that could cause long-term health complications. Instead, shop smart and get a system that removes all the bad stuff while keeping the essential minerals nature intended for us to consume in fresh drinking water.

By: N. Anderton

About the Author:
N. Anderton is the owner and editor of http://www.aquasanapremiumwaterfilters.com, a website specializing in Aquasana water filters, replacement filters and filter accessories. To learn more about the high-quality water filters he endorses, visit his site now.

Activated carbon filtration, distillation, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet water filtration. These are just some of the many ways of purifying the water, that has gained national attention especially in light of recent headlines like “Study Finds Traces of Drugs in Drinking Water in 24 Major US Regions” and “EPA Won’t Remove Rocket Fuel From Drinking Water.”

It isn’t a stretch to imagine that ingesting pharmaceutical drugs and rocket fuel over time via a glass of water won’t do your health any favors.

One form of purification that really stands out is distillation via countertop distillers. It stands our because distillers are reputed to provide the purest water possible. By weighing the pros and cons of this system, you can decide if it is worth spending your hard earned money on it.

But First, How Do distillers work?

Simply put, they heat your tap water to boiling point, causing it to turn into steam. The steam is collected in a cooling chamber where it turns back into water but this time, cleaner, healthier distilled water. The contaminants that were originally in the water before distilling remain in the boiling chamber as the process continues.

What Drinking water Contaminants Distillation Remove?

Countertop distillers are great for removing bacteria, lead, minerals, waterborne parasites and heavy metals. This is one reason why it is viewed by many to be superior to reverse osmosis filtration. Reverse osmosis is not effective in removing micro-bacterial organisms.

Of all the contaminants that can potentially be in your tap water, micro bacterial organisms are perhaps the most dangerous. Therefore distillation score big points for its ability to effectively remove these contaminants.

Additionally, using distilled water in your appliances extends the life of those appliances because it prevents mineral build-up in them. Counter top distillers are also very easy to use and requires no installation at all.

Drawbacks

The process of distillation doesn’t remove synthetic contaminants like TCE, trihalomethane (THMs), herbicides and pesticide. These contaminants tend to vaporize at temperatures lower than water, therefore they are just transferred into the distiller’s cooling chamber along with the steam.

Some home distillation devices solve this problem by placing a carbon either before or after distillation, which is used to eliminate synthetic chemicals. Ideally, the carbon filter should be placed before. This is because any bacteria that forms on the carbon filter and gets into the distillation process can be “distilled out,” whereas if the carbon filter is placed after distillation, bacteria may get into your distilled water.

Another drawback is that distillation will remove the minerals from water that are essential to your body’s function and give your water a flat taste. The jury is still out as to whether doing without the vital minerals in drinking water (like calcium and magnesium) is harmful to your health. Some medical experts say the minerals humans get from food is more than sufficient. Best to ask your doctor if you are unsure about this.

Distillers Rock

If you decide to get a countertop water distiller that is coupled with a carbon filter, you’d have a device that possibly removes the widest range of contaminants found in your drinking water.

By: David Cassell

About the Author:
If you’re scared to death of the drugs found in today’s tap water, visit Best Water Filter where we compare the various water filter systems and show you which ones have been scientifically proven to remove the highest amounts of contaminants. Visit Best Water Filter for details