Distilled water is produced by steam-distillation that removes virtually all minerals and contaminants. The result is essentially pure H₂O — favored for medical devices, cooking, and ultra-clean drinking water.
Distilled water is one of the FDA's recognized purified-water types. The water is boiled, the steam is captured, and the pure vapor is condensed back to liquid — leaving every dissolved mineral, salt, microbe and most volatile compounds behind. TDS typically reads at or near 0 mg/L.
| Brand | Origin | pH | TDS | Signature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smartwater | USA (Coca-Cola) | 7.0 | 40 | Vapor-distilled, then re-mineralized with calcium chloride, magnesium chloride and potassium bicarbonate. |
| Penta | USA (California) | 7.0 | <1 | 13-step purification including reverse osmosis and distillation. Ultra-low TDS. |
| Le Bleu | USA (North Carolina) | 7.0 | 0 | Nine-step steam distillation. Marketed as 'the ultra-pure water'. |
| Stew Leonard's Distilled | USA (Northeast) | 7.0 | 0 | Private-label steam-distilled water for cooking, appliances and CPAP machines. |
| Crystal Geyser Distilled | USA (CG Roxane) | 7.0 | <1 | Vapor-distillation; widely available at US grocery. |
Distilled water is produced by boiling water, capturing the steam, and condensing it back into liquid. The process leaves virtually all minerals, salts, bacteria and contaminants behind — pure H₂O with essentially 0 mg/L TDS.
Yes, it's safe — but it contains no minerals or electrolytes. For everyday hydration most people prefer spring or mineral water; distilled is best used for cooking, appliances (CPAP, humidifiers, irons) and specific medical applications.
Distillation is one specific purification method. 'Purified water' is an FDA category covering any water at ≤10 mg/L TDS, regardless of process — reverse osmosis, deionization or distillation all qualify. All distilled water is purified, but not all purified water is distilled.
The minerals removed during distillation are exactly what give water its 'taste'. Without calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate, distilled water reads as neutral and slightly flat compared with mineral or spring water.
