Is Distilled Water Safe to Drink Every Day?

Distilled water is safe to drink. It will not poison you, and it will hydrate you the same way any other water does. But “safe” and “ideal for everyday use” are two different questions, and the honest answer to the second one is more nuanced than most articles admit.

What Distilled Water Actually Is

Distillation boils water into steam and then condenses the steam back into liquid, leaving behind minerals, chemicals, and contaminants. The result is water in its purest chemical form—H₂O with virtually nothing else in it. No chlorine, no fluoride, no calcium, no magnesium, no lead, no bacteria. That purity is exactly why laboratories and medical devices use it. The question is whether that same purity is what your body wants to drink every day.

What the WHO Actually Says

The World Health Organization reviewed evidence from studies involving over 44,000 subjects and concluded that “demineralised water without any further enrichment is not appropriate for drinking” as a sole long-term water source. The key phrase is “sole long-term source.” The concern is not that distilled water is toxic—it is not. The concern is what it is missing. A 2004 WHO report found that consistently drinking demineralized water may increase the risk of dietary mineral deficiencies and may accelerate mineral loss through increased urinary output.

The Mineral Gap

Tap water and mineral water contribute meaningful amounts of calcium and magnesium to your daily intake. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine set the adequate intake for calcium at 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams per day for adults and magnesium at 310 to 420 milligrams per day. Hard tap water can supply 20 to 30 percent of your daily calcium and up to 25 percent of your magnesium depending on the source. Distilled water supplies zero. If your diet is rich in dairy, leafy greens, nuts, and seeds, you likely make up the difference through food. If your diet is less varied, relying solely on distilled water could widen a gap you did not know you had.

When Distilled Water Makes Sense

There are situations where distilled water is the smart choice. If your tap water has known contamination—lead pipes, a boil-water advisory, high nitrate levels from agricultural runoff—distilled water removes the problem entirely. It is also useful for short-term use in areas where you do not trust the local water supply, like certain travel destinations. And for people with specific medical conditions that require very low mineral intake, a doctor may recommend it. The issue is not the water itself. It is using it as your only water source for months or years without compensating for the missing minerals.

The Taste Factor

Most people who try distilled water for the first time describe it as “flat” or “empty.” That is not imagination. Dissolved minerals give water its subtle flavor profile, and removing them produces a noticeably different mouthfeel. Some people adapt to the taste. Others find it so unappealing that they drink less water overall, which defeats the purpose. If switching to distilled water makes you drink less, the mineral question becomes secondary to the hydration question.

The Practical Middle Ground

For most people, filtered water offers the best of both worlds—it removes contaminants like chlorine, lead, and sediment while leaving beneficial minerals intact. If you prefer distilled water for its purity, consider supplementing your mineral intake through food or adding a small amount of mineral drops to your bottle. Either way, the most important thing is that you are drinking enough water, period. The NASEM adequate intake for total water is about 125 ounces per day for men and 91 ounces for women, with roughly 80 percent coming from beverages.

Shop NuRich

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This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional for guidance specific to your needs.

Sources: WHO, “Nutrients in Drinking Water” (2004) • NASEM, Dietary Reference Intakes for Water (2005) • NuRich product specifications