What is the difference between purified water and boiled water?

For years, Indian households have used boiled water as the first line of defence against harmful substances and pathogens present in water. In cities like Mumbai, authorities have issued an advisory to boil water whenever they have found the supplied water does not meet purity standards. However, this also raises the lingering question of whether boiled water is the same as purified water. 

 While boiling water before drinking is an effective way to protect against pathogens, it does necessarily remove all the harmful substances present in the water supplied to your home. Purified water, on the other hand, goes through many stringent processes to ensure the water is safe to drink. So, how does purified water differ from boiled water? Let’s find out.

Purified water vs boiled water: The differences

Purified or filtered water is water that has gone through a chemical process or passed through filters to remove any contaminants. This process helps to improve the taste as well as elevates the quality of the drinking water. Water purification is done through several methods such as reverse osmosis, distillation, deionisation, ion exchange, etc. 

Boiling water is one of the oldest techniques to kill pathogens present in your tap water. It can be dubbed as the default method to make your tap water safer to drink. Since water boils at 100 degrees Celsius, it effectively removes the bacteria and microorganisms present in it, which cannot survive in temperatures above 70 degrees celsius. In addition to being the simplest way to turn your tap water into safer drinking water, it also helps with digestion. 

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The biggest advantage of boiling water is that it is a quick, convenient, and affordable way to kill pathogens present in tap water. However, this process is only able to kill pathogens and boiling water does not remove other common contaminants present in water. Other disadvantages include the use of electricity or LPG and can turn expensive if you are boiling water for all drinking water. 

 With purified water, the advantages are many including elimination of all contaminants including heavy metals. The purification of water improves the taste and also removes odour present in water. Most purification methods are chlorine-free and there is also no fluoride accumulating in your body. Overall, purified water helps improve the immune system.

Boiled water vs purified water: Which is best

There are no second thoughts about the effectiveness of boiling water to kill pathogens present in it. Boiling water is not enough to completely purify the water since it leaves harmful contaminants such as lead and chlorine. The effectiveness of boiling water also takes a backseat if there is algae present in the water or the water is contaminated during storms or floods. 

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 Purified water, on the other hand, is water that is not only free pathogens but also heavy metals, dissolved physical impurities, and other contaminants. When compared to boiled water, purified water is considered safer to drink and helps promote a healthy immune system since all the necessary minerals and vitamins are present in it. Purified water has also been found to help with the weight loss process while boosting metabolism and allowing for healthy skin. 

 There are many ways to get purified water at home, but the easiest way would be to install a water purifier. A water purifier is the best appliance for removing impurities, chemicals and micro-organisms from the contaminated or tap water. A water purifier relies on RO, UF, or UV processes to deliver safer drinking water at home.