Lead is a toxic heavy metal that can cause serious health issues if consumed, especially in children. Lead contamination in drinking water is unfortunately common due to aging infrastructure. Many people wonder if using distilled water can remove lead from tap water and make it safer to drink. In this article, we’ll explore whether distilled water can effectively remove lead from water.
What is Distilled Water?
Distilled water is water that has been boiled and condensed to remove impurities. The boiling point of water is 100°C (212°F). When water is heated to its boiling point, it evaporates and leaves behind any dissolved solids. The water vapor is then cooled and condensed back into a liquid, leaving behind a purified water with low mineral content.
The distillation process effectively removes contaminants such as:
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Pesticides
- Dirt and debris
- Salt
- Most heavy metals like lead and mercury
However, distilled water is not 100% pure H2O. Some volatile organic compounds with boiling points close to that of water can still remain. Overall though, distillation is very effective at removing the vast majority of impurities from water.
How Does Distilled Water Remove Lead?
Lead dissolves fairly easily in water. When lead pipes, solder, or plumbing components come into contact with water, lead can leach out.
Distilled water is able to remove dissolved lead through the evaporation and condensation process. As the water boils, the lead is left behind and separated from the steam vapor.
However, lead often accumulates as scale inside pipes and plumbing. Distillation cannot remove lead deposits and buildup. It only removes lead already dissolved in the water at the time of distillation.
Is Distilled Water Completely Lead-Free?
While distilled water is very effective at removing dissolved lead, it may not completely eliminate all traces of lead. Here are some scenarios where distilled water could still contain small amounts of lead:
- The distiller itself has lead-soldered parts or brass components that can leach trace amounts of lead into the distilled water.
- If the distilled water comes into contact with lead piping or plumbing after the distillation process, lead can leach into the purified water.
- Some volatile organic lead compounds can evaporate and re-condense along with the water vapor during distillation. This accounts for only a very tiny fraction of lead, but distilled water is not 100% lead-free.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency allows up to 5 parts per billion of lead in drinking water. Distilled water will likely contain less than this, but not be completely lead-free in most circumstances.
Does Distilled Water Remove All Other Heavy Metals?
For the most part, yes. The distillation process effectively removes other dissolved heavy metals like mercury, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and thallium.
As with lead, trace amounts of these metals may still remain if:
- The condenser coils or other components of the distiller have soldered joints containing metals that can leach into the water.
- The distilled water picks up metals from piping after the distillation process.
- Volatile organic metal compounds with similar boiling points to water remain.
Again, these trace contaminants account for an extremely small fraction of the overall heavy metal removal. Distillation eliminates the vast majority (over 99%) of dissolved heavy metals.
Does Boiling Water Remove Lead and Heavy Metals?
Boiling water does not purify water in the same way as distillation. When simply boiling water, the contaminants remain in the pot and only the water evaporates.
To remove impurities, the steam must then be captured, cooled, and condensed. This full distillation process is required to effectively eliminate lead and other dissolved metals.
So merely boiling tap water does not purify it or remove lead and other heavy metals. Distillation is required.
How to Remove Lead Deposits from Pipes and Plumbing
While distilled water removes dissolved lead, it does not eliminate lead that has built up as scale inside pipes. To get rid of lead deposits:
- Run fresh water through the pipes first thing in the morning. Let the water run for 1-2 minutes before using to flush out water that may have absorbed lead overnight.
- Consider using a water filter designed to remove lead. Look for filters certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead removal.
- Replace lead pipes, solder, and plumbing components. This is the only way to completely eliminate lead in source water.
Flushing pipes and using certain filters can reduce lead exposure from deposits. But fully replacing lead plumbing is the only permanent solution.
Health Effects of Lead
Lead is a neurotoxin that builds up in the body over time. Even small amounts can be harmful, especially to children and pregnant women. The health effects of lead include:
- Developmental delays, learning disabilities, and lower IQ in children
- Hearing and speech problems
- Kidney damage and hormone disruption
- Impaired red blood cell function
- Reproductive issues including miscarriage, stillbirth, and infertility
- High blood pressure and cardiovascular disease
- Muscle and joint pain
Any amount of lead comes with some risk. But the greatest risk is to brain development in babies and young children. This can lead to lower intelligence levels that persist throughout life.
Acceptable Lead Levels in Drinking Water
There is no known safe level of lead exposure. However, regulatory standards have been set to balance risks and feasibility of water treatment.
- The EPA allows up to 15 parts per billion (ppb) in household tap water.
- For bottled water, the FDA allows up to 5 ppb.
- The WHO (World Health Organization) recommends levels below 10 ppb.
No amount of lead is considered completely safe. But for practicality, these are the standards set for drinking water lead levels.
Using Distilled Water to Reduce Lead Exposure
Here are some tips for using distilled water to minimize lead exposure from drinking water:
- Use distilled water for cooking, drinking, mixing baby formula, and any other consumption.
- Consider shower filters for bathing and cleaning if lead piping is a concern.
- Run taps on cold first thing in the morning before consuming any water to flush pipes.
- If water sitting overnight is a concern, run taps until cold each morning before use.
- Test your water annually for lead, or anytime plumbing work is done in older homes.
While distilled water removes dissolved lead, it does not replace proper plumbing maintenance. Regular water testing and pipe replacement is still important long-term.
Water Distillers for Home Use
There are a variety of home distillers that can effectively produce distilled water:
- Countertop electric distillers – Heats and condenses water in a self-contained appliance. Yields 3-5 gallons per day typically.
- Countertop solar stills – Uses free solar energy rather than electricity to distill water. Lower output of 1-2 gallons per day.
- Inline distillers – Connects directly to the water line to distill all water entering the home.
Countertop electric distillers provide the best combination of convenience and output for most households. Prices range from $200 to $600 depending on features and capacity.
Main Types of Countertop Distillers
There are two main types of electric countertop distillers:
Automatic distillers
- Fully automatic operation
- Shut off automatically when cycle is complete
- Reservoir holds multiple gallons
- Output is 3-5 gallons per day typically
Manual distillers
- Lower cost but more hands-on operation
- Manually fill and empty boiling flask
- Output is 2-3 gallons per day typically
Automatic distillers provide the best convenience for a set-and-forget operation. Manual distillers require more effort but have a lower upfront cost.
Key Features to Look for
- Stainless steel components – Avoid plastic parts that may leach chemicals.
- Automatic shut-off – Turns off when complete to prevent melting or fires.
- CFC-free compressor – Eco-friendly refrigerant for condensing coil.
- Activated carbon post-filter – Final polishing filter to improve taste.
- Large reservoir – 1+ gallon capacity to store distilled water.
Shop for a unit with these features to get the safest, highest quality distilled water for drinking. Expect to pay $300+ for a fully automatic distiller with the best combination of durability, purity, and convenience.
Pros and Cons of Distilled Water
Below is a summary of the main advantages and disadvantages of using distilled water:
Pros:
- Removes up to 99% of dissolved lead and heavy metals
- Eliminates pathogens like bacteria and viruses
- Ideal for low mineral drinking water
- Distillers are affordable and convenient for home use
Cons:
- Does not remove lead deposits inside pipes
- May leach trace metals from distiller or pipes
- Lacks healthy minerals found in tap water
- Has flat, flavorless taste if not remineralized
The pros generally outweigh the cons for most households trying to remove lead and other contaminants from drinking water. But distilled water alone should not replace full plumbing remediation if lead piping exists.
FAQs
Does boiling water remove lead?
No, boiling water alone does not remove lead or other dissolved metals. For contaminant removal, the full distillation process is required – heating the water to produce steam, then cooling and condensing the steam back to purified liquid water.
Is distilled water 100% lead free?
Distilled water is not 100% lead free, but comes extremely close. While nearly all dissolved lead is removed, trace amounts may remain from the distiller components or household plumbing. But distilled water will contain no more than 1-2% of the lead in untreated tap water in most cases.
Is distilled water safe for infants?
Yes, distilled water is safe for infants when used to mix baby formula or cereal. Distillation removes the lead and heavy metals that pose neurological risks to infants. However, some nutritionists prefer re-mineralized purified water for added health benefits. Many distillers offer mineral post-filters.
What’s the difference between distilled and filtered water?
Filtered water runs through a physical or chemical filter but is not boiled. Distilled water is first boiled, with the steam condensed to leave contaminants behind. Filters alone do not remove all heavy metals and pathogens that distillation can. But combined filter + distiller systems provide maximum purity and taste.
Should I drink distilled water every day?
It’s fine to drink distilled water daily as your primary source of drinking water. However, some prefer to re-mineralize distilled water or alternate it with filtered tap water to obtain beneficial minerals. For most people, the purity of distilled water outweighs the lack of minerals. But regular dietary mineral intake should also be considered.
Conclusion
Distillation is an effective method for removing up to 99% of dissolved lead and other heavy metals from drinking water. While not making water 100% lead-free, distilled water can reduce lead content to just a fraction of tap water in most circumstances.
To minimize lead exposure long-term, continued pipe maintenance and replacement is still essential. And for health, make sure to obtain minerals from a balanced diet. But for immediate lead remediation, a countertop distiller provides affordable, convenient access to purified water for drinking and cooking.