Is Distilled Water the Same as Filtered Water?

Distilled water and filtered water are not the same thing — they’re produced by completely different processes and have different properties. Here’s a clear comparison.

Browse our water distiller range and water filter range, or see our Water Distillers Guide.

How Each Process Works

Distillation

Water is boiled into steam, which rises and is collected in a separate chamber where it condenses back into liquid. Virtually all dissolved solids — minerals, heavy metals, bacteria, fluoride, nitrates — are left behind in the boiling chamber. The result is very high purity water with a TDS (total dissolved solids) of less than 1 ppm.

Filtration

Water passes through one or more filter media (carbon, ceramic, KDF, sediment, RO membrane) that remove specific contaminants while allowing water and some dissolved minerals to pass through. The level of purity depends on the filter type — a basic carbon filter removes chlorine and improves taste; a reverse osmosis system removes up to 99% of contaminants.

Key Differences

Which Is Better for Drinking?

For most Australian households, high-quality filtered water — from a multi-stage benchtop filter or reverse osmosis system — is the better everyday drinking water choice. It removes the main contaminants of concern while retaining beneficial minerals that improve taste.

Distilled water is ideal when maximum purity is required — for infant formula, CPAP machines, laboratory use, or when water quality is particularly poor. For daily drinking, remineralise distilled water with prill beads or mineral drops to restore beneficial minerals and improve taste.

Frequently Asked Questions