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Water Filters & Purifiers

8 STAGE WATER FILTERS

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Bottle Set w/ Filter

Awesome Ceramic Dome Filter

97% Fluoride Removal Ceramic Filter

Awesome Magnesium Prill Beads

Filtered Water vs Distilled Water: What’s the Difference?

August 11, 2021 2 min read

Filtered water and distilled water are both cleaner than straight tap water — but they’re produced differently and suit different purposes. Here’s a clear comparison to help you choose the right option for your home.

Browse our water distiller range and benchtop water filters, or see our full guides: Water Distillers Guide and Benchtop Water Filters Guide.

How Each Is Produced

Distilled Water

Water is boiled into steam, then condensed back into liquid in a separate clean container. Contaminants, minerals, bacteria, heavy metals, and most chemicals don’t evaporate with the water — they’re left behind. A carbon post-filter removes any volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that carry over with the steam. The result is extremely high purity water — essentially pure H₂O.

Filtered Water

Water passes through one or more filter media — activated carbon, KDF, ceramic, reverse osmosis membranes, or a combination — that remove specific contaminants while allowing water and dissolved minerals to pass through. The result depends on the filter type: a basic carbon filter removes chlorine and improves taste; a reverse osmosis system removes up to 99% of contaminants including fluoride.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	Distilled Water	Filtered Water
Purity level	Extremely high — removes virtually everything	High — depends on filter type
Minerals retained	No — all minerals removed	Yes (most filter types retain minerals)
Removes fluoride	Yes	Only RO or specific filters
Removes bacteria	Yes — killed by boiling	Depends on filter (ceramic/RO: yes; carbon only: no)
Taste	Flat/neutral — no minerals	Clean, natural — minerals retained
Water on demand	No — 4–5 hours per 4L batch	Yes (most filter types)
Best for	Maximum purity, CPAP, irons, aquariums	Daily drinking water for households

Which Is Better for Daily Drinking?

For everyday drinking water, filtered water is the better choice for most Australian households. A quality filter removes harmful contaminants while retaining the beneficial minerals (calcium, magnesium, potassium) that contribute to taste and health. Our 8-stage KDF benchtop filters and reverse osmosis systems are both excellent options.

Distilled water is ideal for applications requiring maximum purity — CPAP machines, steam irons, aquariums, laboratory use, and baby formula preparation. For daily drinking, remineralise distilled water with prill beads or mineral drops to restore beneficial minerals and improve taste.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use filtered water instead of distilled water?

It depends on the application. For drinking, filtered water is generally preferable. For CPAP machines, steam irons, and aquariums, distilled water is recommended because these applications require mineral-free water to prevent scale buildup or equipment damage.

Is distilled water safe to drink every day?

Yes — distilled water is safe to drink. For long-term daily use, remineralisation is recommended to restore beneficial minerals. See our guide: Why Drink Distilled Water?

Does filtered water remove fluoride?

Standard carbon filters don’t remove fluoride. Reverse osmosis systems remove 95–98% of fluoride. Water distillers remove virtually all fluoride. See our Reverse Osmosis Guide for more detail.

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