Distiller

Unfortunately, a water distiller is the type of home product that becomes more crucial to have with each passing day. Industrial farming operations, waste water treatment plants, and oil refineries have been shown to contaminate ground and water supplies.

Mounting evidence points towards increased levels of pharmaceutical drugs in our water supplies and drinking water. Chlorine's use in drinking water, along with its reported benefits and dangers, continues to spur debate. As pollution degrades the quality of our water supplies greater degrees, it becomes increasingly important to drink water from pure sources. By having a water distiller in your home, you can provide clean drinking water for yourself and your family.

Water Distillation

Distillation is the process of heating water to its boiling point, initiating it into a vapor, and condensing the pure steam to form pure distilled water. Nature used to do this work for us in a process called the hydrologic cycle. Due to atmospheric pollution, water pollution, ground pollution, and pipe corrosion in older buildings, it's hard to guarantee the water you're drinking is clean, even if you're drinking natural, bottled, spring water.

Benefits of a Water Distiller

A good distiller will remove greater than 99% of most contaminants. It is the most effective water treatment for several reasons. A water distiller boils the water, ensuring that bacteria, viruses, and other biological matter is killed and removed. Both organic and non-organic matter is separated from the purified water as it rises as steam. The impure particulates are left in the boiling container. As the purified water condenses, it drains into a clean container. The boiling process prevents water distillers from providing immediate drinking water, however, they are able to remove chemicals, heavy metals, volatile gases, and other contaminants which are too small for water filters to effectively remove.

Types of Distillers

Counter top distillers may resemble large coffee makers or have an electric unit which sits like a lid on a fat thermos-like container. In both types, water is collected, using a connector, in a separate external water bottle. These are easy to operate, clean, mobile, and durable. Activated charcoal is used to absorb odors and flavors, and no filters are required for replacing. These are the most popular distillers for home use, and distill between 3 quarts to 1.5 gallons of water in five hours, depending on the unit's size. They can be put away to clear counter-space when not in use, tea enthusiasts use them frequently, and they are a great way to provide pure water for use in soups, stews, coffee, and of course drinking water for your family and pets.

Larger residential and commercial units jump up to bulky machines that process and hold 12 to 23 gallons per day. These are used in coffeehouses, tea shops, and restaurants. Hi-Capacity commercial units used in breweries and other production plants can distill over 84 gallons of water per day and hold over 150 gallons of water.

Purchasing a Water Distiller

As water distillers continue to gain in popularity, they are becoming available in ways which interface with the kitchen in a more streamlined manner. Look for future sink and refrigerator integrations. Before purchasing a distiller, be sure to shop around, price check, and compare product features, capacities, and speeds. For a small charge, you can even call an independent testing organization, NSF International, at 800-NSF-MARK to request their Consumer Guide to Drinking Water Treatment Units. NSF's Certified Product Database can also be found at http://www.nsf.org.

By Doug Vanisky