Impurities Distillation Removes

The distillation process removes virtually all impurities from water. Properly equipped distillers are highly efficient at removing nitrates (fertilizer residuals), bacteria, cysts, viruses, sodium, dissolved solids, most organic compounds (solvents, herbicides, and pesticides), heavy metals including lead and arsenic, and radionucleides from water. Distillers remove about 99.5 percent of the impurities from the raw water.

Impurities not removed by Distillation

Distillers can actually allow a tiny percentage of impurities to pass over into the storage container during distillation. Volatile organic contaminants (VOC's), including some pesticides and solvents, boil at temperatures below or very close to water (207-218 degrees Fahrenheit). Distillation alone might not be enough to remove VOC's. Distillers equipped to remove these substances are vented and/or have carbon post treatment filters (ACF's).