Why Don't Water Treatment Plants Use Distillation?

Water treatment plants are responsible for processing and cleaning water for distribution to homes and businesses. Despite the many different methods that they use to achieve this, one method that they notably do not use is distillation. While distillation is a highly effective method of cleaning water, it is not commonly used by water treatment plants for several reasons.

Distillation is Expensive and Energy-Intensive

The process of distillation involves heating water to the boiling point and then collecting the resulting steam in a separate container to remove impurities. The equipment required for this process is expensive and uses a lot of energy to run. Additionally, distillation consumes a large amount of water, which is used to cool the steam and condense it back into a liquid. The high costs associated with distillation make it an impractical choice for most water treatment plants.

Distillation is Not Effective Against All Contaminants

While distillation is highly effective at removing impurities such as bacteria, viruses, and heavy metals, it is not effective at removing all contaminants found in water. For example, it does not remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other chemicals that have a low boiling point. This means that water treated with distillation may still contain harmful substances that could be detrimental to human health.

Distillation Can Alter the Composition of Water

The distillation process can alter the composition of water by removing certain minerals and chemicals that are actually beneficial to human health. This includes minerals such as calcium and magnesium, which are essential for maintaining healthy bones and teeth. Distillation can also remove fluoride, which is commonly added to municipal water supplies to prevent tooth decay.

Alternative Water Treatment Methods are Available

There are many alternative methods available for water treatment that are more cost-effective and efficient than distillation. For example, water treatment plants typically use a combination of physical, chemical, and biological methods to clean water. This can include processes such as filtration, ion exchange, and oxidation. These methods are generally more effective and less expensive than distillation.

The Bottom Line

While distillation is a highly effective method of cleaning water, it is not commonly used by water treatment plants due to its high cost, high energy consumption, and limited effectiveness against certain contaminants. With so many alternative methods available, there is simply no need for water treatment plants to rely on distillation for their water cleaning needs.