Is store-brand distilled water reliable?

DaveStoneDaveStone Member
in General
Could, for example, Shoprite's distilled water gallon be nothing more than tap water?

Comments

  • abieroseabierose Member
    I have wondered this exact same thing. How reliable is the distilled water we buy at the grocery store and also how long is it good for, ie, shelf life..?
  • ariepfadliariepfadli Member
    Try to measure its TDS and conductivity, you can see its distilled water, demin water or ordinary tap water
  • abieroseabierose Member
    ariepfadli said:
    Try to measure its TDS and conductivity, you can see its distilled water, demin water or ordinary tap water
    Could this be done with a ppm meter?
  • ariepfadliariepfadli Member
    Depend on your pH meter model, if it also have tds meter then you can use it.
  • PharmaPharma Member, Pharmacist
    ariepfadli said:
    Depend on your pH meter model, if it also have tds meter then you can use it.
    It's a simple calculation from ppm to TDS: ppm = TDS ;) .
    Converting EC to TDS is nearly as easy or just use THIS.

    Good deionised water can have the same EC as distilled water... both are fine for cosmetics. Besides, distilled water is seldom distilled these days ;) .
  • mikethairmikethair Member
    We buy branded Reverse Osmosis water in 18 L containers. Every batch goes through our on-site labs for testing, including TDS, pH and microbial testing. Every now and again our lab rejects a batch.
    Dr. Mike Thair
    Cofounder & Chief Formulator
    Indochine Natural
  • PhilGeisPhilGeis Member, Professional formulator
    Microbial content of water is dynamic.    Cepacia, ~ the most common cause of recall,  can grow to millions in a day in distilled water.  Water is the most problematic ingredients - you don't know micro quality at formulation until days after the product is made and packaged.  
  • DaveStoneDaveStone Member
    PhilGeis said:
    Microbial content of water is dynamic.    Cepacia, ~ the most common cause of recall,  can grow to millions in a day in distilled water.  Water is the most problematic ingredients - you don't know micro quality at formulation until days after the product is made and packaged.  
    Where do you get your distilled water?
    Does it matter if it's not totally pure if you have a good preservative system that actively combats these microbes?
  • PhilGeisPhilGeis Member, Professional formulator
    Mine is industrial experience - recirculating water systems with ozone and heat.  Maybe contact the manufacturer - they might be ozonating.

    Preservatives are intended to protect consumers in use - not correct for poor GMP's.  Even a "good" preservative system can be overwhelmed.    Our systems are weak - not accomplishing in a month what a disinfectant does in 10 minutes or less.  They have to be weak or they'd not be safe in use.
  • PhilGeisPhilGeis Member, Professional formulator
    Just use the paddle media every time you formulate.  These are very poor for products but not so poor with water.  
    Decide upfront what result will cause you to toss the product you made.
  • GraillotionGraillotion Member
    I never read the label on my distilled water before tonight.  Is says:
    Processed by: Steam distillation, microfiltration, ozonation.

    So is that the trifecta....as good as I could hope for from a big box store purchase, @PhilGeis ?


  • SincityfireSincityfire Member
    Also on the topic of distilled water, since it is not preserved, how long can you keep an opened container of distilled water?
  • PhilGeisPhilGeis Member, Professional formulator
    Graillotion said:
    I never read the label on my distilled water before tonight.  Is says:
    Processed by: Steam distillation, microfiltration, ozonation.

    So is that the trifecta....as good as I could hope for from a big box store purchase, @PhilGeis ?


    Ozonation helps., it's typically used for bottled water.   Go with the test 
  • suswang8suswang8 Member
    Thoughts on water that has been boiled and put through a Zero Water filter?
  • GraillotionGraillotion Member
    edited October 2021
    suswang8 said:
    Thoughts on water that has been boiled and put through a Zero Water filter?
    One of the reason's we don't boil tap water....is it still carries the full mineral load....even after boiling. Why not this....if you're gonna go to the lengths of boiling it...why not just finish the process....and distill it?

    If that was your only option...I would do it in the reverse order....as I am sure your filter is veritable petri dish of lovelies, negating the boiling.

Sign In or Register to comment.