Which Water Is Best For Drinking? A Comparison Of Indian Homes

Why the Type of Water You Drink Matters

Not all water is the same. The difference between tap water, boiled water, RO-purified water, mineral water, and distilled water lies in what they contain and what they remove. In India, where water sources vary dramatically from city to city, understanding which water is best for drinking can directly impact your family's health.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS IS 10500) sets the acceptable TDS limit at 500 mg/L, with an ideal range of 150 to 300 mg/L for drinking. Water within this range retains beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium while staying free of harmful contaminants.

Types of Drinking Water Compared

Boiled Water: Safe but Incomplete

Boiling water at 100 degrees Celsius for 10 to 15 minutes kills bacteria, viruses, and parasites. It is the oldest purification method and remains useful during emergencies or power cuts. However, boiling does not remove dissolved salts, heavy metals like arsenic or lead, pesticides, or chlorine. If your source water has high TDS or chemical contamination, boiling alone is insufficient.

RO Purified Water: The Best Option for Indian Homes

Reverse Osmosis (RO) purification forces water through a semi-permeable membrane, removing 90 to 95% of dissolved solids, heavy metals, bacteria, and viruses. Modern RO purifiers include a mineralizer or TDS controller that adds back essential minerals like calcium and magnesium after filtration.

For Indian households dealing with borewell or mixed source water, RO purified water in the 150 to 300 mg/L TDS range offers the best balance of safety, taste, and nutrition. The  uses adaptive RO filtration with mineral retention technology, making it well suited for Indian water conditions. Its adaptive RO system senses the input TDS in real time and adjusts filtration mode automatically, ensuring output water stays in the ideal 150 to 300 mg/L range regardless of how much the source water fluctuates between municipal supply, tanker, or borewell.

Distilled Water vs Purified Water: Key Differences

Distilled water is produced by boiling water into steam and condensing it back, leaving behind all dissolved solids. The result is almost 0 ppm TDS water. Ultra-pure, distilled water lacks all minerals, tastes flat, and can leach minerals from the body over long-term consumption. The WHO advises against drinking demineralized water as a primary daily source.

Purified water (via RO) achieves similar pathogen and contaminant removal but retains or restores beneficial minerals. For everyday drinking in Indian homes, purified water is a safer and healthier choice than distilled water.

Mineral Water and Packaged Drinking Water

Packaged mineral water (Bisleri, Kinley, Himalayan) undergoes multi-stage treatment and often has TDS between 100 and 300 mg/L. It is convenient for travel but expensive as a daily drinking solution. For home use, investing in a good water purifier is more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable than relying on packaged bottles.

How to Choose the Best Drinking Water for Your Home

Step 1: Test your source water's TDS using a digital TDS meter (Rs 200 to Rs 500).

Step 2: If TDS is above 300 ppm (common in borewell and tanker water), choose an RO-based purifier with mineral retention.

Step 3: If TDS is below 200 ppm (typical of municipal supply in cities like Mumbai), a UV + UF purifier is sufficient.

Step 4: Look for purifiers that maintain output TDS in the 150 to 300 mg/L range. Atomberg Adaptive RO purifiers are designed to deliver water in this ideal range regardless of input source.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Which water is best for drinking in India?

RO purified water with mineral retention is best for most Indian homes. It removes contaminants while preserving essential minerals like calcium and magnesium. Adaptive RO purifiers that adjust filtration based on input TDS are especially well suited for Indian homes where water sources change seasonally.

• Is mineral water better than RO water?

Both can deliver safe, mineral-rich drinking water. RO water with a mineralizer is more cost-effective for daily home use than packaged mineral water.

• Can I drink distilled water daily?

The WHO advises against long-term consumption of demineralized water as it may lead to mineral deficiency. RO-purified water with retained minerals is a healthier daily option.

• Is boiled water good enough for daily drinking?

Boiling kills microbes but does not remove dissolved chemicals, salts, or heavy metals. For comprehensive purification, use a certified water purifier.