Distilled vs R/O

[Kiel'thalin]

I found out that our lab recently installed a distilled water filtration system to use for some calibrations that we do here. Anyways, it is tested probably more frequently than the LFS water I get. Is there any advatages or dis-advatages using distilled water over R/O water?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Unless the cooling coils are copper tubing, or the condensate is plumbed through copper or brass pipes fittings, it would likely be a good choice. Stainless steel tubing is OK and glass tubing would be best for purity. :)

[Kiel'thalin]

I just got a run down on this filtering process that they use.
It is plumbed with some type of poly-resin material. The r/o and distilled unit are completely computer controlled.
The process is as follows:
1. R/O Unit
2. Distilled Unit
3. Holding tank that has a uv lamp inside.
4. Carbon filtered
5. Ionized Filter
6. Another Ionized Filter
7. Finally goes though some other organic type filter.
You can get it directly from the holding tank after it is distilled, or from the final output of the final filter.

Which one should I use, they said the final output is not safe to drink since it is so pure it would draw the nutrients out of your body. I assume to use the most pure water?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Either choice sounds like suitable water to me, and I'd pick the regular final effluent. :)