Distilled Water

[Nanci]

On my tortoise list, someone recommended distilled water, which I knew was bad but couldn't come up with a reason why. So I looked around, and found this article in Reptiles Magazine.

Thank you for writing. I’m really glad that you did, as you have brought up a very important point that my readers need to know. I think your major problem is occurring as a result of you switching to distilled water. This is something that every herp owner should know: NEVER USE DISTILLED WATER WITH PET HERPS.

I think everyone needs to know about the differences between the varieties of bottled water offered for sale versus using tap water that has been altered in some way (i.e. through filtration, chemical dechlorination, etc.). It is probably safest to use bottled water if you are unsure if your municipal water is fish-safe. Chlorine is easily removed from tap water by the use of drops that dechlorinate the water, however, many areas of the country now use chloramines as sanitizing agents, and these compounds are much more difficult to safely remove. Cities that use chloramines in their water usually include information about it in the monthly billing statements, and this information is also available online or if you call their office and request information about the safety of using tap water for aquarium fish. If the water is not recommended for aquarium fish, then you should also not use it with herps, especially amphibians.

Amphibians are unique in that they can absorb oxygen through their skin, and dissipate carbon dioxide, as well. Because their skin should be kept moist in order for them to “breathe” and also because the skin absorbs water, the type of water they are given is very important.

Distilled water is basically water with nothing else in it. That means that there are no dissolved salts and minerals. This is a type of water that a wild animal would never be exposed to. All water found in nature has some salt and minerals dissolved in it, and this is important for something called osmotic regulation. Suffice it to say that this term means how water passes into and out of cells and is regulated, in part, by the dissolved solids in the water. Water routinely passes in and out of cells, which is how the body regulates almost all bodily functions. So, dissolved minerals and salts are very important for normal physiological functions. Distilled water, with no dissolved salts and minerals, cannot support those normal bodily functions. That is why your poor salamander blew up from absorbing water because there was nothing in that water to prevent absorption.

When a human or an animal is given intravenous fluids that fluid is far from distilled water. It is sterile, however, but it contains dissolved sodium chloride (salt) at the same percentage as blood, which is 0.9 percent and is called physiological saline. Other sterile IV fluids may include one called Ringer’s Lactate, which is a combination of salts dissolved in the fluid, and pH buffered for IV use. A type of sugar called dextrose can also be dissolved in the fluid to provide some energy for the patient.

Tap water also has dissolved salts, but also may have fluoride, chlorine or chloramines added. The pH, or how acid or alkaline the water is, may vary greatly in tap water. There are usually a variable number of harmless and potentially dangerous microscopic organisms in the water.

Bottled water also has dissolved salts and minerals in it and may also have a wide range of pH. Some bottled spring water is just that, natural spring water with dissolved minerals. Most spring water comes from deep in the ground, having been filtered through porous limestone or other rock, purifying it along the way. When being bottled, spring water is often treated with ultraviolet light to kill any live organisms that may be present in the water, such as algae, or it may be run through a micron filter to remove particulate matter, such as fine sand, silica, etc. Natural spring water is usually not carbonated (containing bubbles); however, rarely a spring may produce naturally carbonated water (Perrier is an example). Bottled natural spring water is probably the safest to use for amphibians, although it is probably a good idea to use a pH test strip to ascertain the pH of the water, to ensure that it is suitable for the particular species that you are keeping. Low pH means that the liquid is acidic, and a high pH means that the liquid is alkaline. A pH of 7.0 is neutral, being neither acidic nor alkaline.

Distilled water being demineralized, contains more hydrogen and is considered an acid, with a pH of less than 7.0. Any time a human or animal consumes or, in the case of an amphibian, is soaked in distilled water, the body pulls minerals from teeth (if they have them) and bones to produce bicarbonate to neutralize the acid. This can prove dangerous over time. Another problem with distilled water is that acidic liquids will result in the production of more free-radicals, which are molecules that can increase the risk for cancer. There are people who feel that distilled water is safe and healthful to drink, but the mainstream medical community discourages the consumption of distilled water. Likewise, providing pet herps with distilled water is not recommended. Because amphibians respire through their skin and also absorb water through the skin, distilled water can be particularly dangerous to them.

Other types of bottled water are also available. Bottled water is just water from any source that has been treated, either by reverse osmosis, filtration or some other process, and then the water will have minerals and salts added afterwards (otherwise it would end up being distilled water, devoid of dissolved salts and minerals). Minerals added are usually magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride and sodium chloride (table salt). These bottled waters are also safe to offer to pet herps.

It is a good idea to get used to reading the labels on those bottles of water offered for sale, as there are a great variety of water types being offered to the public.


Margaret A. Wissman, DVM, DABVP has been an avian/exotic/herp animal veterinarian since 1981. She is a regular contributor to REPTILES magazine.

 

[MegF.]

I have a problem with that article and I don't care who wrote it. First off, I used triple osmosis water for years with my snakes. I had it tested and it showed to be 99% pure. That means, nothing but pure water...no salts, contaminants etc. Basically, something like distilled water. None of my snakes blew up and died. Distilled water is used regularly for dialysis patients and most are told to drink it to avoid contaminating already comprimised kidneys. Snakes eat mice and rats that contain natural salts, calcium and a host of other minerals. I don't see how drinking water is going to leach the calcium out of their bones. I did find reference to how pure water can absorb CO2 leading to a higher acidity reading of approximately 5-5.5 Ph so yes, it does become more acidic in some cases. This would be true of reverse osmosis then and I would think after 3 years all my snakes would have died...which they haven't done. I'm on a well now and use tap water for the snakes, but if I had continued to live where I was (they used chloramines to purify the city water) I would have continued to use the osmosis water for myself, the animals like the dogs and cats...and the snakes. If you're not sure about the distilled water though, use regular bottled water or tap water. I never used it as it was easier to use my under the sink reverse osmosis.

 

[ixcounterfeitxi]

I think you need to sticky this one up somewhere.

If you look a little ways back, my girlfriend lost her Tangerine Hunduran from dehydration caused by giving it distilled water.

Funny, enough, the guy at our local reptile store told her to use it on her Crested Geckos to mist them as it would avoid leaving water stains on the glass. He also told her that letting the snakes drink the water was fine too.

We ended up losing the Tangerine, and managed to save our two Normals.

A LOT of people think distilled water is fine to use. You guys should tack this one up...

 

[ixcounterfeitxi]

Also, I know two other people who lost their snakes from the use of distilled water, in the exact same way we lost ours. The owner of the store freaked out when he found out we were told to use distilled and issued us an official apology on behalf of the store.

 

[sbourget]

I have a problem with that article and I don't care who wrote it. First off, I used triple osmosis water for years with my snakes. I had it tested and it showed to be 99% pure. That means, nothing but pure water...no salts, contaminants etc. Basically, something like distilled water. None of my snakes blew up and died. Distilled water is used regularly for dialysis patients and most are told to drink it to avoid contaminating already comprimised kidneys. Snakes eat mice and rats that contain natural salts, calcium and a host of other minerals. I don't see how drinking water is going to leach the calcium out of their bones. I did find reference to how pure water can absorb CO2 leading to a higher acidity reading of approximately 5-5.5 Ph so yes, it does become more acidic in some cases. This would be true of reverse osmosis then and I would think after 3 years all my snakes would have died...which they haven't done. I'm on a well now and use tap water for the snakes, but if I had continued to live where I was (they used chloramines to purify the city water) I would have continued to use the osmosis water for myself, the animals like the dogs and cats...and the snakes. If you're not sure about the distilled water though, use regular bottled water or tap water. I never used it as it was easier to use my under the sink reverse osmosis.

If you look at the article Saline is 0.9 percent salt with 99.1% water. So according to your tests hospital saline has less in it then your water does. It's the 1% that makes all the difference. Distilled water is 100% pure, having that 1% or more of extra 'stuff' is what prevents the water from causing harm. You don't endup with large amounts of water being absorbed into the cells in an attempt to regulate the densities of vital minerals, as well the body doesn't have to eject stuff from the cells that it needs to function. Distilled water is bad. 3xRO water isn't harmfull in the same way because it's not truely pure. I agree that this should be stickied or in some way made so that everyone coming to this forum is made aware of the dangers of distilled water as drinking water for herps.

 

[Nanci]

You _can_ find many articles saying distilled water is safe for humans to drink, however they are all on websites that have an agenda and want you to drink distilled water such as distillery equipment sites.

I can't find any scientific proof (yet) one way or the other. I think it's better to err on the side of caution.

Nanci

And here's an article from a company which sells alkaline water purifiers.

Early Death Comes From Drinking Distilled Water


During nearly 19 years of clinical practice I have had the opportunity to observe the health effects of drinking different types of water. Most of you would agree that drinking unfiltered tap water could be hazardous to your health because of things like parasites, chlorine, fluoride and dioxins.

Many health fanatics, however, are often surprised to hear me say that drinking distilled water on a regular, daily basis is potentially dangerous.

Paavo Airola wrote about the dangers of distilled water in the 1970's when it first became a fad with the health food crowd.

Distillation is the process in which water is boiled, evaporated and the vapor condensed. Distilled water is free of dissolved minerals and, because of this, has the special property of being able to actively absorb toxic substances from the body and eliminate them.

Studies validate the benefits of drinking distilled water when one is seeking to cleanse or detoxify the system for short periods of time (a few weeks at a time).

Fasting using distilled water can be dangerous because of the rapid loss of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride) and trace minerals like magnesium, deficiencies of which can cause heart beat irregularities and high blood pressure. Cooking foods in distilled water pulls the minerals out of them and lowers their nutrient value.

Distilled water is an active absorber and when it comes into contact with air, it absorbs carbon dioxide, making it acidic. The more distilled water a person drinks, the higher the body acidity becomes.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, "Distilled water, being essentially mineral-free, is very aggressive, in that it tends to dissolve substances with which it is in contact.

Notably, carbon dioxide from the air is rapidly absorbed, making the water acidic and even more aggressive. Many metals are dissolved by distilled water."

The most toxic commercial beverages that people consume (i.e. cola beverages and other soft drinks) are made from distilled water. Studies have consistently shown that heavy consumers of soft drinks (with or without sugar) spill huge amounts of calcium, magnesium and other trace minerals into the urine.

The more mineral loss, the greater the risk for osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, hypothyroidism, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure and a long list of degenerative diseases generally associated with premature aging.

A growing number of health care practitioners and scientists from around the world have been advocating the theory that aging and disease is the direct result of the accumulation of acid waste products in the body.

There is a great deal of scientific documentation that supports such a theory. A poor diet may be partially to blame for the waste accumulation. Meats, sugar, white flour products, fried foods, soft drinks, processed foods, alcohol, dairy products and other junk foods cause the body to become more acidic. Stress, whether mental or physical can lead to acid deposits in the body.

There is a correlation between the consumption of soft water (distilled water is extremely soft) and the incidence of cardiovascular disease. Cells, tissues and organs do not like to be dipped in acid and will do anything to buffer this acidity including the removal of minerals from the skeleton and the manufacture of bicarbonate in the blood.

The longer one drinks distilled water, the more likely the development of mineral deficiencies and an acid state. I have done well over 3000 mineral evaluations using a combination of blood, urine and hair tests in my practice. Almost without exception, people who consume distilled water exclusively, eventually develop multiple mineral deficiencies.

Those who supplement their distilled water intake with trace minerals are not as deficient but still not as adequately nourished in minerals as their non-distilled water drinking counterparts even after several years of mineral supplementation.

The ideal water for the human body should be alkaline and this requires the presence of minerals like calcium and magnesium.

Distilled water tends to be acidic and can only be recommended as a way of drawing poisons out of the body. Once this is accomplished, the continued drinking of distilled water is a bad idea.

... Disease and early death is more likely to be seen with the long term drinking of distilled water. Avoid it except in special circumstances.

Zoltan P. Rona MD MSc

 

[tyflier]

Distilled water is absorbed into the body cells at an exceptionally high rate. Because it is so pure, there is nothing to slow down this absorption rate, and cells WILL begin to rupture. Anytime this happens, it is only a matter of time before death ensues. No...your snake will not "blow up". But the cells will begin to rupture and your snake will die for other reasons...heart or respiratory failure, seizures, brain mis-function, or any other organ-related disruption. These malfunctions of the body organs happen because the cells of those organs have started to rupture, and there simply aren't enough healthy cells for the organs to continue to function.

This is NOT an opinion, this is an absolute fact. People have posted on this site about losing their snakes to distilled water. There is no "argument" about it...it is an established and verified fact. Look it up. Do some research.

Reptiles are susceptible, but amphibians even more so.

Water that is purified through reverse osmosis still contains vital nutrients, such as salts, which are simply enough to slow the water-absorption rate of the cells to an acceptable level. Water that is distilled is deadly, if consumed in too large of a quantity. To reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds and any other animal that consumes distilled water in a quantity that is higher than the absorption rate of the body's cells.

Yes...it is often used as a means to cleanse the urinary tract in large mammals for the purpose of dialysis, and prior to kidney surgery. Yes, it is used as an aid to assist in the cleansing of the urinary tract in the event of an infection. However, there is ALWAYS a limit established to the amount of distilled water a person should consume, whether that limit be a daily intake or a period of time...it is limited to prevent you from dying.

Again...this is not some person's opinion...this is a FACT. Don't take it lightly, and don't make the mistake of thinking 99% pure is the same as distilled. It simply is NOT...

 

[texastailfeathers]

I like to use distilled water in my misting bottle because it doesn't mildew, but I wouldn't let my animals drink it. I've given it to sick and immune-compromised birds on occasion, but only with probiotics and electrolytes mixed into it.

I don't know why people think they need to use fancy water for their pets. I drink tap water. My pets drink tap water. I read my city's water report every year and I've never seen anything alarming. I've had up to a hundred small animals in my home at times and tap water has never caused a problem.

Distilled water is good for use in steam appliances and mixing into cleaning solutions. Not for consumption.

 

[tyflier]

I wouldn't recommend misting amphibians with distilled water. Since they absorb a lot of their water through their skin, misting with distilled water would be just as dangerouse to amphibians as allowing your snakes to drink it regularly...

It's really pretty simple...leave a pitcher of tap water on the counter without a lid for 24 hours, and the majority of chlorine and chloramines will evaporate out. Now you have perfectly safe drinking water, no matter how worried about your snakes you might be. You could also use a Brita or Seychelle tap filter, which would do the same thing, only "instantly"...

 

[texastailfeathers]

I wouldn't recommend misting amphibians with distilled water. Since they absorb a lot of their water through their skin, misting with distilled water would be just as dangerouse to amphibians as allowing your snakes to drink it regularly...

I mist my birds daily and I also mist clothing when I iron.

I rarely, if ever, mist my snakes. They all get in their water bowls. I do mist the bedding occasionally when a snake is getting ready to shed, but that's completely different.

 

[ssmith_1187]

tyflier,

I know this can quickly become a heated debate, one in which I hope to not add to, but

leave a pitcher of tap water on the counter without a lid for 24 hours, and the majority of chlorine and chloramines will evaporate out.

While true for chlorine, it is not true for chloramines. The fact that it is more stable than chlorine (read: not removed by evaporation) is why city water districts are using it.

With the exception of distilled water, I feel to each their own when it comes hydrating their animals. If your animal is happy and healthy...great!!!

Regards,
Steve

 

[tyflier]

Of course, you are right. I did a little more research of my own, and discovered that. However, I didn't think it would be fair to change my post "after the fact", and so I left it as is.

Everyone makes mistakes....

Luckily for me, I live in a small town(less than 4,000 ppl), and 99% of our water is spring fed(I live an hour from Olancha Springs, where Crystal Geyser water is bottled{at the base of Mt. Whitney}). We have very low chlorine content, and the majority of our water is filtered for purity, but not chemically treated.

 

[Nanci]

Lucky for me, I have my own well of delicious water with nothing added!! I can't stand city water. It's got lots and lots of tasty minerals, too!

Nanci

 

[ssmith_1187]

tyflier,

Everyone makes mistakes....

The day I stop making mistakes...will be the day I die.

No worries

Regards,
Steve

 

[MegF.]

I have delicious well water now too. Where I used to live they used chloramines to purify water. The water also came from wells that smelled like sulfur when you turned it on. I wouldn't give the crap to my worst enemy...o.k....maybe my worst...but no one else!! Anyway, it's not an issue now. My water source is clean and super filtered thru tons of sand. Yummy!

 

[ixcounterfeitxi]

Yeah to be honest. Theres just too much proof that Distilled water is harmful to reptiles for me to go back to using it, esp since we actually lost a snake to it.

I think that, in itself, is proof enough for me.

 

[texastailfeathers]

Warning...annoyingly long post...

Ok...I'm actually on neither side of this debate. I don't give my animals distilled (other than the occasional misting or medicinal preparation), but it's not because I don't think it's safe. It's EXPENSIVE and I prefer the taste and convenience of tap water.

But I don't believe any argument should be one-sided, so here are a couple of articles from the "other side" (pro-distilled). Research both sides and make your own decisions from there, and remember that an argument can be made to support almost anything. Everyone has an agenda.

Does drinking distilled water leach minerals from the body?
Distilled Water Myths
Distilled Water and Your Health
What Experts Say About Distilled Water
Article About Water for Diabetics

And finally an excerpt from an article put together by a group of avian veterinarians and nutritionists:

Distilled water does NOT "leach" minerals. Part of the
water consumed by humans circulates in the blood, collecting minerals
discarded by the body, but water itself does not "leach"
anything from the body. Furthermore, bodies get their organic
minerals (the kind they have an affinity for) from plant foods, not from
water; water carries inorganic minerals which a body has trouble
using.


See:

http://www.drweil.com/u/QA/QA21181/

http://www.emagazine.com/view/?1861
"... The American Medical
Association concludes there is no evidence of �any adverse health effects
from the continued ingestion of distilled water.� "

http://www.purewateraus.com/page.asp?page_id=5

http://www.cybergeo.com/wellness/water/doesdistilledwaterleachminerals.html

http://www.steamdistiller.com/distillerfaq.htm

http://www.myodynamics.com/articles/distilledwater.html


CF


Distilled water & water that has gone through reverse osmosis units
are not the same thing.


http://students.washington.edu/mtc4/water/Filtered_distilled.htm
says in part:

Reverse osmosis filtration was
originally developed in the 1950�s and has been considered the ultimate
water filtration technology. Reverse osmosis uses water pressure to
force water through a very fine membrane. When combined with a carbon
filter this system will provide drinking water that is 98-99% free of
organic chemicals. However, after only a few months of home operation,
reverse osmosis systems rarely remove any more than 80% of dissolved
solids (lime, sodium, metals, etc), indicating a drop in effectiveness
of nearly 20% in a very short period of time (Rona, 1995).


The American Medical Association
published an extensive directory of medical concerns related to
drinking water (AMA, 2002). Prominent in these AMA findings was the
fact that reverse osmosis filters concentrate heavy metals like mercury
and aluminum. Mercury and aluminum have been linked with neurological
disorders.


In addition, bacteria and viruses can penetrate reverse osmosis
membranes through defects and imperfections in the membrane, as well as
through tiny leaks in seals (Payment, 1991). One study, through the University of Quebec,
demonstrated that reverse osmosis membranes act as a breeding ground.
This study showed an increase in gastrointestinal illness (equivalent
to those experienced in the Third World) directly related with the
higher levels of bacteria appearing in reverse osmosis water.


Distillation is the process in which water is boiled, evaporated and
the vapor condensed. Distilled water is pure water. Because distilled
water is free of dissolved minerals it is highly prized by proponents
for it�s ability to actively absorb toxic substances from the body and
eliminate them. These advocates believe that the minerals present in
tap water are the underlying cause of many diseases, including
cardiovascular disease and degenerative bone disease (H2Only, 2004).
This position is supported by mainstream medical organizations such as
the Mayo Clinic and WebMD. WebMD, in its article, "Do you need a water purifier?"
clearly indicates that distillation is a preferred method of
purification, especially for immuno-compromised individuals. It is one
of only three methods that kill water born pathogens (Sorgen, 2004).

 

[ixcounterfeitxi]

Thats all fine and dandy.... for humans. We arent talking about the effects of distilled water in humans, we're talking about the effects in reptiles.

 

[texastailfeathers]

Thats all fine and dandy.... for humans. We arent talking about the effects of distilled water in humans, we're talking about the effects in reptiles.

I would imagine most of the articles about distilled water are either about humans or adapted from articles about humans. Bird people use the human data, dog and cat people use the human data...I don't think it would be much different for reptiles.

Yes, distilled water is impractical...but harmful? I would need to see real studies on reptiles. 12-month, 24-month studies with a control group, scientific data, the works. Anecdotal evidence has never done much for me.

I personally don't give my animals distilled water to drink (again, because it's impractical), but I can't give anyone else solid "do or don't" advice based on a few stories from people who think their animals died because of distilled water. And "because the vet said so" doesn't mean much to me either. In many cases, the vet has no idea what happened...you mention distilled water, and "Bingo!", that becomes the reason without further investigation. No necropsy, no blood analysis to find ruptured cells and mineral/electrolyte deficiencies, etc.

(Just like when people with birds and other exotic pets go to the doctor for a cough. The doctor investigates bronchitis, allergies, colds...but the person says "By the way, I have a parrot", and suddenly the person is being treated for histoplasmosis without even so much as a chest x-ray.)

I find it hard to believe a healthy reptile (no underlying conditions) that eats an ENTIRE organism as prey (as opposed to humans and other creatures who discard the bones, skin, connective tissues, organs, etc.) could become so deficient of minerals and electrolytes from drinking/absorbing distilled water that they would actually die. An ailing, immune-compromised reptile, maybe...but a normal, healthy one...doubtful.

 

[Nanci]

But electrolyte imbalances occur in a time frame of hours- not weeks. I think I know someone I can ask about it- he's a biochemist and has a company which porduces electrolyte supplements for athletes. I just thought of someone else, who is a physical therapist, but who has done a huge amount of study of electrolytes and is published. I'll ask those two what the deal is.

Nanci