What is a common method of purifying drinking water?

Distillation is a well-recognized method of purifying drinking water, as it effectively removes impurities, including microorganisms, salts, and other contaminants. The process involves heating water to its boiling point, causing it to evaporate. The steam is then collected and condensed back into liquid form, leaving behind many of the dissolved substances and contaminants. This method is particularly useful for producing high-purity water, especially in situations where water sources may be heavily contaminated with minerals or chemicals.

While other methods, such as filtration, chlorination, and ultraviolet treatment, are also effective in purifying water, each has its specific applications and limitations. For instance, filtration can remove particulates and some bacteria but may not eliminate all types of viruses or dissolved salts, while chlorination is effective for disinfection but does not remove physical contaminants or dissolved minerals. Ultraviolet treatment targets pathogens by disrupting their DNA but does not alter chemical contaminants. Thus, distillation stands out as a comprehensive solution for achieving high purity in drinking water.