The short answer is yes, but the long answer needs a bit more backstory.
Volatile Organic Compounds
In the world of distillation, purity is paramount. But there’s another challenge that must be tackled: Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs. These compounds, while often naturally occurring, can pose health and environmental risks if not properly managed. So what are they? VOCs are organic chemicals that easily vaporize at room temperature. Common examples include: methanol, acetone, benzene, toluene, hexane, and aldehydes. All of which are found commonly in household cleaning supplies.
Did you know that depending on where you live, you may have more VOCs in your water? Different cities have different amounts of VOCs found in their water.
How do VOCs Get Into My Water?
One way they get into water is through Industrial Pollution. Factories and manufacturing facilities that use or produce VOCs (like solvents, fuels, or cleaning agents) may release waste into surface water or even dump or leak chemicals into the ground, which then seep into groundwater
An additional way is through leaking underground storage tanks. Gas stations, industrial sites, and even old commercial properties often have underground tanks. Gasoline contains benzene, toluene, xylene, etc. Solvents are also a large contributor to VOCs. When these tanks corrode or crack, VOCs can leak into the soil and groundwater.
Another contributor is Agricultural Runoff. Farms may use pesticides and herbicides that contain VOCs. When it rains, chemicals run off into nearby streams and wells or leach down into aquifers.
The final way VOCs have been found to get into her water is through household sources. They can enter water systems through improper disposal of household chemicals down the drain, septic system leaks, and graywater reuse without filtration.
How Do You Know If VOCs Are in Your Water?
Most VOCs have no color, may have a chemical or gasoline-like odor, and are not removed by boiling water. If you are curious to know the quality of your tap water, you can check EWG’s Tap Water Database. There you will be able to see the contaminants detected in a particular area/city.
Carbon Filters
Carbon filters contain a form of carbon that’s been processed to have a highly porous structure, dramatically increasing its surface area — often 500–1,500 m² per gram. These pores create a huge internal surface area where molecules (like VOCs) can be adsorbed. Meaning they stick to the surface rather than dissolving or reacting. Making the carbon filters vital to the purest possible water.
Some interesting facts about Carbon Filters and Distillation include:
– Carbon filters are actually more effective with a slower drip time of the water!
– Carbon filters can remove odor of VOCs.
– Lots of fine spirits use carbon filters to make a pure product.
What’s the risk?
Why does the air matter when we are talking about water? Well what comes up, must come down. While distilling plays a huge part in purifying your water, carbon filters are the last line of defense when it comes to VOCs. Even trace amounts of VOCs can affect the purity, taste, and the safety of your water.
| VOC Example | Short-Term (Acute) Effects | Long-Term (Chronic) Effects |
| Methanol | Headache, dizziness, nausea, blurred vision | Blindness, organ failure, death |
| Benzene | Drowsiness, dizziness, unconsciousness | Leukemia, bone marrow damage, immune suppression |
| Formaldehyde | Eye/nose irritation, coughing | Cancer (nasopharyngeal), asthma, reproductive harm |
| Toluene | Fatigue, confusion, nausea | Liver/kidney damage, developmental effects in fetus |
| Acetone | Irritation, headache, light-headedness | Possible liver damage with repeated exposure |
People with weakened immune systems are at an even higher risk to these compounds and exposure to them can present severe symptoms, but you don’t need a weakened immune system to feel the negative effects of VOCs. Many VOCs act as neurotoxins, meaning they interfere with the central nervous system. Symptoms may include: memory loss, impaired coordination, mood swings or depression, “brain fog” and fatigue. Simply put, they are not good for your health.
Thinking about Cutting Corners and not Replacing your Filters?
Carbon filters adsorb (not absorb) VOCs onto their surface, but that surface area is finite. Once it’s fully saturated, VOCs have the potential to break through the filter and pass right into your water. You might not notice at first, but pretty soon you’re no longer filtering anything. You’re essentially running your system without a filter, and without a last line of defense.
When Should I Replace my Filter?
We recommend replacing your carbon filters every 3-4 months. If you live in a city with harder water, closer to the ocean, have aging plumbing, or have lower water quality, you may want to change it every 3 months. Those variables can affect the lifespan of the filter.
Replace your Filter Today!
Moral of the story, changing your filter with the use of your distiller matters to maintain the purity of your water and your health. Regularly replacing your carbon filters isn’t just a maintenance task, it’s a critical part of ensuring your distillation process is safe, efficient, and produces high-quality results. Don’t wait for problems to appear, stay ahead with a proactive filter replacement schedule. Your equipment, your product, and your health depend on it.
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