Filtration

Should you use filtered or purified water for baby formula?

4:53 PM • December 09, 2025

Preparing formula can feel like a big responsibility, especially when you are tired and the next bottle is due. Many parents search for purified water for babies and wonder whether it is better to use filtered or purified water for baby formula, or to simply stick with tap water. Baby formula should be made with freshly boiled tap water. No matter whether that water has been filtered, purified, or taken straight from the mains. Filtration can improve taste and help families feel more confident at home, but boiling remains the essential safety step.

The NHS explains that powdered infant formula is not sterile and must be made up with water at least 70°C to reduce the risk of harmful bacteria [1]. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) also ensures that public water supplies in England and Wales comply with strict legal standards. This makes sure that tap water is safe and acceptable for everyone.

Keep reading to learn how purified water for babies and filtered tap water align with NHS guidance.

What UK tap water means for baby formula at home

Most families in the UK use tap water as the starting point for making up feeds because it is regulated, readily available, and safe to drink. The DWI reports that compliance with national drinking water standards in England remains consistently high, with regular testing at:

Treatment works
Service reservoirs
Household taps

Yet, even with this reassurance, day-to-day experiences with tap water can feel very different from one area to another.

Parents sometimes notice that their tap water smells of chlorine, especially first thing in the morning. Others live in hard-water areas and see limescale build up quickly on kettles and bottles. BBC Science Focus coverage has also drawn attention to microplastics and other small particles found in drinking and bottled water samples. Naturally, this adds another layer of concern for some families [3].

However, when it comes to formula, the key safety step is still boiling the water before you add the powder.

What changes between households is the starting point:

Some parents run the tap for a few seconds before filling the kettle
Some keep a dedicated kettle just for feeds
Others look for ways to improve taste and clarity before they boil

For some households, filtration is a simple way to improve taste and clarity before water goes into the kettle. Culligan with ZeroWater Technology offers jugs and dispensers that use five-stage advanced filtration and a built-in TDS meter so families can see when dissolved solids have been reduced.

How filtered and purified water works alongside NHS formula guidance

Parents often see the terms filtered, boiled, and purified used side by side, yet each one serves a different purpose. Again, whatever you start with, NHS guidance still asks you to boil the water before you mix the powder.

Filtered water passes through a cartridge that helps reduce elements which affect taste and appearance. Culligan with ZeroWater Technology features a five-stage filtration process. This system removes 99.9% of total dissolved solids and includes a built-in TDS meter for monitoring water quality.

Purified water is produced through processes such as distillation, reverse osmosis, or deionisation. These methods reduce minerals and dissolved materials, but they do not kill bacteria that can be present in the powdered formula. This is why purified water for babies still needs to be boiled before feeds. Purification improves composition and taste rather than safety, and always works alongside NHS preparation steps.

When comparing filtered and purified water, parents often look at:

How easy it is to keep the system topped up and ready
Whether filters are simple to replace on a regular schedule
How much space the jug or dispenser takes up in the kitchen
Whether there is a clear way to see when performance has changed

These preferences support comfort at home while keeping NHS guidance at the centre of safe preparation.

How filtration helps lighten the mental load of bottle feeding

When formula feeds become part of daily life, small frictions stand out. Re-boiling the kettle, wiping limescale from bottles, or dealing with water that tastes different from day to day all add to that mental load. Filtration gives families a way to simplify some of those moments before they even reach for the powder tin.

Common reasons parents explore filtration include:

Noticeable chlorine smell, especially first thing in the morning
Mineral buildup in kettles and bottles in hard water areas
A preference for clearer, fresher-tasting water
Interest in monitoring dissolved solids through a TDS meter

Culligan with ZeroWater Technology supports this experience through measurable filtration. Families who want an all-in-one solution should explore our bundle range.

Bringing it together for calm, confident feeding at home

Filtered or purified water for babies can be used to make formula as long as you treat it like tap water. The key safety step stays the same. Boil the water first, then let it cool before adding the powder. Filtration changes how water tastes and looks, but boiling is what helps manage bacteria in powdered formula. Some families like using the same filtered water routine at home and when travelling because it keeps feeding familiar. If you are unsure what is best for your baby, a health visitor, midwife, or GP can advise.

Culligan with ZeroWater Technology supports everyday feeding by improving taste and reducing dissolved solids before boiling. Our jugs and dispensers are easy to refill and work for the whole household. For more practical guidance, product details, and troubleshooting, visit our FAQs.

Cleaner water starts at zero, and users across the UK share positive feedback about their experience with Culligan.

This article does not constitute medical advice. If you have any concerns about your baby’s health or wellbeing, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.