Nearly 20 years ago, I discovered the transformative power of water—especially pure water. My first breakthrough was the lifting of a years-long depression. It didn’t take much: I began drinking city tap water from a 32-ounce mug, chugging a mug every hour or so. Health experts often note that most people are chronically dehydrated, and my experience confirms this truth.

A common concern about water consumption is the risk of drinking too much. While overhydration is possible, I’ve found it challenging to reach that point. Stories of water toxicity raise more questions than answers for me, as the benefits of ample water intake far outweigh the risks for most people.

Pure water is the most powerful healer I know. Dehydration underlies nearly every disease, a point vividly illustrated in Dr. Fereydoon Batmanghelidj’s Your Body’s Many Cries for Water. If you want to understand how water can heal, I urge you to read this book—it’s a revelation.

The standard recommendation is to drink 64 ounces of water daily. For healthy individuals eating water-rich foods like fruits and vegetables, this may suffice. But if you’re battling illness, I believe at least one gallon (128 ounces) per day is necessary—double the usual advice. I’m not a doctor, so consult one before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle, including water intake. Listen to your body: drinking more than 64 ounces in an hour could be risky for some, but I’ve never experienced negative effects at this level. An easy way to reach a gallon is to drink 16 ounces every hour for eight hours—a manageable goal for most, though certain health conditions may require adjustments.

A major drawback of drinking large amounts of water is frequent urination, which can be inconvenient in work environments with limited breaks. I’ve found that a 5–10-minute break every 90 minutes allows for drinking and bathroom visits. If you’re serious about healing through hydration, discuss this schedule with your employer and doctor to make it feasible. It’s inconvenient but essential.

Another concern often raised is electrolytes. In my research, I’ve found this issue overblown. If you feel electrolytes enhance your water, add a pinch of Himalayan or sea salt for taste. I prefer pure distilled water at room temperature, as it feels clean and refreshing. Ice water works, but I find it harder to drink in large quantities, and it can mask the taste difference between tap and distilled water. After years of drinking water, I’ve developed a preference for room-temperature distilled water for its purity and taste.

Sourcing pure water can be a challenge. Distilled or reverse osmosis water is ideal but requires effort to obtain. At stores like Family Dollar, Dollar General, or Walmart, you can find distilled water in stable plastic bottles that don’t impart a plastic taste. Avoid milk jug-style bottles, as they often leach an unpleasant flavor, which I find intolerable. Buying 1–2 gallons daily in plastic bottles is wasteful and costly, so I explored alternatives.

A home water distiller is effective but expensive and energy-intensive, with higher-capacity models costing more. Reverse osmosis systems are another option, though they can also be pricey. For years, I’ve refilled 5-gallon jugs at my local grocery store with reverse osmosis water, then filtered it at home with a ZeroWater filter (now owned by Culligan, available at Walmart or Target). This final filter removes remaining contaminants, delivering taste nearly identical to distilled water. For those who can’t easily refill jugs, a home distiller or reverse osmosis system is worth the investment. Using a ZeroWater filter alone isn’t practical, as the filters wear out quickly—costing about $15 each—depending on your water quality. Prefiltering with reverse osmosis and using ZeroWater as a final polish is more economical and effective.

Pure water has been a cornerstone of my health journey. It’s simple, accessible, and profoundly healing when prioritized. By finding the right system for you, you can unlock its benefits and transform your well-being.