Are there special instructions when using empty water like Distilled Water?Updated 3 months ago

Yes. Since empty water (e.g. Distilled Water, Reverse Osmosis Water, Deionized Water, etc) does not have chemicals to reduce bacteria growth (like chlorine and chloramine) it must be handled differently. 

Over time, you may start to notice some bacterial growth in your water container or reservoir. It typically shows up in a slimy or film-like texture. This bacteria that can begin to grow is not typically harmful but can cause a biofilm to develop on the inside of storage containers or filtration systems. 

Preventing Biofilm:

1. Store empty water (mixed or unmixed) in sealed containers.
2. Store empty water (mixed or unmixed) out of direct sunlight.
3. Do not store empty water in clear containers or in direct sunlight.
4. Change filters for Reverse Osmosis and similar systems regularly. (EPA) Often, bacteria may propagate inside of these systems when exiting the filters.

Cleaning Biofilm:

Clean and sanitize any container used to store empty water (mixed or unmixed) routinely; every time the container is used. This includes routinely cleaning water reservoirs for espresso machines, hot water towers, coffee batch brewers, etc.