How Ultrapure Water Can Be Used in Pharmaceuticals For Improved Healthcare

25 February 2026

Toby Patrick

Want your article or story on our site? Contact us here

Ultrapure Water (UPW) is a very important part of the pharmaceutical industry, as it has such a high purity level of around 18.2 MΩ cm resistivity, which is perfect for removing ions, organic matter, bacteria and particulate matter. All of this can reduce the quality of medication and turn it into something that can be potentially catastrophic to patients' health.

Hand holding assorted colorful pills on a bright blue background, creating a vibrant and health-focused visual.

It’s mainly used for drug manufacturing, as it can sanitise materials and equipment so everything is kept clean and away from any danger. This improves healthcare and makes it safer for patients by reducing contamination risks. It also improves the stability of therapeutic products for patients who need them to function properly.

This guide will explore how ultrapure water is used in pharmaceuticals and why it’s essential for keeping patients protected while improving their healthcare. Continue reading to learn more.

How Pharmaceutical Industries Improve Healthcare

Safety of Injectables

UPW is used to produce water for injection, the required solvent for injectable medications like vaccines for infectious diseases. These types of medications are used across the world, so it’s crucial that they’re made to be safe to use since they get injected into the skin and blood flow of patients. This ensures that they are free from endotoxins, microbes and chemical impurities that could cause sepsis or fatal adverse reactions.

Product Efficacy and Stability

When UPW is used, it can remove ionic and organic contaminants as it prevents chemical interactions that could degrade Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). This ensures medications remain stable and effective throughout their existence to prevent wasted medication, all while ensuring patient treatment is always safe to administer.

Preventing Contamination

Small contaminants are dangerous for medications, as they can interfere with how cells grow or cause a patient's body to have a bad reaction. Those within the industry can use UPW to help scientists make sure the environment stays clean and steady so that nothing ruins the medicine. This step is crucial for keeping the treatment safe and making sure it works exactly the way it should for the person taking it.

Sterilisation of Medical Devices

The integration of UPW in the pharmaceutical industry helps to generate clean steam for autoclaving. This ensures that surgical instruments and complex medical equipment are stripped of microscopic bio-burden without the risk of chemical residue. This minimises the transmission of pathogens and significantly reduces hospital infections that can occur from using products that have been contaminated. You can improve the integrity of the medical tools and the lives of the patients they serve.

Accurate Diagnostics

When new medicines are created and tested, scientists must use UPW to ensure their experiments are perfect in order for them to function as intended. This water is so clean that it has been stripped of every impurity that could interfere with testing equipment, making sure that the whole process is carefully constructed. When researchers prepare liquid samples for analysis, even the smallest change can create fake results called ghost peaks on their digital charts. This can ruin the final product of medication, leading to adverse effects on patients.

Formulation of Sensitive Topical Products

When companies make sensitive products like face creams or eye drops, they must use UPW to ensure it’s as safe as possible. Regular water contains tiny minerals and invisible bacteria that can easily irritate your skin or cause painful infections in your eyes. Manufacturers can remove those hidden impurities so the final product is gentle and effective. This high standard of purity protects your health and helps the medicine work exactly as it should without any nasty side effects.

What Technology is Used for UPW?

Continuous Electrodeionization (CEDI)

CEDI is the leading technology for UPW production. Used by water management companies like Xylem, it can replace chemical-based ion exchange with an electrochemical process. This can help to remove any impurities, including carbon dioxide, that can ruin medication. CEDI is a continuous, low-energy-consuming process and avoids the need for chemical regenerants, perfect for cost savings.

Ultraviolet (UV)

UV light can disrupt the DNA of microorganisms to prevent them from growing any bigger, while specific UV wavelengths can break down trace organisms. It helps manufacturers get more protection when making medication, as the water can stay at a consistent quality that will support regulatory compliance.

The pharmaceutical industry couldn’t survive without UPW. It’s the necessary component needed to ensure that all medication is safe to use, as it helps to sterilise machinery used by manufacturers and prevent any contamination from occurring. Without UPW, patients will receive inadequate care, as the medication they take could harm them or give them adverse effects. It’s crucial that companies within the industry keep their patients safe at all times to avoid any legal action from being taken against them.

Current Most Read

Has World War 3 Already Begun? Examining Zelensky’s Claim, Global Conflict Expansion and the Economic Fallout of Modern War

AI Video, Copyright, and the Turning Point No One Wanted to Talk About

Meta (Facebook) Under Fire Again: Why the Tech Giant Faces a New Wave of Privacy Lawsuits

Paul Francis
Aug 6, 2025
4 min read

Once again, Meta is in the spotlight, and not for the reasons it might hope. This time, it finds itself under renewed legal and regulatory scrutiny across both the UK and United States, as fresh allegations emerge about its continued tracking of user data without full consent. Despite previous fines and public outcry, the tech giant behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp is facing a storm that may be more difficult to weather.

New Legal Pressure in the United States

In the US, Meta is currently facing multiple class action lawsuits, many of which revolve around privacy breaches, exploitative platform design, and the targeting of young users.

One of the most prominent ongoing cases was filed in 2023 by dozens of US states. The lawsuit accuses Meta of deliberately designing features on Instagram and Facebook that exploit young users' psychological vulnerabilities, encouraging addictive use of the platforms. The company is alleged to have known about the harm these features could cause, particularly to teenage mental health, but did little to change the design.

Another class action is gaining traction over the unauthorised tracking of user behaviour on third-party websites. This includes the alleged misuse of tracking pixels to collect data even when users are not logged into Meta’s platforms. Users claim they were unaware that their health, financial, or browsing information was being collected in the background.

These lawsuits follow in the wake of a $725 million settlement Meta agreed to pay in 2022 over the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The current cases suggest that regulatory and legal appetite for holding Big Tech accountable is only increasing.

Investigations and Pressure in the UK

Facebook app icon with a red notification badge showing "3" on a smartphone screen. Adjacent icons partially visible.

Across the Atlantic, Meta is facing scrutiny from the UK’s Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). Though details of ongoing investigations remain confidential, the ICO has expressed growing concern about the use of data tracking in digital advertising. The regulator is reportedly investigating whether Meta’s ad targeting systems and platform architecture violate UK privacy laws, especially in light of recent Online Safety Act provisions.

In addition, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched probes into how Meta collects and uses consumer data, particularly around its growing integration with virtual and augmented reality services.

The UK’s appetite for action follows similar moves in the European Union. In 2023, Ireland’s Data Protection Commission issued Meta with a €1.2 billion fine for unlawful data transfers to the United States, the largest GDPR-related fine ever issued.

A Pattern of Privacy Failures

Meta’s defenders often argue that the company is simply evolving in a fast-moving tech environment. However, critics point to a repeated pattern of behaviour that undermines public trust.

From Cambridge Analytica to hidden tracking pixels and now algorithms that allegedly harm young people, Meta’s record on user data is far from spotless. Regulators and campaigners say this pattern suggests systemic issues rather than one-off mistakes.

James Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media, said:"Tech giants like Meta have failed to put the wellbeing of users first. We have seen this time and again. Fines may not be enough to drive real change."

What Could This Mean for Meta?

The potential financial impact of these actions could be considerable. Under GDPR, fines can reach up to 4 percent of global turnover. With Meta reporting revenue of around $135 billion in 2024, this could mean penalties in the multi-billion range.

Beyond the fines, Meta faces restrictions on how it can collect and use data. Some legal experts believe upcoming rulings may force the company to overhaul its ad systems entirely, particularly those built around inferred personal data and behavioural tracking.

There is also reputational risk. Consumers, particularly younger ones, are increasingly conscious of how their data is handled. With rival platforms emerging and concerns around AI-generated content on the rise, Meta’s grip on digital culture may be slipping.

Why It Matters to Everyone

These legal actions may feel distant from everyday life, but they reflect a deeper issue about how much control individuals have over their digital lives. Most users never read the fine print or understand the scope of the data being collected. Meta’s platforms remain free to use, but the cost is increasingly paid in privacy.

There is also a broader societal question at play. If companies continue to operate in a way that values data extraction over transparency, can regulation ever catch up? Or are we simply witnessing the beginning of a new kind of digital economy, one where personal information is the price of entry?

A Familiar Story with Higher Stakes

Whether this new wave of lawsuits and investigations leads to genuine change is yet to be seen. Meta has the resources to fight prolonged legal battles, and history has shown the company is rarely forced into long-term reform.

But there is a sense that the tide is turning. Public sentiment is shifting, and regulators appear more coordinated than ever. If Meta is once again under fire for failing to respect data boundaries, this time it may find the consequences harder to brush off.