Pure Water Is Not an Electrical Conductor
Pure water (H₂O) is actually an electrical insulator. What makes water conductive are the dissolved minerals and salts, not the water molecules themselves.
About this fact
Contrary to popular belief, pure water is not an electrical conductor - it's actually an excellent insulator. Pure water (H₂O) has very few free ions to carry electrical current, with a resistivity of about 18.2 megaohm-cm. The reason we think water conducts electricity is because the water we encounter daily contains dissolved minerals, salts, and other impurities that create ions, making it conductive. Tap water, seawater, and even rainwater contain dissolved substances that enable electrical conduction. This is why distilled water is used in car batteries and electronics - it won't conduct electricity and damage circuits. The danger of water and electricity comes from the impurities, not the water itself. Even 'pure' water will quickly dissolve carbon dioxide from the air, creating carbonic acid and ions that make it slightly conductive.