Yes, water can be used to elute DNA from Monarch columns. For maximum elution efficiency, ensure the water is nuclease-free and the pH is between 7-8.5. Milli-Q™ water is often slightly acidic, requiring pH adjustment. If you are storing the DNA long-term, we recommend using the supplied DNA elution buffer, which contains 0.1 mM EDTA and can help inhibit metal-dependent nucleases.