Understanding the Different Types of Bottled Water
- Published:
- Updated: December 16, 2024
Summary
Bottled water comes in various types, each with distinct characteristics and sources. Understanding these differences is crucial for informed consumption:
- Spring Water vs. Mineral Water: Spring water flows directly from the earth’s surface, while mineral water contains naturally occurring minerals like calcium and magnesium.
- Purified Water Types: Distilled, deionized, and reverse osmosis water undergo specific purification methods to remove impurities.
- Artesian Water: Sourced from confined aquifers, artesian water undergoes natural filtration, enhancing its purity and taste.
Bottled water, the ration of most people’s lives around the world, is water that comes in bottles (plastic or glass). It’s widely accepted because it’s convenient, clean, and tastes better than the tap water. Production depends on the water but generally involves water sourcing, filtration, perhaps mineral addition, and bottling in an uncontaminated manner. Now, let’s keep in mind that not all bottled water is created equal, and source and treatment have a major influence on taste and nutrition.
Spring Water vs. Mineral Water
Both the spring water and mineral water that you buy from a bottled water retailer are produced from springs and under ground water. Spring water is dug up from the surface of a spring or from a borehole that pumps into the formation beneath the spring. Its main advantage is that it comes directly from the ground, and it’s filtered right at the source.
Mineral water on the other hand, is packed with minerals and other trace elements. These minerals – calcium, magnesium, potassium – are naturally occurring, and mineral water should have no more than 250 parts per million total dissolved solids. Mineral water doesn’t taste exactly like spring water, it just depends on what mineral water is infused with, and different for each source.
Purified Water and its Types
The term purified water refers to all the water which has been filtered out mechanically. Distillation, deionization and reverse osmosis are also used to cleanse.
Condensed water has been simmered to vapour, which in a separate container has been condensed back into liquid, with contaminants removed.
Deionized water is deionised, the ions are gone and there are no mineral salts left.
Reverse osmosis water has been pumped through a semi-permeable membrane and cleared of most contaminants.
Such distilled water is generally applied in the environment where water quality matters (eg, for healthcare or industrial purposes). They are also drunk because they taste neutral, since the purification eliminates potentially affective compounds.
Artesian Water – What Makes it Different?
Artesian water comes from a well, which taps a constrained aquifer – a water-holding underground rock or sand layer – in which the water level lies above the aquifer surface. This particular quality of artesian water stems from its filtration process in layers of rock and sand that can deposit minerals in the water and naturally buffer it from contamination at the surface.
Most people prefer artesian water as it is said to be better quality and taste. It’s the water you would usually be able to brew yourself at the end of the season so that the minerals remain intact, as it has that refreshing, clean taste everyone loves.
Alkaline Water and its Health Claims
The pH of alkaline water is more acidic than tap water and usually between 8 to 9. Some even say that this will break down the acid in your body and keep you healthy. Alkaline water often has minerals added to the water, which adds more than just pH value.
But the alkaline water health benefits are not uncontroversial. There is some research indicating some health benefits, including hydration and bone health, but others report no benefit. The bottom line is, always, that consumers do their own research and speak with their physicians about any health decisions.
Sparkling Water – Is it Just for Taste?
Sparkling water or carbonated water is a frothy beverage many of us enjoy over soda that’s loaded with sugar. It’s made by boiling carbon dioxide under pressure, which is what can happen naturally at some springs, or is induced. The bubbles produced lend themselves to the mouthfeel and flavour of drinking water that will be more enjoyable.
But contrary to belief, drinking plenty of unsweetened sparkling water regularly does not seem to be bad for your health. It hydrates just as much as regular water, and even helps to help with digestion, by helping to swallow, prevent constipation and give the sense of fullness.
Bottled Water Labeling and What to Look Out For
The bottled water industry is often a murky one to navigate, given all the acronyms and accreditations you find on the labels. A few important things to remember:
Source: Is the water spring, mineral, artesian or treated? Source also makes a difference for taste and nutrients.
Treatment: Has the water been treated such as distilled, reverse osmosis or ozonated? Such treatments can affect the purity and taste of the water.
Certifications: Look for seals such as those from NSF International or the International Bottled Water Association that mean they meet certain standards.
Minerals: A lot of the labels will give the mineral content of the water, so that you can get a sense of what it might have to offer in health and taste.
Keep in mind that labels are also selling points, so be sure to know what the labels actually stand for if you want to make an informed decision.
Environmental Impact of Bottled Water
Bottled water is convenient and diversified, but it’s not environmentally benign. Plastic bottles are polluting and a drain on resources. Furthermore, bottled water is made to carry over long distances and has carbon emissions.
Invest in a reusable bottle and a water filter system at home. These are both waste-reducing solutions and more sustainable in the long run.
If you have to go with bottled water, choose brands that use recyclable packaging and are sustainable.
Don’t forget to throw away your plastic bottles, because a little change is better than none.
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