Mineral. Spring Well. Purified. Distilled.
Seems like the vocabulary for describing bottled water is endless. But is there really any difference between the various forms of bottled water? Let’s take a look at the different sources and chemical addition of drinking water, so you can finally understand what you’re actually drinking.
Mineral Water
Mineral water naturally contains at least 250 parts per million of dissolved solids (minerals), which can include calcium, magnesium, and sodium. The taste of the water will subtly change depending on the amount of these dissolved minerals. Legally, a water cannot contain any added contents in order to use the label “mineral water.” All minerals must be naturally-occurring.
Spring Water
Spring water must be sourced from an underground aquifer. The difference between spring water and well water lies in how the water arrives to the surface. Spring water bubbles up out of the aquifer naturally. The location of the spring must be identified for the consumer on the bottle.
Well Water
Well water aquifers are not pressurized like spring water aquifers, so this type of underground water does not rise to the surface unless it is pumped. Still, well water has the same qualities as spring water. The major difference is in how it is extracted from the earth.
Purified Water
“Purified water” is actually an umbrella term for several different processes, including distillation, reverse osmosis, and ion exchange.
The term “purified” doesn’t refer to where the water originates, but rather to the way the water is processed. Whether it comes from a spring, a well, or some other source, purified water undergoes various treatments to remove impurities. While often confused with filtered water, purified water uses superior processes for extracting undesirable substances.
Distilled Water
Distilled water is a type of purified water wherein water is boiled and the water vapor is then caught. Impurities, that are too heavy to evaporate, are separated in a process that’s is repeated until the end product has 99.5% of all impurities removed.
