How To Choose a Bottled Water Drinking Water Information

The varieties of bottled drinking water available runs a wide range.  On one end, distilled water contains essentially nothing but H2O; minerals, dissolved solids, etc. should all have been removed through the distillation process. On the other end, spa waters are loaded with carbonates and minerals. Selecting a bottled drinking water to meet your needs can be confusing, until you compare your goals with the methods used to produce the water. We'll provide an overview and a general guide.

What is in bottled drinking water?

First, keep in mind that water is simply one compound, H2O, which, by itself has no taste, repeat, no taste at all and no nutritional value. The taste and any health claims are derived from things added to or present along with the water. And although many claims have been and still are made for the various non-water additives, essentially they have only been shown to affect taste. The health claims are generally exaggerated.  Keep in mind, that water, like air, is not a nutrient, although it can carry them.

The non-water constituents can be important, though, as distilled water has no taste, and is bland, while the minerals give waters a taste that some prefer.  The same is true of pH: the range is very narrow and won't affect safety. Dissolved solids (usually iron oxide and other inerts, generally only affect appearances and clarity.

Types of bottled drinking waters

First let's look at the types of water you will find on the market: simple bottled drinking water, distilled water, mineral water, purified water, sparkling water, spring water and well water.

What do YOU want from a bottled drinking water?

Why are you buying a bottled drinking water: because it tastes better? To have a cleaner, safer source of water? Or because it's a spa water that will make your healthier?

• Ø  Safety - absence of harmful properties
• Ø  Taste
• Ø  Health Properties

Tips for better tasting and healthier bottled drinking water

•    Look for water in high grade containers (glass or PET plastic)
•   Always keep bottled drinking water out of bright light and away from sources of heat.
•    Don't store water for long periods (greater than 1 year) Most bottled drinking waters have no expiration date, and while it is unlikely that substantial amounts of microbial growth would occur, it makes no sense to purchase bottled drinking water for it's purity and then allow algae to grow in it. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (which regulates bottled drinking water) has not set any limitation to the shelf life of bottled water. You may have noticed that most bottled drinking water containers sold have a two-year expiration date. That is only used for stock rotation purposes. It does not mean the water will go bad if stored (properly) longer. See the bottom of this page for more information.
•   Keep in mind that you don't know where that bottle has been or how it was handled since leaving the bottling plant. Surface contamination is certainly a possibility.  This means, wash the bottle off under a running facet before drinking it. Without being too graphic, and I'm sure every bottler will deny it, the fact is that rats, cockroaches and other undesirable creepy-crawlies may be scampering around on top of the bottles somewhere in their journey and storage between the bottler and your mouth!
•   Look for updates and independent studies.  Just because a bottler is testing ok today does not mean their water always will be. Look for independent and credible sources like university studies.