FREE U.S.

Shipping – Orders Over $50

What Is The
Best Type Of
Water To
Drink?

One of your friends buys carbonated water

by the pallet, another swears by the
bene6ts of mineral water, and another
complains that it is all marketing hype. Your
mom won’t touch anything that isn’t
branded as “puri6ed spring water,” but your
partner will re6ll their glass water bottle out
of the tap anytime, anywhere. With all of
these bountiful options, what truly is the
best water to drink? Is there even such a
thing? Let’s 6nd out!

WHAT ARE THE

DIFFERENT TYPES OF
WATER?

The water we all consume generally comes

from private wells, municipal water systems,
or natural springs. Each of these sources
will contain a unique amount of dissolved
minerals, bacteria, and other microscopic
content that makes the water distinct. It's
worth noting that much of our drinking
water is treated to affect pH balance,
remove potential pathogens, and improve
taste. Each water source whether it be a
natural spring or municipal system offers a
unique mineral pro6le.

Here are some common types of drinking

water and the differences between them:

Tap Water

Tap water is the water you draw straight

from the faucet. It is sourced from nearby
dams, rivers, and reservoirs, and it gets to
your tap by traveling through a network of
pipelines. Tap water is used for most
household purposes, including cleaning,
cooking, and washing, and it is the most
common type of water consumed in
American households.

In most cities, tap water is regulated by the

local municipality to ensure that potentially
harmful substances like lead are not
entering the local supply for residents. If
you own your home, you may receive a
report from your district with their annual
water quality results. You can also gain
access to these tests as a renter, you will
simply have to request the public records.

Thanks to (what remains) of our

environmental safety regulations, tap water
is safe (generally speaking). But it is not
pure. Tap water is usually treated with
Ouoride as a means to protect tooth
enamel. Many people are opposed to water
Ouoridation, which has been a regular
practice in the United States since the
1940s and is a separate conversation
altogether.

In addition to Ouoride, tap water contains

many trace contaminants that are deemed
safe under EPA standards (but still
worrisome). This includes pesticide residue,
aluminum, plastic, microplastic particles,
and other metals. Also, just like public
swimming pools, tap water is commonly
treated with chlorine. Chlorine is added to
water to kill bacteria. Although our bodies
can handle it in small doses, ingesting
chlorine regularly can lead to a variety of
health conditions including gut
complications, and cancer.

Research shows that the majority of plastic

bottled water on the market is simply
repackaged tap water – these companies
often use predatory marketing tactics with
buzzwords like “natural water” and “pure
water”.

Mineral Water

Mineral water comes from springs that are

typically rich in sulfur, magnesium,
manganese, and calcium. Even though our
body craves essential minerals, it is not
something we produce and it must be
ingested. To be classi6ed as mineral water,
water needs to have at least 250 parts per
million of dissolved solids with a consistent
threshold of minerals at its source. The
good news is that manufacturers cannot
add minerals as a “6ller” and market their
product as natural mineral water.

Spring Water, Glacier Water, or Raw Water

Spring water or glacier water is also

commonly referred to as “raw” water. In its
rawest form, un6ltered spring water can
help your body and cells regenerate – this is
due to the naturally occurring and rich
mineral content found in these springs.
Different springs have different mineral
pro6les depending on the sourcing location.
Technically, spring water must come to the
surface naturally and cannot be pumped
from an underground aquifer. There are
many factors including soil, climate, and
geolocation which determine the mineral
pro6le of each spring. Keep in mind, storing
your water in a safe vessel is as important
as the content of the water itself. When
water is consumed from a high-grade
borosilicate glass water bottle that is inert,
sanitary, and free of synthetic material, it is
among the purest options for safely storing
and drinking spring water.

Anyone who has had the privilege of

consuming from a spring will tell you it is
the best tasting, thirst-quenching water
they've ever had. Unfortunately, some
bottled water companies will use language
like this which can be downright false and
misleading. The healthiest way to consume
water is often to drink it in its raw form
from natural sources. This will allow you to
preserve the structure and mineral content
of your spring water, without the trace
chemicals and synthetic plastics used by
most water bottle companies.

Sparkling Water

Sparkling water, also known as carbonated

water, is infused with carbon dioxide.
Natural sparkling waters are sourced from
mineral springs so they tend to have a high
mineral content. For certain brands (Perrier),
the carbonation is readded during the
bottling process to match the carbonation
of the source spring.

As you may have noticed, Oavored sparkling

water has become incredibly popular. The
increase in demand is partly because of
health-conscious consumers who have
slowed their consumption of soft drinks,
and instead opt for sparkling beverages.
Generally speaking, sparkling water is better
for you than a soft drink (which sets a very
low bar), but scientists continue to study
the effects of sparkling water on the body
and how it compares to traditional water
sources. Like soft drinks, many of the
popular sparkling water brands use
chemical Oavor enhancers made in a
laboratory. While carbonated water appears
relatively harmless, consumers who drink
excessive amounts may want to consider
switching to spring water for an organic
mineral pro6le free of synthetic additives.

PuriBed Water

Puri6ed water is often tap water that has

been treated. The purifying process removes
all contaminants like bacteria, fungi,
parasites, and other dissolved solids so that
the water is potable. However, puri6cation
also means that potentially bene6cial
substances like minerals and probiotic
bacteria are removed from the water.

Without naming names, many of the leading

bottled water companies simply purify
municipal tap water, rebrand, and resell it in
wasteful (and harmful) plastic bottles. While
puri6ed tap water isn’t necessarily the best
choice for drinking water, a home 6ltration
system can reduce the impact of many of
these harmful contaminants.

Distilled Water

Distilled water is water that has been boiled

into a vapor and condensed and collected
as a liquid. Inorganic minerals or metals
have a higher boiling point than water, so
they are left behind when the water turns
into steam at 212° Fahrenheit. The
distillation process separates contaminants
and provides ultra-pure water (great for
industrial applications where mineral
buildup and corrosion is a factor). That
being said, nearly all of the bene6cial
minerals your body needs are absent from
distilled water.

In some ways, it’s helpful to think of

distilled water as sanitized water. This
includes sanitary medical procedures,
kitchen applications, and in automobiles
and machines. It is devoid of potentially
harmful contaminants, but it also lacks the
essential minerals that your body needs.
Distilled water has various use cases, but
regularly drinking distilled water is hard on
your body. In fact, there is good evidence to
show that it’s important to drink
mineralized water – most folks will stick
exclusively to puri6ed water which can
eventually become problematic for your
health.

Alkaline Water

Alkaline water comes from sources near

mineral-rich volcanoes. Alkaline water has
dissolved (ionized) water that raises the pH
level and is less acidic than most other
types of water. Proper pH levels can slow
down the aging process and have been
shown to prevent cancer. Likewise, too
much acid (that is, foods and beverages
with a low pH level) can negatively impact
our health. As a result, Alkaline water is
often sought after for its higher and less
acidic pH levels.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

which regulates our public drinking water,
recommends a pH between 6.5-8.5 on a
scale that ranges from 1-14. The pH
measures the electrically charged particles
in a substance. Puri6ed water and natural
spring water have a pH around 7 which is
considered “neutral” because it has neither
acidic nor basic qualities. Alkaline water on
the other hand, has a higher level that lies
in the range of 8-9 on the pH scale.

There are many claims about the positive

health impacts of consuming alkaline water
including immune system enhancement,
and colon-cleansing properties. The
scienti6c evidence is not comprehensive,
and some studies do show positive (but
minor) impacts of alkaline water on blood
viscosity, blood pressure, and acid reOux.
However, it’s important to remember that
too much alkalinity in the body can
negatively impact your health.

Additionally, while there are places in the

world with naturally occurring alkaline
water, most off-the-shelf alkaline water is
not natural. Many of these commercially
bottled brands take tap and subject it to a
process called electrolysis in order to
reduce acidity arti6cially.

Hard Water

Hard water contains higher levels of

dissolved minerals. Hard water can
sometimes have excessive amounts of
calcium, magnesium, iron, aluminum, and
manganese. Generally, if water has a
concentration of less than 60 milligrams of
calcium carbonate per liter, it is classi6ed
as “soft.” If it has 61 to 120 milligrams of
calcium carbonate per liter, it is considered
“moderately hard.” Any water with more
than 120 milligrams of calcium carbonate
per liter is classi6ed as “hard” to “very
hard.”

Water becomes “hard” in this manner as a

result of percolating through rock
formations, like limestone, chalk, or
gypsum. Hard water can naturally occur in
any geographical location, but it is more
common in the U.S. in lands west of the
Mississippi River and east of the Sierra
Nevada mountains.

Hard water is often an issue for people who

source their water from a private well. Due
to the excessive mineral content, hard water
can taste signi6cantly different than other
types of water. A lot of people do not like
hard water as the heavy dissolved minerals
can lead to dry skin and dulling of the hair.
Hard water can also corrode plumbing
6xtures – many homes that only have
access to hard water will install water
softeners to reduce the mineral content.

Well Water

Well water comes straight from the ground

and is most commonly found in rural areas.
You will typically 6nd wells used for
properties that are spaced far apart when it
is not ef6cient to build direct pipelines from
a nearby municipal system.

A well collects water that has seeped into

the soil from rain and snowmelt, or when
streams and rivers drain into surrounding
grounds. This water is raw and untreated
like spring or glacier water, but it is not as
pure because it can attract surface
pollution.

Depending on where the well is located,

contaminants like e-coli, heavy metals, as
well as other toxins can leach into the
water. Well water is not covered by the
EPA’s water safety regulations, so homes
sourcing water from a well should test the
water for bacteria, nitrates, pH levels, and
other contaminants every year.

Some well water is bottled and sold

commercially as “artesian water.” In addition
to the potential presence of contaminants,
this may be an unsustainable practice. In
many regions, well water and underground
aquifers are being depleted more rapidly
than the natural pace at which they are
replenished. This leads to ground
subsidence or sinking, which occurs as the
water is taken from the ground and the soil
begins to compact.

Surface Water

Surface water is a broad term that includes

any water that comes from the Earth’s
surface including the ocean. For freshwater
sources, this includes streams, rivers, lakes,
reservoirs, and wetlands. Freshwater
sources only make up 1.2% of the world’s
freshwater reserves. The majority of the
world’s freshwater is frozen in glaciers and
ice sheets. Spring water is a type of surface
water, but well water and groundwater are
not. Because it is so easily accessible,
surface water provides 78% of the
freshwater we use but makes up a very
small amount of the world’s freshwater
supply. For this reason, it’s vital that we
keep surface water free of pollutants.

Ground Water

Ground water comes from beneath the

earth’s surface. As water seeps through the
earth, soil, sand, and porous rock all act as
a natural 6lter. However, when we draw
water rapidly, and from shallow wells, there
is a greater chance for contamination as the
water does not have as much time to “seep
and 6lter”.

WHAT IS THE
HEALTHIEST WATER
TO DRINK ?

When sourced and stored safely, spring

water is typically the healthiest option.
When spring water is tested, and minimally
processed, it offers the rich mineral pro6le
that our bodies desperately crave.

Water acts as a fundamental life force and

Oushes bacteria through the kidneys and
out of the bladder. It aids in digestion and
transports nutrients throughout the body. It
carries oxygen to the cells, prevents
constipation, regulates temperature, and
maintains your electrolyte balance. Water
also supports important organs, energizes
muscles, lubricates and cushions our joints,
and protects our spinal cords and other
sensitive tissues.

WHAT ESSENTIAL
MINERALS CAN WE
GET FROM DRINKING
WATER?

Common minerals found in water include:

Calcium facilitates bone

development and regulates muscle
contraction and myocardium activity.
It also aids in blood clotting, nerve
impulse transmission, and the
regulation of healthy cells.

Chlorine aids in the formation of

hydrochloric acid, which we use for
our digestive process.

Chromium creates enzymatic

reactions and is involved in the
metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids,
and proteins.

Copper improves the functionality of

several enzymes found in blood and
muscles.

Fluorine (Luoride) aids in the

protection and prevention of tooth
decay and bone development.

Iodide is essential for the synthesis

of hormones involved in growth and
body development.

Iron supports blood and muscle

tissues.

Magnesium is critical for bone

formation, nervous and muscular
activities, lipid metabolism, and
protein synthesis.

Manganese supports the synthesis of

several enzymes involved in the
metabolism of proteins, sugars, and
bone development.

Molybdenum aids in the production

of enzymes associated with uric
acid, which has important
antioxidant effects and may be
important for neurological health.

Potassium aids in myocardium

activities, neuromuscular excitability,
acid-base balance, water retention,
and osmotic pressure.

Sodium is fundamental to the

regulation of cell permeability. It is
necessary for the energy generated
in cells to be released through the
cell membrane. It is also a key
component of important body Ouids
like blood plasma.

Sulfur is a building block for

essential amino acids, including
those that create our cartilage, hair,
and nails. Sulfur also supports
enzyme activity in redox processes,
cellular respiration, and intestinal
movements.

Of course, you can always have too much of

a good thing. If water is imbalanced,
meaning that it contains too much sodium
or tends to be more acidic than regular
water, it can be harmful. This is particularly
true for people who need to maintain a low
sodium diet or suffer from tooth decay. But
by and large, spring water is a well-balanced
option for healthy drinking water.

WHY IS SPRING AND

MINERAL WATER SO
GOOD FOR YOU?

Spring water contains unique minerals and

organic compounds that offer several health
bene6ts. Drinking two liters of spring water
per day provides 10% to 15% of our daily
calcium intake and about 33% of our
required magnesium intake. The high
amounts of calcium, bicarbonate, and
magnesium can help maintain healthy
bones, making it particularly important in
the diets of the elderly.

If you 6nd yourself spending far too much

time at the latrine, consider increasing your
intake of mineral-rich water. Magnesium
also draws water into your intestines and
relaxes the intestinal muscles which
alleviate constipation.

DOES WATER HAVE A

TASTE?

Yes, water has a taste! Water activates the

sour taste receptor cells on our taste buds.
The amygdala (which is the part of our brain
that processes emotions) is also capable of
sensing acidity, so our emotional brain also
affects the way water tastes. As a result,
everyone has a personal preference as to
what makes their favorite water so tasty.
Believe it or not, some people do not enjoy
the taste of water, and they look to the
increasing diversity of Oavor additives (think
LaCroix and other bubbly alternatives).

Some people can easily distinguish between

tap water, bottled water and spring water,
particularly when they have a sensitivity to
these Oavors. There are four distinct
minerals that most affect our taste
perception: bicarbonate, sulfate, calcium,
and magnesium. Additionally, we can taste
bitterness or sourness in our food and
water. This is important for identifying
spoiled or potentially poisonous foods and
liquids.

In a recent study, experts concluded that

three properties contribute to the “Oavor”
or "taste" of water:

bitterness from poor-quality

mineralized water
a neutral taste, and
the saltiness and acidity of highly
mineralized water

Water can have a sour or bitter taste from

excessive (or uncommon) minerals. For
example, we can taste trace amounts of
copper that leach from underground pipes
where tap water Oows. We may also be able
to taste the Ouoride, chlorine, or other
compounds added to treated municipal
water. Certain chemical compounds can
cause a salty taste in water, which is very
objectionable to many people.

We may also be able to detect a tinge of

certain materials in the soil that
groundwater and well water travels through.
Dissolved minerals like sodium, calcium,
magnesium, potassium, chloride,
bicarbonate, and sulfate are “common
constituents” of groundwater, meaning that
they are often found in drinking water
sourced from underground aquifers. Each of
these common constituents have a distinct
taste when found in high enough
concentrations. Many of us can even taste
the plastic from a water bottle, which is one
reason we always recommend high-grade
borosilicate glass water bottles which won’t
hold any taste since they are inert and
sanitary – especially when exposed to
extreme temperature changes in your car or
on the go.

Generally speaking, “good tasting” water is

associated with a cool and neutral sensation
that we typically get from drinking
unprocessed water with a medium level of
mineralization. This is commonly found in
spring water from high-quality, natural,
uncontaminated sources.

WHAT TYPES OF