Mineral water

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A mineral water spring at Sabalan Mountain, Iran Vata-Gurgur.jpg
A mineral water spring at Sabalan Mountain, Iran
Different sizes of mineral water at a supermarket Bottled water in supermarket.JPG
Different sizes of mineral water at a supermarket
Seabees with a bulk purchase US Navy 050912-N-5561D-023 U.S. Navy Seabees, assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion One (NMCB-1), based out of Gulfport, Miss., organize bottled water to give to families at First Baptist Church Biloxi.jpg
Seabees with a bulk purchase

Mineral water is water from a mineral spring that contains various minerals, such as salts and sulfur compounds. It is usually still, but may be sparkling (carbonated/effervescent).

Contents

Traditionally, mineral waters were used or consumed at their spring sources, often referred to as "taking the waters" or "taking the cure," at places such as spas, baths and wells.

Today, it is far more common for mineral water to be bottled at the source for distributed consumption. Travelling to the mineral water site for direct access to the water is now uncommon, and in many cases not possible because of exclusive commercial ownership rights. More than 4,000 brands of mineral water are commercially available worldwide. [1]

In many places the term "mineral water" is colloquially used to mean any bottled carbonated water or soda water, as opposed to tap water.

Composition

The more calcium and magnesium ions that are dissolved in water, the harder it is said to be; water with few dissolved calcium and magnesium ions is described as being soft . [2]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies mineral water as water containing at least 250 parts per million total dissolved solids (TDS), originating from a geologically and physically protected underground water source. No minerals may be added to this water. [3]

In the European Union, bottled water may be called mineral water when it is bottled at the source and has undergone no or minimal treatment. [4] Permitted is the removal of iron, manganese, sulfur and arsenic through decantation, filtration or treatment with ozone-enriched air, insofar as this treatment does not alter the composition of the water as regards to the essential constituents which give it its properties. No additions are permitted except for carbon dioxide, which may be added, removed or re-introduced by exclusively physical methods. No disinfection treatment is permitted, nor is the addition of any bacteriostatic agents. [5]

Health impact

A review by the World Health Organization found slightly reduced cardiovascular disease mortality from consuming harder water with higher mineral amounts, with magnesium and possibly calcium being the most likely contributors. [6]

However, mineral amounts vary greatly among different brands of mineral water, and tap water can contain similar or greater amounts of minerals. One study found that the median mineral content of North American mineral waters was lower than for tap water, though values varied widely among both groups. [7] Additionally, other dietary sources of minerals are available and may be more cost effective and less environmentally impactful than bottled mineral water.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soft drink</span> Sweetened non-alcoholic drink, often carbonated

A soft drink is any water-based flavored drink, usually but not necessarily carbonated, and typically including added sweetener. Flavors used can be natural or artificial. The sweetener may be a sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, fruit juice, a sugar substitute, or some combination of these. Soft drinks may also contain caffeine, colorings, preservatives and other ingredients.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Distilled water</span> Water that has had many of its impurities removed through distillation

Distilled water is water that has been boiled into vapor and condensed back into liquid in a separate container. Impurities in the original water that do not boil below or near the boiling point of water remain in the original container. Thus, distilled water is a type of purified water.

Water purification is the process of removing undesirable chemicals, biological contaminants, suspended solids, and gases from water. The goal is to produce water that is fit for specific purposes. Most water is purified and disinfected for human consumption, but water purification may also be carried out for a variety of other purposes, including medical, pharmacological, chemical, and industrial applications. The history of water purification includes a wide variety of methods. The methods used include physical processes such as filtration, sedimentation, and distillation; biological processes such as slow sand filters or biologically active carbon; chemical processes such as flocculation and chlorination; and the use of electromagnetic radiation such as ultraviolet light.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carbonated water</span> Water containing dissolved carbon dioxide gas

Carbonated water is water containing dissolved carbon dioxide gas, either artificially injected under pressure or occurring due to natural geological processes. Carbonation causes small bubbles to form, giving the water an effervescent quality. Common forms include sparkling natural mineral water, club soda, and commercially produced sparkling water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spring (hydrology)</span> Point at which water emerges from an aquifer to the surface

A spring is a natural exit point at which groundwater emerges from the aquifer and flows onto the top of the Earth's crust (pedosphere) to become surface water. It is a component of the hydrosphere, as well as a part of the water cycle. Springs have long been important for humans as a source of fresh water, especially in arid regions which have relatively little annual rainfall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calcium chloride</span> Chemical compound

Calcium chloride is an inorganic compound, a salt with the chemical formula CaCl2. It is a white crystalline solid at room temperature, and it is highly soluble in water. It can be created by neutralising hydrochloric acid with calcium hydroxide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bottled water</span> Water sold as a bottled product

Bottled water is drinking water packaged in plastic or glass water bottles. Bottled water may be carbonated or not, with packaging sizes ranging from small single serving bottles to large carboys for water coolers. The consumption of bottled water is influenced by factors such as convenience, taste, perceived safety, and concerns over the quality of municipal tap water. Concerns about the environmental impact of bottled water, including the production and disposal of plastic bottles, have led to calls for more sustainable practices in the industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hard water</span> Water that has a high mineral content

Hard water is water that has a high mineral content. Hard water is formed when water percolates through deposits of limestone, chalk or gypsum, which are largely made up of calcium and magnesium carbonates, bicarbonates and sulfates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mineral spring</span> Natural springs that produce water containing minerals

Mineral springs are naturally occurring springs that produce hard water, water that contains dissolved minerals. Salts, sulfur compounds, and gases are among the substances that can be dissolved in the spring water during its passage underground. In this they are unlike sweet springs, which produce soft water with no noticeable dissolved gasses. The dissolved minerals may alter the water's taste. Mineral water obtained from mineral springs, and the precipitated salts such as Epsom salt have long been important commercial products.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purified water</span> Water treated to remove all impurities

Purified water is water that has been mechanically filtered or processed to remove impurities and make it suitable for use. Distilled water was, formerly, the most common form of purified water, but, in recent years, water is more frequently purified by other processes including capacitive deionization, reverse osmosis, carbon filtering, microfiltration, ultrafiltration, ultraviolet oxidation, or electrodeionization. Combinations of a number of these processes have come into use to produce ultrapure water of such high purity that its trace contaminants are measured in parts per billion (ppb) or parts per trillion (ppt).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Water softening</span> Removing positive ions from hard water

Water softening is the removal of calcium, magnesium, and certain other metal cations in hard water. The resulting soft water requires less soap for the same cleaning effort, as soap is not wasted bonding with calcium ions. Soft water also extends the lifetime of plumbing by reducing or eliminating scale build-up in pipes and fittings. Water softening is usually achieved using lime softening or ion-exchange resins, but is increasingly being accomplished using nanofiltration or reverse osmosis membranes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Băile Tușnad</span> Town in Harghita, Romania

Băile Tușnad is a town in Harghita County, Romania in eastern Transylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sulfur water</span> Water exposed to hydrogen sulfide gas

Sulfur water is a condition where water is exposed to hydrogen sulfide gas, giving it a distinct "rotten egg" smell. This condition has different purposes in culture varying from health to implications for plumbing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Selters</span> German brand of natural mineral water

Selters is a German brand of natural mineral water sourced from wells in the area of Selters in Hesse, at the Taunus mountains. The water has been known since the Bronze Age and famous as a natural soda water because of its high concentration of sodium bicarbonate, "soda". The Selters water also contains raised levels of calcium, chloride, magnesium, sulfate and potassium ions. The water is naturally carbonated, over 250 mg/L, but sold in both sparkling and still versions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pitkeathly Wells</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Pitkeathly Wells is a hamlet in the Perth and Kinross area of Scotland, famed for its mineral water. The water was recommended for health during the 19th century, and was bottled for sale, sometimes carbonated. In 1910, Schweppes took over bottling the water, however, they shut down production after a fire.

Jamnica plus LLC is a Croatian limited liability company which produces carbonated mineral water, as well as other bottled waters and soft drinks. It was founded on 18 October 1828, and operates as a part of the Beverages Group, an organizational division within the Fortenova Group.

Donat is a natural mineral water from the springs of Rogaška Slatina in Slovenia. It has a high content of magnesium. It helps with constipation problems, heartburn and magnesium deficiency problems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bottled water in the United States</span>

The United States is the largest consumer market for bottled water in the world, followed by Mexico, China, and Brazil.

Sairme is a brand of naturally carbonated mineral water from springs of Sairme balneological resort area in Imereti region.

References

  1. Mineral Waters of the World
  2. "Hard Water". USGS. 8 April 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  3. "CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21". www.accessdata.fda.gov. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  4. EU Directive 2009/54/EC
  5. Loree, John; Lappin, Sarah L. (2024), "Bacteriostatic Antibiotics", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID   31613458 , retrieved 18 October 2024
  6. "Nutrients in Drinking Water". World Health Organization. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  7. Azoulay A, Garzon P, Eisenberg MJ (March 2001). "Comparison of the Mineral Content of Tap Water and Bottled Waters". Journal of General Internal Medicine. 16 (3): 168–175. doi:10.1111/j.1525-1497.2001.04189.x. PMC   1495189 . PMID   11318912.

Source


Kozisek, Frantisek; Rosborg, Ingegerd, eds. (2020). Drinking Water Minerals and Mineral Balance Importance, Health Significance, Safety Precautions. Springer International Publishing. ISBN   9783030180348.

Bibliography