American’s spent an estimated $16 billion dollars on bottled water in 2017, and most consumers don’t understand the different types of water they are purchasing. Below is a guide to the types of water most commonly consumed in the United States.
Tap Water
This is widely recognized as the water coming from the faucets in our homes and apartments. This water is what is supplied by your local water municipality. The water typically comes from large wells, rivers, or reservoirs. The water is treated and tested before you drink it.
You can learn more about tap water in this article about bottled water vs. tap water.
Spring Water
Spring Water is water that flows naturally to the surface of the earth. It is collected at the spring or through a borehole tapping underground formation feeding the spring. Often spring water is collected at the source and transported in trucks to bottling plants. Springwater is usually filtered and often treated to ensure it is safe to drink. If you enjoy spring water spend some time researching where the water comes from and how much filtration or treatment it receives. You might not be getting a good value for your money.
Purified Water
Purified water is typically tap water cleansed and purified through additional purification processes, typically reverse osmosis, distillation, or deionization. Purified water has significantly higher purity than either spring water, tap water, or filtered water.
Ionized Water
This water is more alkaline than tap water. Tap water processed through an ionizer produces more alkaline water. The concept is the alkaline water will help balance the food you are consuming that is high in acid. There are lots of debates going on right now about the claims of ionized water, but at least you know the definition and can do some research on your own.
Raw
Untreated, unfiltered water = raw water. The water is really spring water with no treatment. The lovers of raw water suggest this is the purest, most healthy way to enjoy all the benefits of water. The haters say you are exposing yourself to the potential of some nasty germs in your water that will make you sick.
Distilled
Water that is boiling into steam and condensed back into liquid is distilled water. This is another form of purified water. There are lots of choices for water these days. Tap water is clearly the best financial, sustainable choice. If you have any concerns about the quality of your tap water a quick Google search with your city name and water quality should yield all the results you need. If you are concerned about the quality of your tap water, you now know the information you need to get started and to make an educated decision on what to buy.