Specialty Waters
What You Need to Know
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Have you noticed that there are even more types of waters on the market today than
there were just a few years ago? The bottled water explosion brought several new
categories into the water world, such as sparkling and artesian waters. But just as those
are now familiar, there are several others that may have you scratching your head. Do you
know the difference between activated and fortified waters? What about herbal waters?
Several types under those classifications want your attention. Here is an alphabetical
listing for those and many other types, with brief descriptions of each.
Activated waters:
Water where molecules have been electrically charged by a special process. The result is
supposed to have curative effects. An unpublished Austrian study found that activated
water improves the growth of seedlings germinated under normal conditions and exposed to
toxins. Whether it is a benefit to humans is not clear, but there is at least one product
available in the form of energized water drops that you add to regular water or teas.
Artesian water:
Water drawn from a well that taps a confined aquifer in which the water stands above the
top of the aquifer. It is sometimes called artesian well water.
Distilled water:
Water that is purified and produced by distillation.
Drinking water:
A general term for any water sold for human consumption in sanitary containers.
Essentially, it is another name for bottled water. It must be calorie- and sugar-free, and
cannot contain any sweeteners or chemical additives. Flavors, extracts, or essences can be
added, but must be less than one percent by weight of the final product. Drinking water
must be obtained from an approved source and undergo special treatment. It can be drawn
from a community water system or municipal source, but must be labeled as such.
Fortified waters:
They feature dissolved vitamins and minerals and have a hint of flavor and sweetness. They
are ideal for people who want to drink supplements or drink water during workouts. They
are not to be confused with sports drinks that have more carbohydrate energy and higher
amounts of electrolytes.
Herbal waters:
Waters that contain popular herbs. They have a hint of flavor, but no sugar, calories, or
carbonation. They feature herbs such as echinacea, Ginkgo biloba, Siberian ginseng,
ginger, or St. John’s wort. This is an ideal option if you want the benefits of
medicinal herbs without taking tablets.
Mineral water:
It contains not less than 250 parts per million of total dissolved solids. Minerals in the
water must originate from a natural, underground source and no minerals can be added. Some
waters are labeled “low mineral content,” as they have total dissolved solids
below 500 ppm. Waters labeled “high mineral content” contain total dissolved
solids above 1500 ppm.
Natural water:
Water in which no artificial or synthetic substances have been added.
Oxygen-enriched waters:
These are said to be enhanced with up to 40 times the normal oxygen concentration found
naturally in water. They come flavored and unflavored, and claim to boost energy by
increasing oxygen saturation of the red blood cells. However, there is no published
medical evidence to back the claim.
Purified water:
Water purified by reverse osmosis, distillation, deionization, or other processes. It is
also known as demineralized water.
Sparkling water:
Water that after treatment, and possible replacement of carbon dioxide, contains the same
amount of carbon dioxide that it had when it emerged from its source. A common mistake is
labeling soda water, seltzer water, and tonic water as sparkling waters. They may contain
sugar and calories and are considered soft drinks.
Spring water:
Water derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the
earth’s surface.
Well water:
Water from a hole bored or drilled in the ground that taps an aquifer.
Where can I get more information?
For more information on your private water well, contact Steve Foster:
Foster Well Drilling
7021 Eastside Road
Anderson, CA 96007
Tel: (530) 241-1605
Fax: (530) 365-5094
E-Mail info@fosterwelldrilling.com
Also, visit the Web site of the National Ground Water Association, www.ngwa.org, and its site just for well owners, www.wellowner.org
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