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 An unpublished Austrian study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 Tunde Hussein:
