The truth about bottled water

Mineral water. Natural spring water. Carbonated spring water. With so many different kinds of bottled water out there, it can be hard to know the best one to pick. Let’s take a closer look, so you can make the smartest and healthiest choice.

Where is your water sourced? Because we believe in letting nature follow her true nature, Eska natural spring water is bottled instantly at Eska’s source, naturally filtered by the glacial rocks of the esker that protects it.

A source for every kind of water. 

Spring water – comes from an underground water source, not a community supply, and should contain fewer than 500 parts per million of total dissolved solids (TDS). TDS represents the total concentration of dissolved substances in water, which can affect things like water hardness and taste. 

Mineral water – also comes from an underground water source but contains generally more than 500 parts per million of TDS. Mineral water comes in the form of both still and carbonated. 

Drinking water – comes from any source, usually municipal, and has been purified by distillation, deionization or reverse osmosis. 

Carbonated spring water – contains natural or added carbonation and comes from a natural spring. It has a lower mineral content than mineral water. Soda, seltzer and tonic water are considered soft drinks, not water.

Know your water. Always check the label

Educate yourself on terms like “purified water” and “drinking water.” These terms are usually just a fancier way of describing good old-fashioned tap water. If the label doesn’t indicate that the source is a spring or well,  it probably wasn’t bottled from one. 

Be sure to check the mineral content to determine the pH balance of the water, which should always be between 7.2 and 7.8.

The importance of pH

The pH level of water is a measure of its acidity—7 is a balanced pH for water, while anything below 7 indicates that the water is acidic. Water with a pH of between 7.2 and 7.8 is the sweet spot for maintaining good health.

Thirsty for information? 

If water isn’t labelled ‘spring’ or ‘mineral’ water, that means it’s tap water that has undergone additional purification. A synthetic mineral package has probably been added as well. 

Water that’s labelled ‘natural spring’ or ‘mineral’ has received an official designation. This certification is only awarded after strict testing has been carried out to prove that the water is naturally free of toxic elements and meets the requirements for the ‘natural spring’ or ‘mineral’ designation.

Not all water is created equal

In Canada, both tap water and bottled water are subject to federal government regulations. So most of the time, the water you drink is safe. 

However, there have been incidents where tap or bottled water have been contaminated with bacteria or toxins, some of which can pose serious health risks. To prevent this, Eska water is bottled directly at the source without ozonation.

The lowdown on plastic bottles

Most bottled water comes in bottles marked with the #1 recycling symbol. This refers to polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE), a safe plastic that’s free from BPA (bisphenol A). Check the bottom of any Eska bottle and you’ll see that we only use PET #1 and rPET (recycled PET).

Bottled water wisdom 

Plastic is a permeable substance, which means things like oxygen and bacteria from the air can break through. The thinner the plastic, the weaker the protective barrier. And storing bottled water outside in the hot sun or in your garage can even affect its taste.

That’s why Health Canada recommends refrigerating small bottles of water once they’re opened, ideally when you first buy them. And if you have to store it for long periods of time, choose a cool, dry place and be sure to check the best-before date.

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