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Regulations for the USA

The USA distinguishes between several types of water, each with its own definition.

Drinking Water

Drinking water is bottled and obtained from an approved source. It has been filtered (e.g. with activated carbon or particulate) and has been treated with ozone or an equivalent disinfection process.

Usually, spring waters with Total Dissolved Solids between 50 mg/liter and 500 mg/liter are commonly known as Drinking Waters.

Natural Water

Bottled water that obtained from an underground spring or well. It may not come from a municipal or public water source. It is not blended with other water and no dissolved solids have been added or removed. Disinfection and filtration may still be used, though.

Spring Water

The FDA regulates Spring Water as follows:
Spring Water must be derived from an underground formation, from which water flows naturally to the surface of the earth. No particular physical/chemical properties are required other than those normally applied for drinking water.

Mineral Water

The FDA regulates Mineral Water as follows:
Mineral Water is Spring Water that contains at least 250 mg/liter (or 250 parts per million) of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). This property must be verified through a lab test whereby a liter of water, evaporated at 180 degrees C, should leave a residue of minerals and salts. Up to 249 mg/liter it is classified as 'Spring Water'. From 250 to 500 mg/liter, it is considered 'Low Mineral Content' or Light Mineral Water and, above 500 mg/liter, normal or High Mineral Content.

Usually, only waters above 1000 mg/l are called 'Mineral - High Mineral Content'.

Note: this contrasts to the European definition, where all Natual Spring Waters with a TDS of 0 to 500 mg/liter are considederd Mineral with Low Mineral Content (or just mineral waters).

Well Water

Water that is bottled from a hole drilled, bored or otherwise constructed in the ground which taps the water of an aquifier.

Purified Water

Purified water is bottled water that has been purified by means of distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis or other suitable processes.

• Distillation: The water is heated until it vaporizes. After condensing it is free of any dissolved minerals.
• Deionization: Water is passed through resins which remove most of the dissolved minerals.
• Reverse Osmosis: High pressure forces the water through membranes which remove about 90% of dissolved solubles.

Club Soda and Seltzer Water

They are not considered bottled water, but rather soft drinks.

Please note that mineralwaters.org neither produces nor sells botteled water, but only provides information to the consumers.

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