So You Think You Know Water?

Artisanal What Now?

It seems like every day there is another type of water lining the shelves of some local cafe: boxed, crafted, infused, you name it. Whatever crafty branding marketers could come up with ends up on our shelves, presented to us as some novel and life-changing form of hydration. I’ve long wondered: are any of these forms legitimate? What are the differences between them? What spectacular benefits do they actually offer? I’ve set out to answer these questions in an effort to separate good marketing from good products. Plus, let’s test how these various formulas hold up to our very own meta-water.

#1: Tap Water

First we must consider the most basic and fundamental source of all: the tap. Tap water is sourced from lakes, rivers, or reservoirs near any given town or city. After being treated at a plant, tap water is piped to local homes. Technically, most tap water (especially in the tri-state area) should be fine to drink, but the truth is that it’s hard to know just how clean your water is. Some smaller towns and cities do not have the necessary treatment measures in place, and even when they do they may be poorly equipped to deal with the specific contaminants plaguing the water. Furthermore, tap water pipes are often old and eroded, leading to metal and lead-poisoning crises like the one in Flint. Drinking tap water won’t kill you, but it certainly is not your safest option.

#2 Mineral Water 

Mineral water is sourced from natural bodies of water that are rich in beneficial minerals. Certain minerals, like magnesium and calcium, have many healthy properties when found in water. They increase H2O’s ability to transport nutrients and toxins in and out of your body. Some tap water contains these elements naturally, but if the water’s been treated it has likely been stripped of its beneficial minerals. This leaves high-end companies like Evian to create mineral-infused water. However, healthy mineral water often becomes pricey, as one trip to the local grocery store confirms. 

#3 Spring Water 

Spring water (think Fiji) is bottled straight at the water source. Supposedly, this water is 100% pure and naturally protected from any pollutants. This may be the case, but because the water is untreated there is no knowing what contaminants it might contain, however minute their concentrations. However, even if the water is completely pure, the same financial problem arises: clean, healthy water, which should be the standard across all municipal water systems and accessible to everyone, becomes an expensive, high-end product impractical to buy in bulk.  

#4: Alkaline Water

Naturally, the blood is slightly alkaline, and water that has a neutral pH is optimal for drinking. However, due to poor diets and tap water sources that are often acidic, the body’s pH can easily become acidic, as well. Alkaline water (brands like Essentia) seeks to counteract this acidity with a high pH level. This is related to electrolyzed water, which helps the body regulate its pH level and boosts the water’s taste. However, while drinking water that is slightly alkaline is beneficial,  it is important not to raise the body’s pH level too much as this can also have negative health effects. 

What’s Your Best Option?

Now that you’ve learned about all the different types of water and their varying levels of efficiency, you may be wondering which is the best option. The answer is…all of them. Yes, you read that right, though I don’t mean breaking the bank by buying every high-end brand of bottled water out there.

On the contrary, investing in one water purification system that combines all of the previously mentioned benefits and accounts for all of their failures is indeed the best way to go. H2O’s coolers draw water from the nearest tap source, clear it of contaminants down to the smallest micron level, infuse it with natural, beneficial minerals and electrolytes, and restore its pH to slightly alkaline levels in order to best serve your body’s hydration needs.

Additionally, investing in a water purification system is not only beneficial to your health, but to the environment as well. Using a tap-sourced cooler reduces the plastic buildup that is currently harming the planet, and it saves you money in the long run by never having to replace any bottles.

Choose H2O for a more sustainable option accessible in the comfort of your own home.