Spring Water vs Purified Water: Which is Healthier For You?

In an era where nothing comes pure, where the air is polluted, soil quality is degraded, and water is unclean, several concerns have grown in people’s minds. These things are the main cause of diseases and ailments. One of the main problems is spring water vs purified water¹, where the water comes from, and if it is safe to drink.

Drinking water is necessary for the proper cell functioning² of our body. In many countries, the concept of water purity is synonymous with safety. The World Health Organization makes a rough estimate that over 2.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water.

In countries where public drinking water is purified, various treatment methods are used to make water safe. These methods include coagulation and flocculation³, sedimentation, filtration, disinfection, etc.

1. Spring Water vs Purified Water

For the past few years, bottled water consumption has grown rapidly, considering it a safer and better-tasting option than tap water. As a consumer, you must be mindful of the types of water and must be familiar with words like “filtered water,” “purified water,” or “spring water.”

We are given choices regarding the types of water, and it is quite confusing to tell the difference between the available options. What do they exactly mean? Are they the same thing with different names? Or which one to have in your bottled water?

There always comes the question of spring water vs. purified water. We should be aware of the differences which will help us to decide on the best hydration choice: spring water vs purified water. So here’s an overview of how the two are different.

2. Purified Water

This water is highly treated drinking water that does not contain chemical compounds that are generally found in public-supply water. Many impurities such as bacteria, algae, fungi, parasites, metals like copper and lead, and chemical pollutants are removed through purification.

It is usually subjected to an intense treatment process and filtration system to remove particulate matter and substances from water that may restrict the product from obtaining purified status. It is free from chemical pollutants, pathogens, and other impurities like copper and lead.

The standard requirement to obtain purified water is that a load of dissolved impurities must be reduced to low levels of 10 parts per million (ppm) or less. This water has a higher purity level as compared to tap water.

Purified water can come from any source as the main focus is on removing the impurities that make it purified water. It has significantly higher purity than spring water, tap water, or groundwater. It is also subjected to strict health standards and is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

2.1. How Is Water Purified?

When we think of spring water vs purified water, there are numerous ways of purification. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, purified water is “produced by distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis, and other suitable processes” and, “demineralized water, ionized water, distilled water or reverse osmosis water.”

The two most popular methods are distillation and reverse osmosis. It can be produced with any basic source of water such as groundwater, tap water, etc.

When water is purified, everything is removed from the water; chemicals, bacteria, sediments, metals, minerals, and many more. However, microbes are not removed in the purification process.

There are various filtration and purification methods. The use of carbon filters is one of the most popular systems that come with a reverse osmosis water filter unit.

In reverse osmosis, only the purest water molecules are allowed to be collected through the semipermeable membrane while filtering out the impurities and discarding any unwanted elements efficiently. This results in a pure form of water that is safe for consumption.

Multi-barrier water filtration and purification system are installed in some restaurants and homes, which does not require the initial use of carbon filters. In these, the water goes through a one-micron complete filtration, then through ultraviolet light treatment and an ozonation process.

2.2. Benefits Of Purified Water

• On talking of spring water vs purified water, purified water is completely safe for consumption by humans. It contains no harmful pathogens chemicals, or contaminants that pose a risk to the health of people.
• Purified water has no bacteria, protozoa, or microorganisms to make you sick, no sediment to prick your mouth, and no poisonous chemicals present in it.
• It is free from any unpleasant taste caused by metal plumbing chemical treatments or organic matter.
• In comparing spring water vs purified water, purified water is more readily available and can save you money in the long term.
• It is devoid of chemicals and contaminants.

2.3. Drawbacks of Purified Water

• Before being purified, the water mainly comes from tap water. Tap water, being a source of filtered water, often lacks a refreshing taste.
• It lacks minerals as compared to spring water vs. purified water which is necessary for a healthy diet. This may cause deficiencies in the body.
• As some of the essential minerals becomes missing due to excess purification and filtration, the water becomes flat, bland, and empty.

3. Spring Water

Spring Water naturally flows and rises from the surface of a large underground water basin. Areas like limestone, with thick bedrock, are a common spot for springs. This is the reason why spring water always seems to be clear and people prefer drinking it.

A lot of people consume spring water due to its natural filtration process and consider its taste comparatively better due to the presence of naturally occurring minerals and a very refreshing flavor. It is usually treated using a method that preserves the water’s mineral content while removing microbes and other impurities.

Comparing spring water vs purified water, spring water goes through very little distillation than purified water in order to keep the minerals that naturally occur. But the bottled spring waters are required to be tested and filtered for any sediment. It may have a relatively high ppm level.

Many believe that minerals present in spring water are beneficial for health. Micronutrient probiotics⁴ and homeopathic solutions are naturally created throughout the life cycle of spring water making it a healthy option. These additional minerals make the product more health beneficial and some even claim to improve the water’s taste.

People are more inclined towards spring water as it comes from a pure source where human-made contaminants are low and natural minerals are high.

3.1. How Is It Formed?

Spring Water is a result of the pressure of high water levels in the underground aquifer, which causes the excess amount to rise to the surface. If the water level can’t rise on its own, it is extracted through man-made sources.

3.2. Benefits Of Spring Water

• It is safe for all age groups.
• Beverages that are prepared using spring water taste great.
• It contains serotonin and melatonin.
• It has exceptional purity and provides all the essential minerals in the right amount and proportion that the body needs.
• Spring water has higher oxygen content⁵. Consuming it will bring more oxygen into the body.
• Spring water helps in restoring hormonal balance and reduces the need for addictive substances.
• This water networks your brain as it has a proper molecular arrangement of hydrogen oxide and levitational quality giving your brain a higher level of intelligence.

3.3. The Drawback Of Spring Water

• When we think of spring water, the image of a small mountain stream with refreshing water coming out straight from the ground comes up. This is what the manufacturers want you to think. The advertisements for spring water being natural, showing pleasant imagery can be very misleading.
• In reality, most spring water is not bottled at the source. Instead, they are pumped into large tankers or trucks from the source to be transported to the bottling company. To protect it from contamination, the water in those trucks is often chlorinated or ozonated.
• Talking of spring water vs purified water, spring water can be subjected to particles and other elements that settle its quality and color.
• Many times, spring water contains the same impurities that are found in wells or tap water. Springwater generally has the same TDS range as tap water.
• It may contain unwanted tagalongs like chlorine, nitrates, and other metals.
• However, drinking high-quality spring water daily good be quite an expensive affair for many people.

You may also check out the 8 Healthy Morning Routine Tips

4. Spring Water vs Purified Water: Which Is Best

So which one would you choose when it came to spring water vs purified water? There is no proper answer to this question. The choice is mainly based on access and personal preference. Spring Water contains essential nutrients that are required for the healthy growth of the body. These minerals at present in a more natural state in spring water.

Purified water is treated in many ways that modify the original water to meet the microbial, chemical, and radiological safety requirements⁶.

WSB-TV consumer expert Clark Howard has said for many years that tap water is preferable to bottled water, which he claims is “purified tap water.”

People consume spring water like the taste of its natural minerals that wouldn’t be found in purified water. On the other hand, the people who prefer purified water are the ones that have clarified it through high-grade water purification systems installed in their homes or offices.

5. Conclusion

Spring water” and “purified water” are terms often used to describe different types of bottled or packaged water. They have distinct characteristics and sources, which can influence their quality and taste.

The primary differences between spring water and purified water lie in their sources, processing methods, mineral content, and taste. Spring water comes from natural springs and retains its mineral content and natural taste, while purified water is treated to remove impurities and minerals, resulting in a neutral taste. Both types of water can be safe to drink and meet regulatory standards, but individual preferences often determine which one people choose.

There can not be a healthy choice between spring water vs purified water. Both are well-packed with nutrients and minerals, and they’re known to exceed the purity level of other water sources such as tap water.

FAQs

1. Can I use spring water or purified water for cooking and making beverages?

A. Yes, both types of water are suitable for cooking and making beverages. Spring water may impart a subtle mineral flavor to dishes, while purified water is often chosen for recipes where the natural taste of water is desired.

2. Are there any environmental concerns related to bottled spring water and purified water?

A. Bottled water, whether spring or purified, can contribute to plastic waste and environmental concerns. Using a reusable water bottle with tap or filtered water can help reduce the environmental impact.

3. Which one is more expensive, spring water, or purified water?

A. The cost of spring water and purified water can vary depending on the brand, packaging, and region. In general, spring water might be more expensive due to the process of sourcing it from natural springs.

Read more

1. Doria, Miguel F. “Bottled water versus tap water: understanding consumers’ preferences.” Journal of water and health 4.2 (2006): 271-276. ↩︎
2. Vogel, Viola, and Michael Sheetz. “Local force and geometry sensing regulate cell functions.” Nature reviews Molecular cell biology 7.4 (2006): 265-275. ↩︎
3. Bratby, John. Coagulation and flocculation. Uplands Press Limited, 1980. ↩︎
4. Barkhidarian, Bahareh, et al. “Probiotic supplementation and micronutrient status in healthy subjects: A systematic review of clinical trials.” Nutrients 13.9 (2021): 3001. ↩︎
5. Mortimer, Clifford Hiley. “The oxygen content of air-saturated fresh waters over ranges of temperature and atmospheric pressure of limnological interest: With 6 figures and 1 table in the text and on 1 folder, and 4 appendices.” Internationale Vereinigung für Theoretische und Angewandte Limnologie: Mitteilungen 22.1 (1981): 1-23. ↩︎
6. Bajwa, C., et al. “Developing historical technical basis for radiological safety requirements of international transport safety regulations.” Packaging, Transport, Storage & Security of Radioactive Material 24.4 (2013): 213-219. ↩︎

Last Updated on April 13, 2024 by laibaarif