What are the Different Types of Water

27/02/2012 By Chris Cook

You may have noticed that water cooler companies seem to sell different types of water. The most common types sold by bottled water companies in the European Union are spring water and mineral water, but what do these distinctions mean? Regulations prevent bottled water suppliers, such as ourselves, from claiming we are selling one type of water when in fact we are selling the other.

Mineral water is described as being "groundwater", water which has emerged from the ground and flowed over rocks. They are typically bottled at the source and the only treatment allowed to this type of water is to remove unstable chemical elements such as iron and sulfur compounds. Even the treatment of the water is restricted to certain types: filtration or decanting with oxygenation. To remove and dissolved carbon dioxide, we can only use physical (not chemical) methods. We also can't disinfect this type of water.

In order to call water "Natural Mineral Water" the water must be microbiologically wholesome water, originating in an underground water table or deposit and emerging from a spring tapped at one or more natural bore exits.

Spring water is water that complies with some, but not all, of the requirements of the EU directive (80/777/EEC of 15 July 1980) on natural mineral and drinking water. It can be of very high quality, and is rigorously tested before it can be sold to consumers.

Office Water Coolers use the Berrington Spring Water company, a co-member of the British Water Cooler Association, to supply our water. Their water has a wonderful taste and an excellent balanced mineral composition.

To find out more, ask us about our water.

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