8 Best Bottled Water And Why They're ALL BAD For You (2023)

Article Last Updated: February 2023

The Best Bottled Water This Year

Which is the best bottled water? Most people don’t give a second thought to what bottled water tastes like.8 Best Bottled Water And Why They're ALL BAD For You (1) I mean it’s just water right?

However, if you take a closer look (or taste, as would be appropriate in this case), you will notice that not all bottled waters are made equally.

Some differences in bottle water taste (by brands) are subtle and others are quite distinct.

This article is loosely based on the rigorous taste tests conducted by Dan Gentile over at the Thrillist. The testers ate Pretzels and Coke before blindly tasting the biggest brands of the best bottled water.

The Best Bottled Water Testing Kit

The best way to get accurate and detailed water test results is to get a laboratory test.

I have carefully studied the reports and outcomes. After trying the different brands that came at the top of this I have produced my own “best of the best” list.

8 Best Bottled Water And Why They're ALL BAD For You (2)This is based on my experience of trying all the brands.

Not necessarily premium brands like lifewtr, blk water or hint water but the major bottle water brands you find in every supermarket.

I also found some information about the potential issues with specific brands.

For instance, some brands have more pH levels than others.8 Best Bottled Water And Why They're ALL BAD For You (3)As a result, I have modified my version of the original list accordingly, while also peppering the article with related videos so that you can make a better informed decision.

Comprehensive Bottled Water TestBest Features
8 Best Bottled Water And Why They're ALL BAD For You (4)- Full laboratory analysis.
- Tests for pH, alkalinity, coliform bacteria, chemicals associated with plastics, and common metals (arsenic, lead etc.)
- Detailed report including a detailed health risks analysis.
8 Best Bottled Water And Why They're ALL BAD For You (5)

One thing I learned from this whole process is that tasting the differences between bottled waters is difficult. It is just as discerning as noticing the subtleties of different wine qualities.

You might also be surprised to know that the variation from one brand to another could be pronounced. Pronounced as the difference between red and white wine.

So sit back, relax and read on to help you determine which bottle of water is the best on the market.

Best Water Brands

1. Mountain Valley Spring Water

(Video) Testing 10 Popular Bottled Drinking Water Brands - See How They Compare!

2. Voss

3. Fiji Natural Artesian Water

4. Nestlé Pure Life

5. Evian Water

6. Dasani

7. Aquafina

8. Smartwater

8. Smartwater

Smartwater is made by the people behind Glacéau.

The sales pitch for Smartwater is that it’s vapor distilled from water that is pulled from the sky. Only then are electrolytes added for extra taste.

A notable aspect of their brand is the trash talking against ‘non-customers’. Specifically, people who like the taste of water that comes from the ground i.e. spring water.

What does it taste like? Tastes tart and tangy. Like water that has gone through your BRITA filter jug many times.

Score: 3.9

7. Aquafina

Aquafina is purified water that has gone through a “7-step HydRO-7” filtration process.

The story is that the “7-step HydRO-7” filtration process takes out many more solids than other methods of filtration. The claim is that this makes it the purest water possible.

What does Aquafina taste like? The taste starts off good. But then it doesn’t have a great after taste but it is very full-bodied.

(Video) Here's what's in your bottled water (Marketplace)

A bit like the Cabernet of water.

Score: 4.4

Read: PepsiCo Finally Admits Aquafina Water Ingredients = Tap Water

6. Dasani

This brand is brought to you by the soft drink giant Coca-Cola. The big brand decided it was time they burst into the bottled water market.

Dasani comes from purified publicly supplied water. Like tap water (yes, that’s right tap water). But tap water that has been added with potassium chloride, salt and magnesium sulphate.

What does Dasani taste like? It tastes very vibrant in your mouth, clean and slightly fruity.

Score: 5.1

5. Evian Water

Isn’t it interesting that “Evian” is “naive” spelled backwards? That aside, Evian is the name of a small town in the French Alps.

The company behind this brand claims their water is a geological “miracle”.

This is because it has passed through what should be an impossible amount of permeable layers. For more than 15 years the underground spring harvests water from snow and rain. While also adding minerals and electrolytes to the mix.

What does Evian Water taste like? You can actually taste the minerals. So much so that some of the participants of the original Thrillist study talked about “over-hydration” because it is so rich. Having tasted it myself, I can safely confirm that this is the case. It tastes very rich and full of minerals.

Score: 5.6

4. Nestlé Pure Life

Nestlé is a large and enduring brand that owns 64 different small brands. This includes products as well as a number of different water brands. Think everything from Poland Spring to Perrier.

However, one of the most popular bottled water brands in their portfolio is called “Pure Life”. It is categorised as “purified water”, which essentially means that it comes from a municipal source.

A source like the humble tap or a public well. But the water has been softened, carbon filtered, demineralized (i.e. minerals removed), re-mineralized (i.e. minerals put back into the water). Then finally disinfected with ultraviolet light.

(Video) Why you don't need 8 glasses of water a day | Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter

What does Nestlé Pure Life taste like? After all that it must be of no surprise that the result is a clean clear taste. It has a neutral flavour with no traces of minerals but it still quenches thirst in a direct and pleasant way.

Score: 6.3

3. Fiji Natural Artesian Water

This water apparently comes from tropical rain that falls on an island in Fiji (Viti Levu).

It’s filtered naturally through volcanic rock where it is also able to mix with minerals and electrolytes.

This is before welling up in an underground aquifer. The fact that it is NATURALLY purified makes it one of the safest bottled water available today.

What does Fiji Natural Artesian Water taste like? The first thing to note is that there is no after taste. It also tastes like it has been carefully curated by a small group of meticulous scientist working on an exotic island.
Score: 6.5

2. Voss

The water used by Voss comes from a small “artesian” well in Norway.

It is one of the most expensive bottled waters on the market today. It is what you might consider to be a designer brand of bottle water.

Consequently you can expect to find this in luxury hotel rooms. Or perhaps in the first class cabin of an airplane.

What does Voss taste like? It tastes very impressive to be honest, lots of character, slightly rough round the edges. But you can feel the quality as it seems like it contains lots of minerals.
Score: 6.8

1. Mountain Valley Spring Water

The story behind Mountain Valley Spring Water is that it originally comes from a fresh spring in Arkansas US. It has been quenching thirsts since 1871.

Apart from this unique pedigree, it is reported to have been the favourite of celebrities. For instance, presidents like Eisenhower and legends like Elvis Presley.

It apparently takes 3,500 years for rain water to make it’s way to the aquifer, as a result, this water naturally has high a pH, which is supposed to help neutralize high acidity in the body.

It was by far the most favourite among the testers who took part in the original Thrillist experiment and having tasted it myself, I agree with them.

What does Mountain Valley Spring Water taste like? It does have a rich, luxurious feel with slight hints of sweetness and bursts full of minerals as you would expect from water that has been filtered through a geological treasure.

(Video) I Tested The PH of EVERY BOTTLED WATER

Score: 7.7

8 Best Bottled Water And Why They're ALL BAD For You (6)

8 Best Bottled Water And Why They're ALL BAD For You (7)Why Are ALL Plastic Water Bottles BAD For You?

Bottled waters are not always as pure as you might expect them to be and you should take some of the following points into consideration when you are deciding on which brand of bottled water you want:

  1. It is possible that dangerous toxins from some plastic water bottles can leak into your water. The most notable of this is BPA (bisphenol-a), which is used when creating plastic in the industrial process and can be very hazardous to health.
  2. There are lots of credible reports that say many bottled waters are just purified tap water and because they have gone through a further filtration process, they also lack essential minerals. For instance, it is reported that brands like Aquafina and Dasani are simply re-filtered tap water.
  3. The process of purifying, bottling and shipping water takes up a huge amount of resources and it is often impossible to recycle the bottles meaning that they simply fill up our landfill sites.

> Read: How To Check Plastic Bottles for BPA Poisoning <

If you choose to buy bottled water despite all of this try not to consume ultra purified municipal waters (i.e. re-filtered tap water) in favour of naturally clean sources like those that come from a spring or valley. The best are mentioned below.

8 Best Bottled Water And Why They're ALL BAD For You (9)

The Best Bottled Water – My Top Picks

8 Best Bottled Water And Why They're ALL BAD For You (10)My favourite? Mountain Valley Spring Water. It has the best taste, right ph level and completely natural.8 Best Bottled Water And Why They're ALL BAD For You (11)

8 Best Bottled Water And Why They're ALL BAD For You (12)

Is taste most important to you? Then choose Fiji water. It is filtered naturally through volcanic rock by scientists.8 Best Bottled Water And Why They're ALL BAD For You (13)8 Best Bottled Water And Why They're ALL BAD For You (14)

Are you looking for an all round good product that has the wow factor. Then I recommend VOSS water. The bottle design has a designer feel and the water itself has been curated with a lot of attention. 8 Best Bottled Water And Why They're ALL BAD For You (15)

8 Best Bottled Water And Why They're ALL BAD For You (16)If you want to save money, the environment and avoid BPA contamination. Then you might want to consider AquaTru.8 Best Bottled Water And Why They're ALL BAD For You (17)

It removes several contaminants (including, heavy metals, lead and viruses) within seconds. It comes with filters, which are easy to replace.

Using something like this will save thousands of bottles of water in a year.

The video below is a little hyped up but does a good job of describing how powerful this product is.

AquaTru Water Filter

Berkey Water Filter

8 Best Bottled Water And Why They're ALL BAD For You (18)8 Best Bottled Water And Why They're ALL BAD For You (19)
- Arsenic: Approx 90% (unspecified).
- Fluoride by 91.8% (WITHOUT extra filters).
- Lead 97.5%
- Benzene 99.9%
- Chlorine 96.6%
- Cysts 99.99%
- Arsenic by 99.9% (special filters required).
- Fluoride by 99.9% (special filters required).
- Lead 97.5%
- Benzene 99.8%
Available in 1-size only. Available in various sizes.
Plastic materials.Metal & plastic materials.
Number of filters: 3Number of filters: 2 - 4
Filter methods: Mechanical, Reverse Osmosis & Activated Carbon filters.Filter methods: Black microporous-filters & white fluoride Filters
4-stage filter process.2-stage filter process.
Holds a maximum water capacity of 3-quarts.2.25 Gallons
45.7 x 45.7 x 38.1 cm 19" High x 8.5" Diameter
System: 1 year limited warranty.Filters: 2 years; System: 1 year.
Full Performance Data Sheet (AquaTru).Berkey Contaminants List
NSF/ANSI test results
SPECIAL OFFER?
Yes, use code MRWATERGEEK
8 Best Bottled Water And Why They're ALL BAD For You (20)
SPECIAL OFFER?
Yes, Big Berkey bundle sale
8 Best Bottled Water And Why They're ALL BAD For You (21)
8 Best Bottled Water And Why They're ALL BAD For You (22)8 Best Bottled Water And Why They're ALL BAD For You (23)

FAQs

8 Best Bottled Water And Why They're ALL BAD For You? ›

Icelandic Water, marketed as the purest tasting water on Earth, possesses a pH of 8.14, which is significantly higher than tap water and its bottled water competitors.

Which bottled water is the safest to drink? ›

What Are the Safest Bottled Waters to Drink?
  • Fiji. When tested against other bottles of water by a professional sommelier for aroma, taste, and texture, Fiji was rated high on the list of best-bottled water brands. ...
  • Smartwater. ...
  • Alexa Springs. ...
  • About the Safest Bottled Waters in Marketing.
Apr 1, 2023

What is the purest bottled water in the world? ›

Icelandic Water, marketed as the purest tasting water on Earth, possesses a pH of 8.14, which is significantly higher than tap water and its bottled water competitors.

What is in bottled water that is bad for your health? ›

Bottled Water and People with Weakened Immune Systems

The parasite Cryptosporidium can cause chronic or severe illness and even life-threatening symptoms in people with weakened immune systems. Healthy people would be more likely to develop a mild illness from this parasite.

Which bottled water is actually tap water? ›

Nestle Pure Life obtains its water both from wells and municipal sources, while Niagara Bottling LLC (which produces Kirkland bottled water) uses tap water as well as water from wells and springs.

What is the safest and healthiest water to drink? ›

Mineral, structured, and pure spring water are some of the healthiest water you can drink because they're clean and contain all the essential minerals your body needs. Filtered water removes contaminants but might also remove essential minerals.

What is the best water for kidneys? ›

Pure, naturally-filtered water is the best thing you can drink for good kidney health. And installing a cost-effective, energy-efficient, and convenient bottled water cooler can be the best way to get it.

Which is the No 1 quality water in the world? ›

1. Switzerland: With strict treatment standards and superior natural resources, Switzerland ranks number one for best EPI. In fact, Swiss tap water is as pure as its bottled water – but 500 times cheaper.

What bottled water is best for kidney disease? ›

Choose tap or plain bottled water, mineral water or flavored sparkling water. Specialty waters may be enhanced with sodium, potassium or phosphate additives.

Is Nestle Pure Life good water? ›

The uncompromised high-quality standards have made Nestlé Pure Life a trusted pure quality water brand for generations for more than 20 years. Our rigorous quality-checking and purification process makes sure every drop meets our high safety standards and tastes great. It's this quality and purity that families trust.

Why should we avoid using bottled water? ›

The entire life cycle of bottled water uses fossil fuels, contributes to global warming, and causes pollution.

Should I stop drinking bottled water? ›

Again, bottled water can be filled with chemicals and other undesirable organisms and impurities. Tap water is less likely to have these issues. As a result, tap water is actually safer for you to consume than water from plastic bottles.

Why we should not drink water in plastic bottles? ›

However, the plastic in water bottles contains no dioxins at all. All in all, water in plastic bottles should be safe to drink, and no less so than water in metal bottles or any other type of container. If they have contaminants in them, they are likely to be found at tiny concentrations.

What is the best water to drink at home? ›

Tap water is generally a better choice because it's less expensive and doesn't create single-use plastic waste. The pH level and mineral content varies between different types and sources of water, but these don't drastically affect the overall healthfulness of the water.

Is it better to drink bottled water or tap water? ›

Overall, both tap and bottled water are considered good ways to hydrate. However, tap water is generally a better option, as it's just as safe as bottled water but costs considerably less and has a much lower environmental impact. Plus, with a reusable water bottle, tap water can be just as convenient as bottled.

What is the best drinking water? ›

  • Best Overall: Mountain Valley Spring Water at Amazon. ...
  • Best High-End: Acqua Panna Spring Water at Amazon. ...
  • Best Mineral: Topo Chico Mineral Water at Amazon. ...
  • Best Alkaline: Essentia Alkaline Water at Amazon. ...
  • Best Canned: Liquid Death Mountain Water at Amazon. ...
  • Best Filtered: Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water at Amazon.
Apr 17, 2023

Which bottled water is 100% spring? ›

Ozarka® Brand 100% Natural Spring Water.

What is the best bottled water in the world? ›

Some of the best bottled water brands include Three Bays from Australia for health thanks to its high and diverse mineral content, Badoit from France for its ability to gently introduce people to sparkling water, Fiji for its unique silica content, Svalbarði from Norway for its rounded luxury offering including rare ...

What is the healthiest name brand water? ›

Best Overall: Essentia Ionized Water

Essentia Water's ionized bottled water is an excellent product. It's safe, clean, tastes great, and has all the right certificates. It's a supercharged and ionized alkaline water that's filtered through a proprietary process that purifies Essentia's water, making it 99.9% pure.

What is the number one drink for kidneys? ›

Water: Water is simply the best drink you can have! Water is a zero-calorie, perfectly hydrating, cheap drink. If you are in the earlier stages of kidney disease, choosing water most of the time to quench your thirst will keep your body and kidneys functioning well.

What color is urine when your kidneys are failing? ›

Light-Brown Urine.

Light-brown or tea-colored urine can be a sign of kidney disease/failure or muscle breakdown.

What are 5 drinks that help the kidneys? ›

Good beverages for people with kidney disease
  • Black coffee. Coffee, in moderation, is safe for people with kidney disease. ...
  • Unsweetened green tea. Green tea is lower in caffeine than coffee and full of antioxidants called polyphenols. ...
  • Low-sugar smoothies. ...
  • Infused water. ...
  • Cranberry juice. ...
  • Homemade ginger ale.
Oct 25, 2022

What is the best water in the United States? ›

For instance, Rhode Island and New York lead the way when it comes to compliance with national standards for safe drinking water; thus far in 2019, 99% of both states' tests have met or exceeded federal standards.

What country has the dirtiest water? ›

10 Countries with the Worst Water Quality in the World (2022 DALY score):
  • Eritrea — 6.4.
  • Madagascar — 6.0.
  • Burundi — 5.4.
  • Togo — 5.2.
  • Nigeria — 5.0.
  • Niger — 1.5.
  • Central African Republic — 0.0.
  • Chad — 0.0.

What is the best water to drink to avoid kidney stones? ›

Increased fluid intake prevents stone formation. Our review of the literature suggests that hard water and bottled mineral water might be helpful for calcium stone formers.

Why does pure life taste so good? ›

What gives Pure Life® Purified Water its great taste? A blend of minerals is added to Pure Life® Purified Water to give it a clean, crisp refreshing taste.

Is Nestle Pure Life better than Poland Spring? ›

Pure Life is arguably Nestle's most popular water bottle brand, besting the likes of Perrier and Poland Spring. It's known as purified water, one that usually comes from municipal water sources and mostly processed with different water purification process systems.

Is it OK to drink bottled water everyday? ›

Safety. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) set the standards for bottled water. They require manufacturers to process and transport bottled water under sanitary conditions and to use processes that ensure the safety of the water. This means that, in general, bottled water is safe to drink.

What are three problems with bottled water? ›

Plastic bottle production in the United States annually requires about 17.6 million barrels of oil. Worldwide bottling of water uses about 2.7 million tons of plastic each year. Transporting bottled water to market produces air pollution and emissions of carbon dioxide which contribute to global warming.

What is the safest plastic to drink from? ›

When you do use plastics, look for these resin codes which are considered safer: #2 HDPE, #4 LDPE, and #5 PP. Examples of #2 HDPE (high density polyethylene) include: bottled milk, water and juice, yogurt cups, and some plastic bags.

What happens when you stop drinking from plastic bottles? ›

Conclusion. As you can see, stopping the use of bottled water is your little contribution to the environment. You will significantly reduce the amount of money you spend on plastic bottled water. And you will also help in preventing the leaching of chemicals into the bodies of water in your area.

How long should you keep bottled water? ›

How long can you keep bottled water? According to the US Food and Drug Administration, bottled drinking water doesn't require an expiration date. We recommend to use the standard best practices and to consume the bottled water within 2 years from the date of manufactured.

Why can't you drink bottled water after 3 days? ›

If left in the open, your water may taste slightly different since it will absorb carbon dioxide. For this reason, the recommended period is to consume the water 3 days following the day it was opened. For best refreshment, you can recap your water and store in the fridge, out of sunlight to keep a crisp taste.

Are Tupperware water bottles safe? ›

Because Tupperware bottles are both safe and healthful, they can help reduce bottle waste.

Is it good to drink water in Tupperware bottle? ›

It is always recommended not to store or drink water from plastic bottles. It is because the chemicals from plastic are ingested into our bodies and are capable of disturbing our immune systems.

Is boxed water better than plastic? ›

When comparing plastic bottles with boxed water, the study finds that boxed water has a 36% lower carbon footprint, uses 43% less fossil fuel, and has a 95% lower impact on the ozone. Keep in mind that not all cartons are created equal.

What can I drink that is equal to water? ›

Besides guzzling water, milk is a top choice to refuel. Sodas, even diet ones, get a bad rap for lacking nutritional value, but they can still be hydrating. Juices and sports drinks are also hydrating -- you can lower the sugar content by diluting them with water. Coffee and tea also count in your tally.

What drink hydrates you the fastest? ›

Water. While it likely comes as no surprise, drinking water is most often the best and cheapest way to stay hydrated and rehydrate. Unlike many other beverages, water contains no added sugars or calories, making it ideal to drink throughout the day or specifically when you need to rehydrate, such as after a workout.

Which bottled water is the purest? ›

In all seriousness, SmartWater is deemed as one of the best water bottle brands out there, enabling you to achieve ultimate hydration through a special vapor-distillation process that eradicates impurities. Essentially, this sort of system emulates the hydrologic cycle that makes water as pure as a drop of rain.

Is it safe to drink water from faucets? ›

Water Sources

The United States has one of the safest and most reliable drinking water systems in the world. Every year, millions of people living in the United States get their tap water from a public community water system.

What water should you drink a day? ›

About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men. About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women.

What is the best kind of water to drink in the morning? ›

Another widespread opinion suggests that you opt for hot or warm water over cold water when you wake up, as it can soothe your body.

Which plastic in bottled water is the safest? ›

High density polyethylene (HDPE) is another plastic bottled water packaging material that FDA has approved as safe for food contact.

Which bottled water has the safest plastic? ›

🥇 Top 8 Bottled Water Brands with BPA-free Water Bottles
  • JUST.
  • Essentia.
  • Dasani.
  • Fiji.
  • VOSS.
  • Core.
  • LIFEWTR.
  • Icelandic Glacial.

Is spring water better than purified water? ›

While spring water has been naturally filtered through underground aquifers, purified water also goes through a strict treatment and filtration process for purity. So both are excellent sources of hydration, but while purified water is classed as 'pure', spring water can be better for you.

Videos

1. 9 POPULAR BRANDS BOTTLED WATER TESTED FOR PH ( ALKALINE ACIDIC WATER CHART)
(PAYONIDEE GG_VERSION)
2. What really happens to the plastic you throw away - Emma Bryce
(TED-Ed)
3. Drinking Water Is NOT the Best Way to Stay Hydrated
(Dr. Eric Berg DC)
4. British Highschoolers react to Bri'ish Memes
(JOLLY)
5. Which Bottled Water Is The Best For Your Health? WATER TASTE TEST
(Guava Juice)
6. The Story of Bottled Water
(The Story of Stuff Project)

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