We all know that water is essential for life. But do you ever stop to think about the water you’re drinking? For some, drinking tap water is the most normal thing in the world. For others, bottled water is the way to go. And there are others who will only drink purified or hydrogen water. But is there a “best” type of water for our bodies? Let’s dive deep to see what’s out there and if there really are differences.
1. Tap Water – Tap water comes from your kitchen faucets or from the hose you hook up to your kitchen fridge. It’s fed into your home by pipes that connect you to the local or municipal water supply. Typically, tap water is sourced from a river or dam near your city, but gets treated at a water treatment facility before being stored and supplied to your home. There are certain government regulations and guidelines that have to be met in order for the water to be delivered to your house. However, these don’t always make that water “safe”. For example, some tap water will be contaminated, as we’ve seen with the water supply in places like Flint, Michigan, and others.
Tap water is also more prone to being contaminated with plastic particles, particulates from old pipes, aluminum, pesticide residue, and sediment from the source or reservoir. The safety of tap water varies from city to city, as does its taste. It’s always a good idea to research the tap water in your city (or even neighborhood) in order to determine whether it’s safe and healthy to drink.
2. Well Water – Well water is more common in rural areas, where deep wells tap into underground rivers or water sources. These wells pump water to the surface, providing a steady supply. However, most people who rely on wells for their primary water source utilize filtration systems that effectively eradicate pathogens and particulates and make the water clean to drink. This is because well water is at a higher risk of contamination than other more regulated water sources. It’s smart to test your well water annually to make certain it’s not contaminated by bacteria, parasites, particulates, heavy metals or nitrates. Well water is usually “raw” and “untreated”, meaning that you absolutely need some sort of home purification and/or filtration system to make the water suitable for drinking.
3. Filtered Water – Filtered water is water that has been run through a filtration system. It can come from the tap or a well, but it always passes through a filtration system, often with carbon filters. This process removes sediment, particulates and in municipal water, chlorine. Filtered water is one of the “cleaner” water types, as the filtration system will eliminate a lot of the potential hazards. However, there is still a risk of bacteria and parasites, as well as micro-particulates that are simply too small to be trapped by the filtration system.
4. Purified Water – Purified water is basically filtered water with a few extra steps. Typically, the first stage of the purification process is a filtration process. The water is run through the carbon filters to trap the larger sediments and particulates. However, instead of just stopping there, the filtration system adds on another layer of cleansing: purification.
The filtered water is run through purification systems that use various purification methods, such as deionization, distillation or reverse osmosis. These processes remove water contaminants and any smaller particulates that slipped through the filters. They also eliminate pathogens, including bacteria and parasites. The end result of these purification processes is water that is very clean and safe to drink, regardless of its source.
One thing to note is that home systems that use reverse osmosis to purify water will also strip the water of the majority of its minerals (sodium, potassium, calcium, etc.). This will lower the pH level of the water, making it more acidic. High-acid water may increase your risk of acid reflux and heartburn, contribute to tooth decay and potentially lead to bone health problems.
5. Natural Spring or Glacier Water – Spring water is collected from springs, directly at the source of the water. Because of that, it’s typically free of contaminants, bacteria and parasites. There may be some particulates, but those are usually eradicated during the filtration process.
Glacier water is collected from melting glaciers. Again, it’s collected directly from the source, so is usually safe to drink with minimal treatment required.
On the upside, glacier and spring water is rich in vital minerals that make it healthier and give it a unique taste. On the downside, however, it’s typically more expensive than standard bottled water.
6. Alkaline Water – Alkaline water is basically water that has passed over or through rocks that have a high mineral content. As the water wears away at the rocks, it’s infused with the minerals from the rocks, which raises its pH and makes it more alkaline than standard water.
To understand the potential health benefits and risks of alkaline water, you need to understand what alkaline means. Anything that is alkaline has a high pH level. In contrast, anything that is acidic has a low pH level. Typically, the ideal pH level for drinking water is anything between 6.5 and 8.5, right in the middle of alkaline and acid. Bottled water is usually at a neutral pH, or 7.0. Bottled alkaline water, however, tends to have a higher or more alkaline pH, usually between 8.0 and 9.0.
There isn’t a lot of conclusive evidence to prove that alkaline water can offer any real benefits. However, people who have a higher pH due to taking medications that block the production of stomach acids may find that drinking alkaline water could raise their stomach to dangerously high pH levels. It can increase blood pH, which raises the levels of certain chemicals (like potassium) in the blood. This can be especially problematic for people with kidney disease.
7. Mineral Water – Mineral water comes from mineral springs and typically tends to be rich in minerals like calcium, sulfur, magnesium and more. These minerals are critical for the healthy functioning of your body, so mineral water is usually seen as a healthier form of water. Mineral water may also aid in digestion. Also, a lot of people prefer the taste of mineral water. However, most of the minerals found in mineral water can also be obtained through a healthy, balanced diet. You don’t need mineral water just because it is rich in minerals.
8. Distilled Water – Distilled water is essentially water that has been boiled, turned to steam and then collected in that steam form and allowed to condense back into water. The boiling and evaporation process eliminates all pathogens from the water and it’s highly effective at purifying even contaminated water. On the downside, however, the distillation process also eliminates all essential minerals and vitamins from the water. The lack of minerals in the water may actually be harmful, as it pulls healthy minerals from other sources, such as your teeth, as you absorb it.
9. Sparkling Water – Sparkling water is the fancy name for club soda or carbonated water, water that has been infused with carbon dioxide gas during the bottling process. People enjoy sparkling water because it has a more active mouthfeel and even a different taste than flat water. Some sparkling water is derived from mineral sources, so it contains those added benefits of mineral water. However, there are no concrete benefits of sparkling water except for the fact that it encourages you to drink more fluids.
10. Hydrogen Water – Hydrogen water is essentially filtered or purified water that has been infused with hydrogen gas. Of all the different types of water, hydrogen water has been studied significantly and has been shown to provide some amazing health benefits. Hydrogen water decreases overall inflammation, improves athletic performance and workout recovery, can help reduce the symptoms of radiation therapy, can help improve vision problems, can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, improve liver function and decrease oxidative stress in the body. If you have the choice, opt for hydrogen water. You can buy specialized bottles that hydrogenate the water for you or you can also buy tablets that are dropped into your water to add the additional hydrogen molecules.
Regardless of what type of water you choose, it should be noted that plastic needs to be avoided as much as possible. Plastic breaks down and releases microplastics that create all kinds of problems in the human body. So whenever possible, opt for glass or metal water containers.
If you live in a city or town with a municipal water supply, the water should already be safe to drink. However, you can always consider using an in-home filtration or purification system to remove sediment, particulates or microbes. Also, remember that most municipal water supplies contain fluoride and chlorine, both of which are neurotoxic and can cause a lot of health problems.
You can use the Environmental Working Group’s Water Quality Database to get a full report of the quality of your local tap water or municipal water supply. The database will tell you if there are high levels of certain minerals or chemicals you need to be aware of.
There are quite a few choices when it comes to water, but ultimately it’s up to you to decide what is best for you and your body. If given the choice, I reach for hydrogen water first, followed by spring water. But the most important thing to remember is drink your water, regardless of the type. Your body needs it to function, thrive and survive.