The Bottled Water Reality Check
Bottled water looks simple enough, but walk down any grocery aisle and you’ll see dozens of options promising freshness and purity. The truth? Some taste great, while others taste like plastic regret. Price doesn’t always equal quality, and the fancy label doesn’t guarantee a better sip. That’s why we lined up the best and worst bottled water brands out there and separated them accordingly. So, first, let’s take a look at ten bottled water brands that don't deserve your hard-earned money.
Boxed Water Is Better on Unsplash
1. Aquafina
Despite its sleek branding and pristine image, Aquafina's premium positioning holds a surprisingly humble secret: it's essentially bottled tap water from public sources. While the company touts its reverse osmosis purification process, this aggressive filtration actually strips away beneficial minerals.
Diego Torres Silvestre from Sao Paulo, Brazil on Wikimedia
2. Dasani
Starting as municipal tap water, Dasani undergoes Coca-Cola's sophisticated reverse osmosis filtration process, which strips the water down to its purest form. Minerals are then added back to enhance flavor, but this supplementation has led to mixed results, with many consumers reporting a notably salty aftertaste.
Ameliaelizabeth123 on Wikimedia
3. Nestlé Pure Life
With a pH of 7-7.5 and TDS levels of 53-60 ppm, Nestlé Pure Life's specs might suggest perfect balance, but reality tells a different story. The brand's mineral-heavy profile draws frequent complaints about its thick taste. Plus, its extraction practices in Ontario and Pakistan have sparked controversy over local water shortages and minimal withdrawal fees.
4. Crystal Geyser
Millions of Americans reach daily for Crystal Geyser, trusting its natural spring-sourced water as their hydration choice. Yet this widely distributed brand has repeatedly breached public confidence through environmental missteps, from mismanaging hazardous arsenic waste to depleting local water resources.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alan Addison on Wikimedia
5. Evian
Originating in the French Alps, Evian’s rise to global prominence reflects the complexities of modern water commerce. Despite its celebrated spring source, Swiss research uncovered pesticide contamination, including chlorothalonil residues, casting doubt on its purity.
6. Voss
Voss’s iconic cylindrical glass bottle conveys an image of premium sophistication, tied to its Norwegian artesian source. Scientific analysis, however, paints a different picture: an acidic pH of 6.1 and exceptionally low mineral content create a flat taste profile, leaving its elevated price in the premium segment hard to justify.
7. Smartwater
Starting with plain water vapor, Smartwater goes through a distillation process that actually strips away natural minerals, only to have electrolytes artificially added back for taste. This roundabout journey to the bottle has left experts unimpressed, ranking it below other premium waters.
Mike Mozart from Funny YouTube, USA on Wikimedia
8. Fiji Water
The marketing tells a dreamy tale: crystal-clear water from a pristine Fijian aquifer, bottled at the source. But reality flows differently, as this premium water gets extracted and shipped globally, leaving a massive carbon footprint.
9. Ice Mountain
Sourced from Michigan’s natural springs, Ice Mountain shows a striking gap between expert and consumer assessments. Professional evaluation placed it eighth for its neutral taste, yet consumer reports describe metallic or bitter notes.
10. Poland Spring
From its origins in Maine's natural springs, Poland Spring evolved into a dominant force across the northeastern United States' bottled water market. However, this expansion brought complexity to its sourcing operations, with the brand now drawing from multiple springs throughout Maine.
Welcome to Maine Ep 53: Poland Spring by Ian Stuart (The Strainger)
Now, here are ten bottled water brands that actually deliver on taste and quality.
1. Mountain Valley Spring Water
Enriched with minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium, Mountain Valley Spring Water delivers natural nutrients that support bone health and electrolyte balance. This exceptional composition flows from a protected spring in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
National Park Service Picture – Courtesy of Hot Springs National Park Archives on Wikimedia
2. Acqua Panna
Acqua Panna contains a carefully balanced mineral composition of 150 mg/L, giving it a velvety mouthfeel and refined taste. Sourced from natural springs in Tuscany’s Apennine Mountains, it has earned a reputation as the preferred water in Michelin-starred restaurants seeking flawless gastronomic harmony.
Gas Tsze Sejumo 200 on Wikimedia
3. San Pellegrino Still Natural Water
Earning the coveted Superior Taste Award from the International Taste Institute, San Pellegrino's heritage of excellence extends beyond its famous sparkling variety to this pristine still water. Sourced from Lombardy's deep aquifers, it undergoes nature's patient thirty-year Alpine filtration, emerging with an ideal 7.7 pH.
4. Icelandic Glacial
In the pristine wilderness of Iceland, the remarkable Ölfus Spring stands as one of Earth's largest natural springs, releasing an astounding 900,000 cubic meters of water daily into the ocean. Here, Icelandic Glacial harnesses water naturally filtered through volcanic rock, achieving an 8.4 pH alkalinity.
5. Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water
Named "broad waters" in Hawaiian, Waiakea reflects ancient island wisdom about protecting precious natural resources. This respect shows in their CarbonNeutral certification and 100% RPET bottles, while nature works its own magic as the water filters through Mauna Loa volcano's Kea'au aquifer.
Waiakea #Water test - pH and TDS by Test Aqua
6. Eternal Water
Deep within the United States, Eternal Water begins its remarkable journey through layers of ancient rock and sandstone, emerging as naturally alkaline spring water with a pH of 7.8-8.2. This mineral-rich essence is immediately captured at its source, preserved in an elegantly curved bottle adorned with a distinctive fern motif.
Eternal #Water test - pH and TDS byTest Aqua
7. Essentia Water
With its precisely calibrated pH of 9.5 or higher, Essentia Water represents the pinnacle of ionized alkaline hydration science. Through an advanced combination of microfiltration and reverse osmosis purification, followed by electrolyte enhancement, this brand became America's first nationally distributed ionized alkaline water.
8. JUST Water
While plastic bottles continue to strain our planet's resources, JUST Water demonstrates a transformative solution with its innovative carton design. Co-founded by Jaden Smith, the brand packages pure spring water from Glens Falls, New York, in recyclable containers made from 88% plant-based materials.
JUST WATER!! DRINK REVIEW!!! | Must Or Bust by Must Or Bust
9. CORE Hydration (Unflavored Line)
The contoured shape and wide-mouth design of CORE Hydration's bottle transform everyday hydration into a comfortable drinking experience. This thoughtful engineering extends beyond the surface, delivering purified water with a precisely calibrated 7.4 pH that matches your body's natural balance.
Reed Reviews Core Hydration Perfect pH Water by casualgamerreed
10. Boxed Water Is Better
Traditional water packaging presents significant environmental challenges, but Boxed Water Is Better delivers a comprehensive solution. Their 100% purified municipal water comes in BPA-free, fully recyclable cartons composed of 92% renewable materials. The company further advances environmental stewardship by planting two trees for every #BetterPlanet social media post.
KEEP ON READING
The Most Popular Chocolate Bars in the USA
