Water from the Tap: Why Are There So Many Artificial Waters on Supermarket Shelves?
Why are there so many types of artificial water in supermarkets? When you look for drinking water in the store, you should read the labels carefully. It turns out that much bottled water simply comes from central urban water supplies. Manufacturers point this out, but often in small print in a corner of the label, making it easy to overlook. Of course, such water is better than that from puddles or streams, but there is a catch.
Consumers buy it without thinking or asking questions. So why do we find so much of this water on the shelves? The reason lies in the simple and cost-effective production. Since the water pipes are already laid, the connection is cheaper. To meet the demand for water, manufacturers need large quantities that they can obtain through the municipal supply network.
To achieve the desired results and make tap water drinkable, it is filtered and then enriched with various additives. Additionally, it is disinfected with ozone and UV light. Always pay attention to the label, as it may sometimes list ingredients that do not belong in water, such as fluoride. In reality, terms like "salt solution" or even "non-alcoholic beverage" would be more appropriate than "drinking water" sourced from an ecologically clean source. Any water that has been altered in its structure or chemical composition should be considered artificially mineralized water. Therefore, artificial mineral water is more suitable for baths than for drinking.
Even if the composition of salts matches that of natural mineral water, it is merely a partial "imitation" of the original: neither the complete composition nor the conditions for saturation with salts can be reproduced. Artificially mineralized water cannot provide the same health benefits as natural water.
If the label states "natural," it means that the water comes from a specific source or borehole and has been treated in a way that does not alter its content of cations, anions, and biologically active components (BAC). Typically, this is done through mechanical filtration; thus, the composition of the water remains unchanged.