Different types of water
3. Packaged Drinking Water/Bottled water
Simply put, packaged drinking water is water that has been treated with technologies such as Filtration, Reverse osmosis, UV, and Ozone in a water treatment plant and then filled into bottles/pouches and sealed. Often, in a bid to render the water “healthy,” calcium and magnesium salts are added in defined proportions to make it “mineral water”.
The lacunae in this type of water are often in the treatment processes and in the handling and distribution itself. Unless the process is foolproof by combining all the technologies in their correct order, and the handling and distribution is done hygienically; bottled or packaged drinking water may be microbiologically unsafe. Exposure of these plastic bottles to sunlight may also be responsible for some harmful chemical reactions which in turn affect the health of those who consume this water.
Installing a home water purifier and using reusable bottles made of glass or stainless steel help to overcome the problems associated with packaged drinking water sold in plastic bottles or pouches.
4. Spring Water Or Glacier Water
Spring Water or Glacier Water is sourced from, as you guessed it, springs and glaciers. Since water is collected right from the source, it is generally clean, and free from toxins and other unwanted particles. In some cases, depending on the spring or glacier it is collected from, the water might even be infused with vital minerals.
If you get your spring or glacier water from authentic brands like Evian or Arrowhead, then you can rest assured that you are getting some of the best drinking water in the world. However, it is going to be very expensive compared to regular packaged water, let alone tap water.
But don’t let the price tag let you choose other lesser-known brands. Some companies are guilty of selling raw spring/glacier water without testing it. As such, if it contains any toxins, germs, or bacteria, then that can get into your system and make you ill.
5. Well Water
Well, Water is not commonly seen in the cities and urban areas. However, it is a prime source of water supply in most rural regions. When it rains, the water trickles down the crevices into the soil and starts accumulating underground. A well is then drilled on top of one of these natural underground water reservoirs to directly collect from the water source beneath.
This water is completely free to use, and if you have a well-constructed right in your backyard, it is probably the most convenient source of drinking water. But with that being said, it does carry some risks. The raw water collected from the wells might be infested with tons of bacteria. Also depending on the locality, it can have high traces of iron and even arsenic, the latter of which can lead to toxic metal poisoning.
Therefore, it is important to do some research as to whether the well water can be consumed directly. However, even if it has some amount of contaminants, you can always treat and purify the water to make it drinkable by using appropriate water purification techniques such as Reverse Osmosis or UV.
6. Distilled Water
Distilled Water is any source of water that has been purified using the process of distillation. This involves boiling the water until it turns into water vapor, then capturing the gas and condensing it back into its liquid state. This is by far one of the safest types of water devoid of any contaminants and bacteria.
However, is distilled water safe to drink? The lack of toxic contaminants, germs, and bacteria does make it seem like the safest kind of drinking water. But it is not! You see, besides lacking all the harmful impurities, distilled water also misses out on essential minerals and salt. This can be harmful to your body.
Non-mineralized water tends to pull minerals from wherever it can. As such, drinking too much-distilled water can result in a mineral deficiency in your body as well as teeth, which isn’t a good thing.
