Core Hydration vs Mountain Valley: which water is healthier?
Updated Β· Scores from third-party lab reports Β· How we score
Mountain Valley is the healthier choice, scoring 68/100 versus 50/100 for Core Hydration. The biggest differences are packaging material and water source.

Core Hydration
Core Hydration Plastic Bottle
50
Mountain Valley
Mountain Valley Spring Water Glass Bottle
68Side-by-side comparison
| Core Hydration | Mountain Valley | |
|---|---|---|
| Purity score | 50/100 | 68/100 |
| Product compared | Core Hydration Plastic Bottle | Mountain Valley Spring Water Glass Bottle |
| Type | Still | Still |
| Water source | Municipal Supply | Mountain Spring |
| Packaging | Plastic | Glass |
| Microplastics risk | High | Low |
| Lab tested | Yes | Yes |
| PFAS tested | No | Yes |
| Contaminants flagged | 2 | 5 |
| pH | 7.4 | 8.2 |
| TDS (minerals) | 78 ppm | 202 ppm |
| Fluoride | 0 mg/L | β |
Score breakdown
| Factor | Core Hydration | Mountain Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Lab report indexed | 45/45 | 45/45 |
| Contaminants | 0/50 | 2/50 |
| Water source | 15/25 | 25/25 |
| Mineral preservation | 17/17 | 17/17 |
| Packaging material | 2/22 | 22/22 |
| Cap material | 7/7 | 0/7 |
| PFAS testing | 0/5 | 5/5 |
Each brand is represented by its most popular product. See all products from Core Hydration and Mountain Valley.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Core Hydration or Mountain Valley?
Mountain Valley is the healthier choice, scoring 68/100 versus 50/100 for Core Hydration. The biggest differences are packaging material and water source.
Is Core Hydration or Mountain Valley better for avoiding microplastics?
Core Hydration (plastic) has a high microplastics risk and Mountain Valley (glass) has a low risk, based on packaging material.
Which has more minerals, Core Hydration or Mountain Valley?
Mountain Valley has more dissolved minerals (202 ppm TDS vs 78 ppm).
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