Spring water vs purified water vs mineral water: which is healthiest?
Updated · Scores from third-party lab reports · How we score
Natural spring and aquifer waters score highest on average, purified water scores lower. In our data, aquifer and well waters average 69.5/100, spring waters 66.1 and purified municipal water 60.8. Purified water is usually very clean, but it has the minerals stripped out and often ships in plastic.
| Source | Still waters | Average score |
|---|---|---|
| Aquifer / well / artesian | 64 | 69.5 |
| Spring / mountain spring | 272 | 66.1 |
| Municipal (purified) | 99 | 60.8 |
The official definitions
The FDA defines bottled water types in 21 CFR 165.110:
- Spring water comes from an underground formation that flows naturally to the surface.
- Artesian water comes from a well that taps a confined aquifer under pressure.
- Mineral water has at least 250 ppm total dissolved solids from the source, with no minerals added.
- Purified water is treated by distillation, deionization or reverse osmosis. It is often municipal tap water.
"Alkaline" is a marketing term, not an FDA category. Many alkaline brands are purified water with added electrolytes. See the best alkaline waters.
Best picks by type
- Best spring water: Cedar Springs Bottled Water Gallon (96/100)
- Best mineral water: Agua Castello Original Sparkling Natural Mineral Water Glass Bottle (93/100)
- Best alkaline water: Acqua Filette Natural Glass Bottle (95/100)
- Best sparkling water: Acqua Filette Very Sparkling Glass Bottle (95/100)
Frequently asked questions
Is spring water better than purified water?
Spring water keeps natural minerals and averages 66.1/100 in our data versus 60.8 for purified municipal water. Both are safe; spring water scores higher on source quality.
Is purified water just tap water?
Often, yes. Many purified brands such as Dasani and Aquafina start with municipal water and treat it with reverse osmosis, then sometimes add minerals back for taste.
What is the difference between mineral water and spring water?
Mineral water must contain at least 250 ppm of naturally occurring dissolved solids. Spring water can be low or high in minerals; it is defined by how it reaches the surface.
More guides
- What is the healthiest bottled water?
- Microplastics in bottled water: what the research says and which brands are safest
- PFAS in bottled water: what to know and which brands test for it
- Glass vs plastic bottled water: is glass really healthier?
- Is alkaline water good for you?
- Bottled water vs tap water: which is safer?