Water makes up roughly 60% of our total body weight – and every body system relies on water to survive and function. However, while we all know that staying hydrated is important, you may not have considered whether there are better or worse types of water – both for your health and the environment.
From simple tap water to bottled spring and mineral water, there are various types of water available to us these days – and each comes with potential benefits and drawbacks.
With this in mind, we’ve explored the pros and cons of five different types of water.
Note: It’s worth noting that there’s no ‘healthiest’ water variety; as long as the water you drink is safe and clean, the best type of water for you will ultimately depend on your specific needs and what’s available to you.
1. Tap water
As you will know, tap water is the water piped into our properties from local water treatment works.
Sources of tap water include…
- surface water (from lakes, rivers, and reservoirs)
- groundwater (from the spaces and cracks in soil, sand, and underground rocks)
- wastewater (from the sewers)
Our tap water is treated by local water authorities before it reaches us.
Potential benefits of tap water
It’s a common misconception that, in the UK, not all tap water is safe to drink due to variations in taste, smell, and appearance (depending on the area). For example, hard water tastes different to soft water. For this reason, many people wrongly assume that tap water must be less safe than bottled water.
However, this isn’t the case. Due to stringent safety regulations, tap water in the UK is almost always guaranteed to be safe. In fact, British tap water is said to be one of the best water supplies in the world and is regularly monitored by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI).
As a result, experts advise that filtering tap water isn’t a necessity but a preference. For example, in hard water areas, filters can be used to help improve the taste and appearance of water.
Aside from its obvious convenience, drinking tap water is also much cheaper than buying bottled water.
Potential drawbacks of tap water
As mentioned above, tap water can vary in taste, smell, and appearance; so whether or not you like it can vary greatly, depending on where you live.
Similarly, certain minerals and compounds can inevitably make their way into tap water. While some minerals are added deliberately to improve water quality – such as chlorine, which is used to kill microbes – others appear naturally, like limescale. Limescale is particularly common in hard water areas.
But, all this considered, these factors haven’t been found to affect the safety of tap water in the UK.
2. Mineral water
Mineral water is pulled directly from a named, naturally occurring underground mineral spring, which is protected from any form of pollution.
To be classified as mineral water, it must be bottled at the source, free of any contaminants, and microbiologically safe without any treatment. Itt must also comply with the Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water, and Bottled Water Regulations and companies are required by law to show the water’s mineral composition on the label.
Potential benefits of mineral water
Mineral water can be a healthy source of essential minerals like calcium, sodium, and magnesium. As a result, research suggests that drinking it can be an effective way to hydrate and enjoy the various bone, heart, and digestive benefits of these essential minerals.
For example, this study found that drinking mineral water daily helped to improve people’s cholesterol, blood pressure, and triglyceride levels.
That being said, the exact mineral content of mineral water will depend on its source.
Potential drawbacks of mineral water
Buying enough mineral water to reach your recommended water intake can be expensive. In the same breath, if bought in single-use plastic bottles, doing so can also be harmful to the environment.
According to research, the environmental impact of drinking bottled water could be up to 3,500 times greater than drinking tap water. One reason for this is that all stages of bottled water production (including water extraction, plastic packaging, and transportation) require the use of fossil fuels.
In the UK, it’s also estimated that 15 million plastic water bottles are littered and landfilled every day – producing the equivalent of up to 233,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year. This environmental impact applies to all kinds of bottled water, not just mineral water.
Alongside the environmental impact, research also suggests that drinking from plastic bottles can be dangerous for our health too. For example, studies have revealed that 93% of bottled water shows some sign of microplastic contamination. So, while it contains minerals like calcium and magnesium, it could be argued that you’re better off getting these from other sources.
3. Spring water
Spring water (also called glacier water) is (unsurprisingly!) water that’s taken from natural springs or glaciers.
Just like mineral water, spring water must be bottled at the source, microbiologically safe without any treatment, and comply with the Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water, and Bottled Water Regulations.
Potential benefits of spring water
Because it’s bottled at the source, spring water is generally clean and free from contaminants and any other unwanted particles.
Depending on where it’s sourced, spring water can sometimes provide us with essential minerals like calcium, sodium, magnesium, and potassium. When drinking spring water from authentic brands like Evian, you can rest assured that the water will be of fantastic quality.
Potential drawbacks of spring water
Bottled spring water can be expensive if you drink it often. While there are cheaper brands out there, experts advise against buying these, as some sell raw spring water without testing it, which increases the chances that it may contain germs and bacteria.
Similarly, as above, bottled spring water can be detrimental to the environment. It’s also possible to consume microplastics by drinking spring water from plastic bottles, which can be harmful to health.
4. Distilled water
Distilled water refers to any type of water that has been purified through the process of distillation. Minerals and contaminants like bacteria and algae are removed during this process.
Distillation involves boiling water, collecting the steam, and condensing it back into a liquid. Well-known distilled water brands include Glaceau Smartwater.
Potential benefits of distilled water
Due to the manufacturing process, distilled water is one of the safest types of water because it’s free from any bacteria or contaminants like bacteria, chlorine, scale, dirt, rust, sand, microplastics, and pesticides – all of which could potentially be found in tap water.
Potential drawbacks of distilled water
While distilled water is safe to drink, because it’s completely stripped down, it doesn’t contain minerals like calcium and magnesium that you can get from other types of water.
This means that only drinking distilled water can increase the risk of mineral imbalances in the body. That being said, this shouldn’t be an issue if you eat a varied, nutritionally-dense diet.
Because of the distillation process, distilled water is often described as tasting ‘flat’ or ‘metallic’, which many people don’t enjoy. And, of course, if it’s bottled, drinking distilled water can be harmful to the environment too.
5. Alkaline water
Alkaline water has a higher pH level than regular drinking water. This is due to the amount of alkaline minerals it naturally contains, such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium.
The pH scale, from 0 to 14, measures how acidic or alkaline something is. Regular water’s normal pH level is seven, directly in the middle of the scale. However, alkaline water has a pH of eight or nine.
Potential benefits of alkaline water
There’s evidence that alkaline water may help to reduce inflammation in the digestive tract and improve symptoms of acid reflux.
Research also suggests that alkaline water may help to improve athletic performance. For example, it’s been found to improve hydration, boost anaerobic performance (such as, during high-intensity interval training), and speed up the removal of lactic acid from muscles.
Potential downsides of alkaline water
Research suggests that drinking too much alkaline water may neutralise stomach acid and impact its natural ability to fight off bacteria.
Similarly, while there are some promising studies, more research is needed to confirm the potential health benefits of alkaline water.
Lastly, alkaline is another form of bottled water, so doesn’t score highly when it comes to the environment.
Final thoughts…
We rely on water to stay healthy and functioning at our best. But, with so many different types of water available, it can be difficult to work out which is the best option for you.
From an environmental perspective, the evidence is clear that tap water is preferable to bottled water. And, in the same light, despite some fears that exist over its cleanliness, it’s worth noting that UK tap water is considered one of the safest in the world due to the many safety regulations in place.
While many versions of bottled water are superior to tap water in their mineral content, it’s also worth accounting for the traces of microplastics that are often found too – and considering that it’s possible to get these nutrients from other areas of your diet.
For further reading, head over to the diet and nutrition section of our website. Here, you’ll find everything from information on popular diets to essential vitamin and mineral guides.
What type of water do you drink most? Has anything in this article surprised you? We’d be interested to hear from you in the comments below.
