Is Manganese in Water Bottles Bad? What You Need to Know

December 22, 2025 •

4 min read

While the body requires manganese as an essential trace mineral, excessive intake can lead to serious health issues, particularly neurotoxicity. A recent report from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services advises caution for sensitive groups regarding higher manganese levels in drinking water, raising consumer questions about bottled water safety.

Quick Summary

Excess manganese exposure, though rare from bottled water, can cause neurological problems, especially in vulnerable individuals like infants or those with liver disease. The risk primarily stems from contaminated well water or occupational exposure.

Key Points

Regulation: Commercial bottled water is strictly regulated by the FDA, limiting manganese content to safe, low levels (max 0.05 mg/L).
Well Water Risk: Private well water, unlike bottled water, is unregulated and can contain high manganese concentrations that pose a health risk.
Neurological Damage: Chronic exposure to very high levels of manganese can cause manganism, a neurodegenerative disorder with symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease.
Vulnerable Groups: Infants and individuals with liver disease are most sensitive to the effects of excess manganese due to different absorption rates and impaired filtering.
Testing: If you rely on private well water, regular testing is the only way to confirm if your manganese levels are safe.
Other Sources: Dietary intake is typically the largest source of manganese exposure for most people, though water can contribute significantly if contaminated.
Aesthetic Indicators: High manganese levels can cause noticeable aesthetic issues in water, including a metallic taste and black or brown stains on fixtures and laundry.

What is Manganese and How Does it Enter Water?

Manganese is a naturally occurring mineral found ubiquitously in rocks and soil. This element is essential for human health, playing a role in bone formation, wound healing, and metabolic processes. However, the key distinction is between the trace amounts needed for health and the excessive levels that can become toxic. Manganese enters water sources, particularly groundwater, as it leaches from the surrounding rocks and soil. While municipal water systems typically treat water to reduce contaminant levels, private wells draw directly from this groundwater and can contain significantly higher concentrations.

Are Manganese Levels a Concern in Bottled Water?

For commercially bottled water, the risk of high manganese levels is very low. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled drinking water and has set a maximum allowable concentration (MAC) for manganese at 0.05 mg/L, or 50 micrograms per liter (μg/L). This is a very stringent standard intended to protect against both health risks and aesthetic issues like staining and taste. Therefore, consumers can be confident that regulated bottled water contains manganese at levels considered safe for consumption.

In contrast, private well water is not subject to the same federal regulations and can contain highly variable concentrations of manganese. Well owners are responsible for testing their own water, and high manganese levels are a known issue in some regions due to local geology.

Comparing Manganese in Bottled vs. Well Water

Understanding the source of your water is critical when assessing manganese risk. The table below illustrates the key differences in regulation and risk profile between these two common drinking water sources.


Feature	Commercial Bottled Water	Private Well Water
Regulation	Regulated by FDA; mandated to meet specific quality standards.	Unregulated by federal agencies; owner is responsible for safety.
Manganese Limit	FDA sets a maximum allowable concentration (MAC) of 0.05 mg/L.	No mandatory federal limit; varies widely based on local geology.
Source	Sourced from protected springs, treated public water, or purified sources.	Sourced directly from groundwater, which can naturally contain high levels of manganese.
Risk Profile	Very low risk of excessive manganese levels for the general population.	Can pose a high risk of elevated manganese levels, especially in certain geographical areas.
Consumer Action	Generally requires no action concerning manganese levels.	Requires proactive testing and potential treatment if levels are high.

What are the Health Risks of High Manganese Exposure?

While the levels in bottled water are not a concern, long-term exposure to high concentrations of manganese from other sources, such as contaminated well water, can lead to serious health effects. The most severe condition is manganism, a neurological disorder resembling Parkinson's disease, with symptoms like tremors, muscle spasms, and gait abnormalities. Other neurological issues, including memory loss, behavioral changes, and reduced motor skills, have also been linked to chronic overexposure.

Several populations are particularly vulnerable to manganese toxicity:

Infants and young children: These groups absorb manganese more readily and their developing brains are especially susceptible to its neurotoxic effects. The EPA recommends stricter guidelines for infants, advising against using water with over 0.3 mg/L to prepare formula.
Individuals with liver disease: The liver is crucial for filtering excess manganese from the bloodstream. Dysfunction in the liver can impair this process, leading to toxic accumulation in the body.
The elderly: Studies suggest that people over 50 may be more sensitive to the neurological effects of prolonged manganese exposure.

How to Limit Your Manganese Exposure

To minimize the risk of excessive manganese exposure, especially if you get your drinking water from a private well, follow these steps:

Test your well water. This is the most important step for well owners. Regular testing can identify if manganese is present at unsafe levels.
Use an alternative source for high-risk individuals. If well water tests high for manganese, sensitive groups like infants and the elderly should use a different water source, such as regulated bottled water.
Consider water treatment. For private wells with high manganese, treatment options are available, including air injection oxidation filters, reverse osmosis, and distillation.
Be aware of other sources. While water is a factor, most manganese exposure comes from diet, with foods like whole grains, nuts, and leafy greens containing high levels. Exposure can also occur occupationally through inhalation.

Conclusion

While the phrase "Is manganese in water bottles bad?" might trigger alarm, the reality is that manganese in regulated, commercial bottled water is not a significant health concern. The FDA sets strict safety standards, ensuring levels remain well below toxic thresholds. The true risk of manganese toxicity, which can lead to severe and sometimes permanent neurological damage, is associated with chronic exposure to high concentrations found in some private well water and certain occupational settings. Therefore, for bottled water consumers, there is little to worry about regarding manganese. For well water users, however, regular testing and appropriate treatment are crucial for protecting health, especially for vulnerable populations like infants and the elderly. For more detailed toxicological information, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) provides comprehensive resources on manganese.

Frequently Asked Questions

While regulated bottled water is safe for infants, high-manganese water should not be used to prepare infant formula or for consumption by infants. Check the manganese levels on the bottled water or test your tap water if it's high to be safe.

The EPA's lifetime health advisory is 0.3 mg/L, but stricter guidelines exist for infants under six months (0.3 mg/L maximum). The risk depends heavily on the duration of exposure and individual health factors.

Chronic overexposure to high levels of manganese, especially in occupational settings or from contaminated well water, can lead to permanent neurological damage. The effects of moderate exposure may be partially reversible by eliminating the source.

Contact your local or state health department or a certified private laboratory to receive a sample container and instructions for proper testing.

Yes, chronic manganese toxicity (manganism) can cause similar neurological symptoms, including tremors, difficulty walking, and coordination problems, due to its effect on the central nervous system.

Yes, high levels of manganese can impart a distinct, bitter, or metallic taste to water. It can also cause black or brown staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry.

High levels are much more common in unregulated water sources like private wells. Commercial bottled water is subject to strict FDA limits and generally contains very low levels.