What are the ingredients in Dasani water?

November 27, 2025 •

2 min read

According to Coca-Cola's own quality report, the Dasani purification process begins with municipal tap water, which is then purified through reverse osmosis before a specially formulated blend of minerals is added back for taste. Understanding what are the ingredients in Dasani water reveals how a standard municipal resource becomes a consistent, branded beverage.

Quick Summary

Dasani is purified municipal tap water enhanced with minerals for taste. The key ingredients are purified water, magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, and salt added to ensure a consistent flavor.

Key Points

Source Water: Dasani is made from municipal tap water that is extensively purified, not from a natural spring.
Purification Process: The water undergoes a multi-step filtration process, including reverse osmosis, which removes nearly all impurities.
Added Minerals: A blend of magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, and salt is added back to the purified water to create a consistent taste.
Purpose of Minerals: The minerals are added for flavor enhancement, as the rigorous purification process strips the water of its natural taste.
Safety: The added minerals are considered safe in the trace amounts present in the water, though the process has raised public debate.
Environmental Concern: The product contributes to single-use plastic waste, a common criticism of bottled water brands.
Taste Profile: The flavor is intentionally engineered to be consistent, differentiating it from spring or mineral waters.

The Purification Process

Dasani's journey from municipal supply to bottled product involves a multi-step purification process designed to remove impurities and provide a blank slate for flavor. While the source water is often standard tap water, the rigorous filtration ensures it meets the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards for purified water.

Multi-Barrier Filtration and Reverse Osmosis

Source water first passes through granular activated carbon filters, absorbing volatile organic compounds and chlorine. Reverse osmosis then forces water through a semi-permeable membrane to remove minerals and impurities. Nanofiltration may also be used for smaller particles. This process creates a neutral water base.

Disinfection and Final Treatment

Water is disinfected before bottling. Ozonation, using ozone gas, provides final disinfection and leaves no residual taste.

A Closer Look at Dasani's Ingredients

After purification, the following minerals are added to the purified water base:

Magnesium Sulfate: Added in small amounts for taste.
Potassium Chloride: Another mineral salt added for flavor and consistency.
Salt: A negligible amount of sodium chloride is included to round out the taste profile.

The Role of Added Minerals

Purification processes like reverse osmosis remove most dissolved solids, resulting in a flat taste. Coca-Cola adds a specific mineral blend to achieve a consistent taste across facilities.

Dasani vs. Other Water Types

Here is a comparison table illustrating the differences between Dasani and other water options:


Feature	Dasani Purified Water	Natural Spring Water	Filtered Tap Water
Source	Municipal tap water	Underground spring	Municipal tap water
Purification	Multi-step filtration, reverse osmosis, UV, ozonation	Basic filtration to remove large particles	Varies by municipality; home systems add further filtering
Taste Profile	Consistent, proprietary blend added for flavor	Varies based on natural mineral content	Varies greatly based on municipal source and treatment
Mineral Content	Magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, salt added	Contains natural minerals from the source	Contains varying levels of minerals from the source
Environmental Footprint	Significant due to bottling and shipping	Significant due to bottling and shipping	Lower, as it avoids single-use plastic bottles

Concerns and Controversies Surrounding Dasani

Dasani has faced scrutiny, notably during its 2004 UK launch when its tap water source was revealed. The discovery of potential carcinogen bromate led to a recall. Microplastic concerns also affect the bottled water industry, including Dasani. A 2023 study found microplastic contamination in various brands, potentially from packaging. More information on purification and the brand is available on the official Dasani website.

Conclusion

In summary, the ingredients in Dasani water are purified water, magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, and salt. The process starts with municipal tap water, purified extensively via reverse osmosis, with minerals added for consistent flavor. It is safe but is engineered for taste, unlike naturally sourced spring water. Consumers can consider alternatives like filtered tap water for lower environmental impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary ingredient in Dasani water is purified water, which is sourced from municipal water supplies and extensively filtered.

Minerals like magnesium sulfate and potassium chloride are added back to the purified water to enhance and ensure a consistent, fresh taste profile.

Dasani starts with municipal tap water but undergoes a multi-stage purification process, including reverse osmosis, and has minerals added back. So while the source is tap water, it is not the same as untreated tap water.

Magnesium sulfate, also known as Epsom salt, is one of the minerals added in small amounts to Dasani to enhance its taste.

Yes, a negligible amount of sodium chloride (salt) is included in Dasani's proprietary mineral blend, added to help round out the flavor.

Like many bottled water brands, studies have shown that Dasani water can be contaminated with microplastics, potentially introduced during the bottling process.

The purification process involves granular activated carbon filtration, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet light disinfection, and ozonation to remove impurities.

Dasani water has a slightly acidic pH (around 5.6), which is common for water treated by reverse osmosis and lower than the neutral pH of typical tap water.