What brand of bottled water is filtered?

November 1, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), "purified water" is water that has undergone processes like reverse osmosis, distillation, or deionization to remove impurities. For many consumers, understanding what brand of bottled water is filtered is essential for making an informed choice about their hydration.

Quick Summary

Several top-selling bottled water brands, including Aquafina, Dasani, and LIFEWTR, use advanced filtration technologies such as reverse osmosis and carbon filtration. This purification process ensures a consistent taste and high purity by removing contaminants from municipal water sources, though some brands add minerals back for flavor.

Key Points

Purified vs. Spring: Purified bottled water, like Aquafina and Dasani, is extensively filtered, while spring water comes from a natural source with minimal processing.
Municipal Water Sources: Many major brands, including Dasani and Aquafina, use local municipal tap water as their starting point before purification.
Reverse Osmosis is Key: Reverse osmosis is a standard purification method used by most filtered brands to remove dissolved solids and impurities.
Taste Enhancement: Brands like Dasani, LIFEWTR, and Essentia add electrolytes or mineral blends back into their purified water to enhance the flavor.
Alkaline Options: Essentia Water utilizes a proprietary ionization process to achieve a high alkaline pH of 9.5 or higher after purification.
Rigorous Processes: Aquafina uses a comprehensive Hydro-7 purification system that includes pre-filtration, reverse osmosis, activated carbon, and ozonation.

Bottled water is a massive global industry, offering a variety of products from naturally sourced spring water to highly processed purified options. For many consumers, the label "purified" is a key indicator of quality and a consistent, clean taste. This article explores several major bottled water brands that use extensive filtration processes to produce their products, detailing the methods and what sets each brand apart.

Understanding the Labels: Purified vs. Spring

The most important distinction to understand in the bottled water aisle is the difference between purified and spring water. The source and treatment process define these categories, and most filtered bottled water falls under the "purified" label.

Purified Water: This can come from any source, including municipal tap water, and has been treated through processes like reverse osmosis (RO), distillation, or deionization to remove dissolved solids, chemicals, and other impurities. The resulting water is typically very clean and has a neutral taste. Brands often add a trace amount of minerals back in for a distinct flavor profile.
Spring Water: This water originates from a natural, underground formation from which water flows to the surface. While it is often treated to remove bacteria and other potential contaminants, it retains many of its natural minerals and trace compounds, which contributes to its flavor. Popular spring water brands include Fiji and Evian.

Major Brands That Use Advanced Filtration

Many of the most popular bottled water brands are, in fact, purified through filtration. Here are some of the most prominent names and the processes they use.

Aquafina's Hydro-7 Purification Process

Owned by PepsiCo, Aquafina is one of America's top-selling bottled water brands and is known for its rigorous purification process, called Hydro-7. This multi-stage system includes:

Pre-Filtration: Removes larger particles from the public water source.
Reverse Osmosis: Water is forced through a semi-permeable membrane to remove dissolved solids like salts, nitrates, and chlorides.
Activated Carbon Filtration: Removes organic compounds and chlorine to improve taste.
Ozonation: Uses ozone gas (O3) for a final disinfection step, ensuring sterility without leaving a residual taste.
UV Light: Provides an additional safeguard against microorganisms.

Dasani's Multi-Barrier Treatment

Coca-Cola's Dasani is another major brand that begins with municipal tap water as its source. Its multi-barrier treatment system is designed to provide a consistent taste and high purity.

Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration: These processes remove impurities and dissolved solids.
Ozonation: An advanced disinfection step using ozone.
Re-Mineralization: Unlike Aquafina, Dasani adds a proprietary blend of minerals back into the water for taste enhancement. These include magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, and a pinch of salt.

LIFEWTR's Purified and Electrolyte-Enhanced Water

Also a PepsiCo brand, LIFEWTR uses reverse osmosis and carbon filtration to purify its water. Following purification, electrolytes such as magnesium sulfate and potassium bicarbonate are added for a clean, crisp taste and a pH closer to neutral. The brand emphasizes its use of purified water and unique bottle art rather than a natural spring source.

Essentia's Ionized Alkaline Water

Essentia takes purification a step further by ionizing its water to a high alkaline pH of 9.5 or higher. Its process includes:

Microfiltration & Reverse Osmosis: To make the water 99.9% pure.
Infusion with Electrolytes: A proprietary blend is added for taste.
Ionization: An electrical process removes bitter-tasting acidic ions to achieve the high alkaline pH.

Nestlé Pure Life

Nestlé Pure Life is another common bottled water brand that uses a multi-stage filtration and purification process, including reverse osmosis and micron filtration, to ensure consistency and remove impurities. The brand states it adds a light blend of minerals back for taste.

Filtered Bottled Water Brands Comparison


Brand	Source	Primary Filtration Method	Special Features
Aquafina	Municipal water	Reverse Osmosis, Carbon Filtration, Ozonation	Purity focus; no minerals added post-filtration
Dasani	Municipal water	Reverse Osmosis, Nanofiltration, Ozonation	Mineral salts added for enhanced taste
LIFEWTR	Municipal water	Reverse Osmosis, Carbon Filtration	Electrolytes added for taste and balanced pH
Essentia	Local water supplies	Reverse Osmosis, Microfiltration, UV exposure	Ionized to a high alkaline pH (9.5+)
Nestlé Pure Life	Various sources	Reverse Osmosis, Micron Filtration	Mineral blend added for taste

Choosing the Right Filtered Water for You

Your choice between filtered bottled water brands depends on personal preference for taste, mineral content, and pH level. All purified bottled waters are held to FDA quality standards, ensuring they are safe to drink. Some people prefer the stripped-down, neutral taste of products like Aquafina, while others enjoy the unique flavors created by mineral additives in brands like Dasani or Essentia.

For those concerned about environmental impact, many companies are now offering options in aluminum or plant-based bottles, and at-home water filters can provide a cost-effective and low-waste alternative. The final decision rests on what you value most in your hydration experience.

For more in-depth information about water regulations, the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) offers valuable resources.

Conclusion

Many of the most recognizable bottled water brands, including Aquafina, Dasani, LIFEWTR, Essentia, and Nestlé Pure Life, are rigorously filtered and purified. These brands typically use processes like reverse osmosis and carbon filtration to remove impurities, often starting with a municipal water source. The primary differences lie in the specific multi-stage purification protocols, whether they add minerals back for taste, and how they market their products. Understanding these distinctions allows you to select the bottled water that best fits your taste preferences and wellness goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Aquafina uses public water sources as its origin, which is then purified through its multi-stage Hydro-7 process, including reverse osmosis and ozonation, before bottling.

Yes, Dasani is purified water. It is sourced from municipal water supplies and treated using a multi-barrier system that includes reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, and ozonation. After purification, it is remineralized for taste.

The main difference lies in the source and treatment. Spring water comes from an underground formation and is minimally treated, retaining its natural mineral content. Purified water can come from any source, including tap water, and is extensively treated to remove impurities and minerals.

LIFEWTR purifies its water using reverse osmosis and carbon filtration. Electrolytes like magnesium sulfate and potassium bicarbonate are then added for a clean, refreshing taste.

Yes, Essentia water is extensively filtered using microfiltration and reverse osmosis. It then undergoes a proprietary ionization process and has electrolytes added to create an alkaline water with a pH of 9.5 or higher.

No, not all bottled water brands use the same level of filtration. While all bottled water is regulated for safety, only brands labeled "purified" undergo the rigorous filtration processes common for filtered water. Spring water, for example, receives minimal treatment.

The variation in taste among filtered brands is often due to the re-mineralization process. After stripping the water of most dissolved solids, brands like Dasani and LIFEWTR add specific blends of minerals (electrolytes) to achieve a consistent and distinct taste.

No, reverse osmosis is one of several methods. Other purification processes include distillation, deionization, and carbon filtration. Many brands use a combination of several techniques in a multi-stage system.