What Kind of Water Is Best for Humans to Drink?

According to the World Health Organization, accessing safe drinking water is a basic human right. With so many options on the market, from tap to purified to spring, many wonder: what kind of water is best for humans to drink? This guide explores the various types to help you make an informed decision for your health and hydration.

Quick Summary

This article provides a comprehensive comparison of different water types, including tap, spring, mineral, purified, and alkaline. It discusses their source, mineral content, and purification methods to help you understand your options.

Key Points

• Filtered Tap Water: For most people, the best option is filtered tap water, offering an optimal balance of safety, cost, and reduced environmental impact.

• Purified Water Purity: Processes like reverse osmosis create highly pure water by removing nearly all contaminants and minerals, resulting in a neutral taste.

• Spring and Mineral Water Minerals: Spring and mineral waters retain natural minerals, which contribute to a unique taste but are often more expensive and less eco-friendly when bottled.

• Mineral Content for Health: While spring and mineral waters contain minerals, diet remains the primary source of essential nutrients; the mineral content in drinking water has a minimal health impact.

• Alkaline Water Evidence: The health benefits often attributed to alkaline water are largely unproven by solid scientific evidence and have a negligible effect on the body's pH balance.

• Water Purity Varies: Not all water is created equal; tap water quality can vary significantly by location, and bottled waters must be vetted to ensure their advertised source and purity.

• Hydration is Key: The most critical aspect is simply staying consistently hydrated with water you find palatable and safe.

Understanding the Different Types of Drinking Water

When you stand in the beverage aisle or consider a home filtration system, the options can feel overwhelming. Beyond simple tap water, a wide variety of drinking waters are available, each with distinct characteristics based on its source and treatment. Understanding these differences is the first step toward determining what kind of water is best for humans to drink for their specific needs.

Tap Water

Tap water is the most accessible and economical choice for most people in developed countries. It is managed by a public water utility and treated to meet strict safety standards set by governmental agencies, such as the EPA in the United States. The source can vary from reservoirs and rivers to groundwater. While generally safe, its quality can fluctuate based on location and aging infrastructure.

• Pros: Cost-effective, convenient, and often contains added fluoride for dental health.
• Cons: Can contain trace contaminants like lead from old pipes or agricultural runoff, and chlorine used for disinfection can affect the taste.

Purified Water

Purified water can originate from any source, including municipal tap water, and is processed to remove chemicals, contaminants, and bacteria. Common purification methods include reverse osmosis, distillation, and deionization. This process results in extremely clean water, often with fewer than 10 parts per million (ppm) of total dissolved solids (TDS).

• Pros: Highly effective at removing a wide range of impurities, ensuring high purity and safety.
• Cons: The purification process also removes beneficial minerals, which some people believe makes the taste flat. Home systems can also be costly and waste water.

Spring Water

Spring water comes from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface. The natural filtration through rock and soil imbues it with a unique mineral profile. To be labeled as spring water, it must be collected at the source.

• Pros: Contains naturally occurring minerals like calcium and magnesium, which some find more flavorful and beneficial.
• Cons: Quality can vary depending on the source's location, and it may not be as free of contaminants as purified water without additional filtration. Bottled options also contribute significantly to plastic waste.

Mineral Water

Mineral water is also sourced from an underground, geologically protected source but must contain at least 250 ppm of dissolved solids. The mineral composition is consistent and not artificially added.

• Pros: Naturally rich in beneficial minerals and can offer a distinct, often appreciated taste.
• Cons: Significantly more expensive than other options and not always accessible.

Comparison Table of Drinking Water Types

To better understand the differences, here is a comparison table outlining the key features of popular drinking water types:

Feature	Tap Water	Purified Water	Spring Water	Mineral Water
Source	Municipal/Well	Any source (tap, ground)	Underground spring	Protected mineral spring
Treatment	Disinfection (chlorine, ozone)	Reverse Osmosis, Distillation, etc.	Natural filtration (minimal processing)	Bottled at source, consistent minerals
Mineral Content	Varies by location; may include fluoride	Stripped of most minerals	Varies by source; natural minerals retained	Consistent, high mineral content (min. 250 ppm)
Purity	Regulated safety standards, but varies	High purity; removes most contaminants	Naturally filtered; purity depends on source	Naturally filtered; purity depends on source
Cost	Lowest	Moderate (depending on filtration method)	High (bottled)	Highest (bottled)
Taste	Can have chlorine taste	Neutral or flat	Unique mineral flavor	Salty or earthy flavor from minerals

Making the Best Choice for Your Health and Environment

Choosing the best water depends on your priorities. For many, the healthiest and most sustainable option is filtered tap water. Modern home filtration systems, such as activated carbon filters or reverse osmosis systems, can remove unwanted tastes and contaminants while keeping costs low and reducing plastic waste. If you have concerns about your local tap water quality, you can obtain a water quality report from your utility provider or conduct a home test.

For those seeking mineral-rich water, bottled spring or mineral water can be a good choice, but it comes at a higher cost and environmental impact. While some claims about alkaline water suggest significant health benefits, current scientific evidence is limited, and most experts agree that its impact on the body's pH is negligible for a healthy individual.

Conclusion

The most important factor for human health is consistent hydration with safe, clean water. For most people, this means drinking filtered tap water, which offers a balance of purity, affordability, and environmental responsibility. Choosing the right water for you involves considering your location, budget, health concerns, and personal taste preferences. Ultimately, the best water is the one you will drink consistently to stay hydrated.

World Health Organization - Increased drinking-water consumption brings gains for health and the environment

Frequently Asked Questions

Is bottled water healthier than tap water?

Not necessarily. In most developed countries, tap water is regulated and safe to drink. Bottled water undergoes different filtration processes but is not inherently healthier, and its higher cost and environmental impact are significant drawbacks.

What is the difference between spring and purified water?

Spring water comes from a natural underground source and retains naturally occurring minerals. Purified water is treated to remove almost all contaminants and minerals, regardless of its original source.

Is reverse osmosis (RO) water bad for you because it removes minerals?

No, drinking RO water is not bad for you. While it removes minerals, your body primarily gets essential minerals from food. The health benefits of removing harmful contaminants with RO outweigh concerns about lost minerals.

Does alkaline water actually have health benefits?

The claimed health benefits of alkaline water, such as neutralizing acid reflux, are not supported by conclusive scientific evidence. For a healthy person, your body naturally regulates its pH balance, making the pH of your drinking water irrelevant.

What is the purest form of drinking water?

Distilled water is the purest form of water, as the distillation process removes all impurities and minerals. However, the absence of minerals can lead to a flat taste, and it is not generally recommended for long-term daily consumption.

Can I test my tap water at home?

Yes, you can purchase home water testing kits to assess the quality of your tap water for common contaminants like lead, chlorine, and hardness. For a comprehensive analysis, you can request a water quality report from your local utility.

Is it safe to drink water directly from a natural spring?

It is not recommended to drink water directly from an untreated natural spring. Even a seemingly pure source can be contaminated with harmful bacteria and other pathogens.