Which Bottled Water Is Most Acidic? A Comprehensive pH Guide

November 1, 2025 •

5 min read

According to some dental studies, popular purified bottled water brands often have a lower, more acidic pH due to processing, which can potentially contribute to dental erosion over time. This makes it important for consumers to understand which bottled water is most acidic and what influences its pH level.

Quick Summary

Several common purified and treated bottled water brands exhibit lower pH levels compared to spring or mineral water. The acidity is often due to purification methods like reverse osmosis and added ingredients. This guide breaks down the pH of popular bottled water brands.

Key Points

Dasani and Aquafina are Highly Acidic: As purified, treated waters, these brands are commonly cited for their low pH levels, often around 5.0-6.0.
Purification Affects pH: Processes like reverse osmosis strip water of its natural mineral content, which can remove pH buffers and make the water more acidic.
Dental Health Concerns: Consistently drinking water with a pH below 5.5 can contribute to the erosion of tooth enamel over time.
Sparkling and Flavored Waters are More Acidic: Carbonated waters and those with added flavors or vitamins contain acids that significantly lower their pH, sometimes into the 3.0-4.0 range.
Naturally Alkaline vs. Ionized Water: Naturally alkaline waters like Fiji get their pH from mineral content, while ionized alkaline waters like Essentia are processed to increase their pH.
The pH Scale is Logarithmic: Each whole number change on the pH scale represents a tenfold increase or decrease in acidity.
Tap Water Varies Widely: Municipal tap water is regulated and typically has a pH between 6.5 and 8.5, though it can vary significantly by location.

Understanding the pH Scale and Bottled Water

The pH scale is a logarithmic measurement that determines a substance's acidity or alkalinity, ranging from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral, with lower values indicating higher acidity and higher values indicating alkalinity. Because the scale is logarithmic, a pH of 6 is ten times more acidic than a pH of 7, and a pH of 5 is one hundred times more acidic. Pure water is neutral with a pH of 7, but various factors can alter the pH of bottled water.

What Influences the Acidity of Bottled Water?

The pH of bottled water is not uniform across all brands and is influenced by several factors:

Purification Method: Many major brands, such as Dasani and Aquafina, start with municipal tap water that undergoes extensive purification, often using processes like reverse osmosis. This stripping process removes both contaminants and naturally occurring minerals, which act as pH buffers. The result is a more acidic product.
Added Minerals and Electrolytes: Some companies add minerals back into the water for taste enhancement. Depending on the type and amount of minerals added, this can slightly raise or lower the final pH.
Carbonation: Sparkling waters have a lower pH because dissolved carbon dioxide reacts with water to form carbonic acid, making the beverage more acidic.
Source of the Water: Natural spring or artesian waters, which come from underground sources, often have varying pH levels depending on the local geology and mineral content. Natural alkaline waters, like Icelandic Glacial, gain their higher pH from natural filtration through volcanic rock.

Popular Bottled Waters Ranked by Acidity

While pH levels can vary slightly by batch and testing method, certain brand profiles consistently show them to be more acidic. Generally, purified waters tend to be more acidic than natural spring or mineral waters, which often have higher mineral content.

Highly Acidic Bottled Waters

Dasani: A Coca-Cola product, Dasani consistently tests at a more acidic pH, often around 5.0 due to its purification and remineralization process.
Voss Artesian Water: Some tests have shown Voss to have a pH of approximately 5.0, placing it in the acidic category.
Aquafina: Owned by PepsiCo, Aquafina is another purified water product that has shown pH levels in the acidic range, sometimes as low as 5.5 to 6.0.
Flavored Waters (e.g., Vitaminwater, Propel): Any bottled water with added flavors or vitamins will almost always be more acidic due to the inclusion of acids like citric and ascorbic acid. Some can have a pH as low as 3.0 to 4.0.

Near-Neutral and Alkaline Bottled Waters

Nestle Pure Life: As a purified drinking water, its pH can be near-neutral or slightly acidic, with reported levels ranging from 6.2 to 7.3.
Smartwater: Owned by Coca-Cola, this is a distilled water product with added electrolytes. Its pH is often reported to be near-neutral at around 7.0.
Essentia Water: This brand is known for its high pH, which is achieved through an ionization process. It typically boasts a pH of 9.5.
Fiji Water: Sourced from an artesian aquifer, Fiji water has a naturally alkaline pH of 7.6.

Bottled Water pH Comparison Table


Brand	Approximate pH	Water Type / Processing	Notes
Dasani	~5.0	Purified with added minerals	One of the most consistently acidic popular brands
Aquafina	~5.5-6.0	Purified drinking water	Starts as municipal tap water
Voss	~5.0	Artesian water	Acidity may depend on the batch and source
Smartwater	~6.5-7.0	Distilled with added electrolytes	Distilled water tends to be slightly acidic without additives
Nestle Pure Life	~6.2-7.3	Purified drinking water	Can vary based on source and batch
Essentia	9.5	Ionized alkaline water	Artificially enhanced pH
Fiji	7.6	Natural artesian water	Naturally occurring alkaline water
Tap Water	~6.5-8.5	Variable (Municipal source)	Varies by location, often within EPA guidelines

The Health Implications of Acidic Bottled Water

For most people, the occasional consumption of mildly acidic bottled water is not a major health concern. However, potential issues arise with frequent and sustained consumption, particularly concerning dental health. Tooth enamel begins to demineralize at a pH of 5.5, so consistently drinking water with a pH below this level can increase the risk of acid erosion. While saliva and the body's natural buffering systems help to neutralize acids, individuals with dental sensitivities or a high intake of acidic foods and beverages might consider their water's pH. It is always beneficial to consult with a healthcare provider or dentist regarding specific concerns about diet and dental health. An interesting study on this topic was published in the Journal of Dental Hygiene, which found that many bottled waters tested were predominantly acidic.

How to Determine Your Bottled Water's pH

If you want to test the pH of your bottled water at home, it's a straightforward process. You can purchase simple pH test strips from most pharmacies or online retailers. For more accurate measurements, a digital pH meter is a reliable option. Simply dip the strip or probe into your water sample and compare the color or reading to the included chart. This allows you to verify the acidity of your preferred brand for yourself.

Conclusion

Ultimately, which bottled water is most acidic depends heavily on its source and purification process. Popular purified brands like Dasani and Aquafina are generally more acidic than many natural spring or alkaline waters. While the human body is very efficient at regulating its internal pH, frequent consumption of highly acidic water can have minor implications for dental health. By understanding the factors that influence water's pH and how to test it yourself, you can make a more informed choice about the bottled water that best suits your needs.

Sources: Durning, D. (2024, May 8). How Bottled Water pH Impacts Dental Health. Smile Moore Dental. https://www.drdurningmoore.com/understanding-the-ph-of-bottled-water-and-its-impact-on-oral-health/ What's the BEST BOTTLED WATER? Here's What the Rock WON'T ... (2023, May 19). Water eStore. https://waterestore.ca/blogs/news/whats-the-best-bottled-water-heres-what-the-rock-wont-tell-you Wright, K. F. (2015, June 15). Is Your Drinking Water Acidic? A Comparison of the Varied pH .... Journal of Dental Hygiene. https://jdh.adha.org/content/89/suppl_2/6 pH Of Top Bottled Water Brands Of 2019. (2019, February 10). Water Testing Kit. https://watertestingkits.com/7-facts-about-ph-of-bottled-water/ Hall, T. (2022, March 17). What to Know about the pH of Drinking Water. Svalbarði Polar Iceberg Water. https://svalbardi.com/blogs/water/ph pH Water Test: Is your water Alkaline or Acidic? TEN Spring Water. https://www.tenspringwater.com/is-your-bottled-water-acidic-neutral-or-alkaline

Frequently Asked Questions

While often cited as a highly acidic popular brand with a pH around 5.0, other purified and flavored waters can be equally or even more acidic, including Voss and certain fitness waters.

Aquafina is purified tap water, and the intensive purification process can remove minerals that naturally act as buffers for pH. This can result in a more acidic product compared to natural spring waters.

Yes, sparkling water is carbonated with dissolved carbon dioxide, which creates carbonic acid. This process naturally lowers the water's pH, making it more acidic than still water.

For most healthy individuals, occasional consumption is not a major concern. However, regular and frequent consumption of water with a pH below 5.5 could potentially affect dental enamel over time, especially if you are sensitive to acidic substances.

The EPA recommends a pH range of 6.5 to 8.5 for municipal drinking water, but bottled water products can fall outside this range. Your body is very good at regulating its own pH, so minor variations from neutral are typically handled well.

The easiest and most accurate way is to use a pH testing kit. These are readily available with test strips or a digital meter that will provide a reading of your water's acidity or alkalinity.

No, your body has robust and effective systems, including your kidneys and lungs, to maintain a very stable blood pH (around 7.4). The pH of the water you drink has a negligible effect on your systemic pH balance.

Naturally alkaline water derives its higher pH from the mineral content picked up from its source. Artificially ionized water is processed to increase its pH. While both are alkaline, the composition and potential health benefits can differ. Natural sources are often preferred for their mineral content.