Are the packaged drinking water and mineral water the same? Although these two types of water are both safe for drinking, they differ in many ways. Here are some of the major differences between packaged drinking water and mineral water.

Just like air, water is also a very important element that all living things including the human beings, animals, and plants need to survive. Water is indeed essential to life. Without it, there will be no life at all. Gone were the days when we can directly drink from a natural water spout or from faucets without worrying about getting ill due to some water-borne diseases.  Because of industrialization and pollution, today’s tap water is no longer safe for drinking. That is why many people in India and in different parts of the world now prefer drinking packaged drinking water or mineral water despite being more expensive than tap water.

You might have already heard about packaged drinking water and mineral water. But the big question is that do you think these two are the same or not? The truth is, although these two types of water are both safe for drinking, they differ in many ways. Let us take a look at some of the major differences between packaged drinking water and mineral water.

Defining packaged drinking water and mineral water

Before identifying their differences, let us first define what is packaged drinking water and what is mineral water.

Packaged drinking water is a drinking water that has been sourced out by the packaged drinking water plant from a spring water, well, or drilled water source and has gone through a distillation process. After the process, the water is packaged in either plastic or glass water bottles and then sealed to ensure it remains highly potable and safe for drinking.

Mineral water is a drinking water with minerals and other dissolved substances in it like gases, sulfur compounds, and salts. It may contain natural minerals or artificial minerals which are added to the water with the use of Drops of Balance.

Major differences between packaged drinking water and mineral water

Taste

The taste of the mineral water is distinct from that of a packaged drinking water. Because of its mineral content, mineral water has a taste that is the same as that of a fresh natural water. On the other hand, the taste of the packaged drinking water can vary according to the quality of its source, treatment method used, and natural mineral content. In most cases, though, packaged mineral water has the same taste as that of a tap water.

Filtration and treatment

There are various treatment methods that bottled water plants use to eliminate microbial hazards. These methods include electromagnetic radiation, purification processes like water distillation, filtration, and sedimentation, chemical processes chlorination and flocculation, and biological processes.

Mineral water goes through a natural process of filtration and coagulation. It is treated with Aluminum Sulfate or other sulfate minerals. Whilst, the packaged drinking water is chemically filtered and chemically treated, most often through chlorination.

Cost

Packaged drinking water usually goes through a series of processes in order to completely eliminate all the contaminants from the water. This is why it is relatively more expensive as compared to the artificially treated bottled mineral water and to tap water. The ro plant cost for packaged water is also higher than that of the mineral water.

On the other end, the mineral water is more affordable than packaged drinking water regardless of whether it is naturally or artificially treated.