We have known for a long time that we should drink about two liters of water a day. But which one? And how do natural mineral water, medicinal water, table water, spring water and drinking water differ from each other?
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The Water Varieties
Drinking water is the most strictly controlled food in Germany. “Drinking water is subject nationwide to the Drinking Water Ordinance and the standards and controls that are stipulated therein,” explains Prof. Helmut Heseker from the Institute for Nutrition, Consumption and Health at the University of Paderborn. It comes from groundwater, lakes and rivers, every liter is safe to drink. However, the Federal Environment Agency recommends not to use so-called stagnant water. What is meant is water that has been in the pipe for four hours or more. “Let it drain until it comes out of the tap cooler,” says Prof. Heseker. Natural mineral water is created from rainwater that has seeped through the ground over a long period of time. It cleaned gravel and rock layers like a filter, and on its way through the strata of the earth, the water has extracted minerals from them. In volcanic areas, it also naturally absorbs carbonic acid. The water returns to the surface of the earth through natural or artificial springs and is bottled directly on site. Depending on the type of rock or soil, there are different minerals in different concentrations in the water – that’s why all mineral waters taste so different and their mineral content varies greatly. Officially, the Mineral and Table Water Ordinance specifies exactly what constitutes natural mineral water. Medicinal water is created like natural mineral water. But it needs approval because it is considered a medicinal product: it has to be scientifically proven that it alleviates symptoms or even heals them. More than 40 medicinal waters are now sold in Germany. Hydrogen carbonate water, for example, is said to help with gastrointestinal complaints and medicinal water with a lot of carbonic acid for chronic urinary tract infections. Spring water is also obtained like mineral water, but differs from it in two respects: Original purity is not required and official recognition is not required. The criteria for drinking water apply. Table water is the industrially produced mixture of several types of water such as drinking water, natural mineral water and seawater. Minerals and carbonic acid are added to the mix in any amount. For example, table water can only consist of drinking water and carbon dioxide. In the restaurant you can recognize table water by
Still or sparkling – a matter of taste
On average, Germans drink around 131 liters of mineral water a year. In 2011, 43 percent of this was carbonated or slightly carbonated water and 12 percent non-carbonated products, with the proportion of still water increasing for years. Carbonic acid gets into the water when carbon dioxide rises from the earth’s interior and meets water. Then it is dissolved in it. Carbon dioxide not only affects the look and taste, it also ensures that the minerals remain dissolved in the water and do not cloud it, even with high mineral concentrations. But even still water naturally contains a little carbonic acid, because the majority of German mineral water comes from volcanic regions with rock containing a lot of carbon dioxide. In our neighboring countries, volcanic rock often contains less carbon dioxide, which is why bottled water there generally bubbles less. In terms of health, there is no difference between still and sparkling water. However, many find still water more digestible, and the recommended daily amount is easier to drink because the carbonic acid also fills the stomach. Apart from that, your taste decides.
organic water is coming
Organic mineral waters are now appearing more and more frequently on the shelves – of course, like any other mineral water, officially recognized. Organic water scores with lower limit values for pollutants and bacteria and is subject to stricter microbiological or chemical criteria. In addition, the manufacturers pay more attention to climate protection and are also ecologically committed. That is why they are increasingly focusing on packaging and environmental friendliness, as there are currently no clear legal regulations for this. When it comes to the ecological balance, however, water from the tap is at the forefront. Because the costs and consequences of producing, bottling and transporting mineral water, whether organic or not, are significantly higher.
Small price is ok
The cheap waters of private labels and discounters have dominated more than half of the market for several years. 1.5 liters of mineral water are sold from 19 cents. A study by Stiftung Warentest in August 2011 shows that this water is just as good as branded water: the water performed equally well in terms of sensory and microbiological quality. The material of the bottle does not affect the taste or content of the packaging – but the ecological balance. In retail, 77 percent of mineral water waits for customers in non-returnable PET bottles. The return rate is moderate, later only a third is recycled into bottles. The manufacturers fill the rest in reusable bottles. Reusable PET bottles have the best ecological balance: They are refilled up to 25 times and later recycled.
The selection
A high mineral content in the water cannot cover the daily need for nutrients, but it is a useful addition to the diet. People with lactose intolerance or osteoporosis are recommended mineral or medicinal waters rich in calcium, i.e. more than 250 milligrams of calcium per liter. Mineral waters with a high content of sodium, potassium and magnesium are suitable for athletes. People with high blood pressure should eat a low-sodium diet. This goes well with water with a sodium content of less than 20 milligrams per liter. What is the mineral content of my water? Gerolsteiner’s mineral calculator will show you how. He compares around 800 waters.
