Still drinking water rating. Bottled water rating: quality indicators. "Lipetsky Buvette" drinking non-carbonated

Updated: 06/10/2019 16:15:48

Expert: Elizaveta Rabinovich


*Review of the best sites according to the editors. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.

Mineral waters are quite popular in our country. They speed up metabolic processes, remove metabolic products and improve digestion. Our experts have selected 12 of the best mineral waters that are suitable for therapeutic and preventive purposes. Let's find out what their advantages and disadvantages are.

How to choose mineral water

IN mandatory The class of water is indicated on the bottle. This is what you need to pay attention to:

Sulfate. Useful for diseases of the bile ducts and liver. This product is suitable as a prophylactic in case of congestion. Water stimulates intestinal peristalsis, allows you to lose weight, and improve the functioning of internal organs. Sulfate water is prohibited for children, pregnant women and diabetics.

Hydrocarbonate. This water reduces acidity in the stomach and eliminates heartburn. The product is useful for infections. It is contraindicated for gastritis.

Chloride. Water is recommended for problems with blood vessels and heart, bones, nervous system. It is not suitable in case of inflammation, pathologies of the kidneys and urinary tract. It is not recommended for pregnant girls and people with allergies to drink chloride mineral water.

Magnesium. Fights constipation, insomnia, gout. The product is taken during stress, menstruation, diet, to improve digestion. Contraindications: stomach upsets.

Calcium. Replenishes mineral deficiency in the body. Useful for pregnant women and girls. There are no contraindications for water. The main thing is not to consume more than 150 ml per day.

On the label quality product The following information is displayed:

  1. Name;
  2. manufacturer contacts;
  3. chemical formula;
  4. degree and method of mineralization;
  5. source name;
  6. shelf life.

It is necessary to give preference to water in glass bottles rather than plastic bottles, taking into account all contraindications and doctor’s recommendations. It is important to pay attention to organoleptic indicators - color, smell, taste, transparency.

To choose the most useful product at an affordable price, you should refer to the rating of the best products. It is compiled based on consumer reviews and expert opinions.

Rating of the best types of mineral water

The best table mineral water

The first category contains waters suitable for frequent consumption.

Mineral water "Legend of the Arkhyz Mountains", without gases

The winner of all kinds of popular ratings is natural water, which meets all microbiological and physico-chemical indicators. This is an absolutely safe liquid that has reliable labeling. It is suitable for everyday consumption and has high organoleptic qualities.

The composition does not include fluorine, the magnesium content is minimal. The product is extracted from a well in the village of Nizhny Arkhyz. The manufacturer has long established itself as a conscientious supplier of healthy table water. For a 1.5 liter bottle you have to pay 35-45 rubles.

Advantages

  • absolute safety;
  • great option drinking water for daily use;
  • pleasant taste;
  • availability in stores;
  • reasonable price;
  • compliance with quality standards;
  • good reputation of the manufacturer.

Flaws

  • low magnesium content.

Mineral water "Senezhskaya", still

Senezhskaya water is produced in accordance with GOST requirements. Independent examinations show that it meets all the conditions of the ECT and SanPiN. The appearance, color, taste and transparency are not satisfactory. The amount of nitrites and nitrates is normal. The fluorine indicator is within the permissible value. Contains calcium and magnesium.

Buyers note the mild taste of the mineral water and say that they have been drinking Senezhskaya water with the whole family for many years. Price for 0.33 l – from 13 rubles.

Advantages

Flaws

  • high concentration of fluoride.

Mineral water "Chernogolovskaya", without gases

The advertised Chernogolovskaya water is produced in the Noginsk region in the northeast of the Moscow region. Laboratory tests have shown that it meets quality and safety requirements. There are no germs in it. You don't need to boil it to drink it.

The water has optimal levels of alkalinity and hardness. The product has quite a lot of magnesium and calcium. There is no fluoride in it, but this is not a violation. Pleases budget price product, acceptable taste and availability in almost all stores. Price for 0.33 l – from 19 rubles.

Advantages

  • complies with security parameters;
  • affordable;
  • contains calcium and magnesium.

Flaws

  • peculiar taste;
  • no fluoride in the composition.

Vittel mineral water, still

Next in the ranking is mineral water from a French brand that meets all safety requirements and hygienic standards. There are no harmful components, toxins or nitrites in the composition. 1.5 liters of liquid provides 15% of the daily calcium requirement.

Many people think the price of mineral water is too high. But customers like the pleasant taste. The main thing is to purchase an original product, not a fake. Cost of 1 liter – from 89 rubles.

Advantages

  • natural composition;
  • safe;
  • promotes weight loss;
  • good taste.

Flaws

  • little fluoride.

Mineral water RusseQuelle, without gases

RusseQuelle spring water is produced in the Vladimir region. It meets all quality requirements and is safe for regular use. The formula contains no dangerous microorganisms, harmful or toxic elements. The liquid contains the optimal amount of calcium, magnesium and potassium. There is almost no fluorine in it.

Buyers call mineral water “living.” It quenches thirst perfectly. The stylish and beautiful bottle pleases the eye. Behind high quality, pleasant taste and presentable container you need to pay a considerable amount. The price for half a liter is 80 rubles.

Advantages

  • very tasty;
  • quenches thirst well;
  • ideal composition;
  • presentable appearance of the bottle.

Flaws

  • high cost;
  • no fluoride.

The best healing mineral water

Therapeutic mineral water is prescribed by the doctor for specific pathologies.

Mineral water from Slovenia is produced according to ancient traditions and eliminates the negative effects external factors. The product is considered unique due to its special mixture of minerals. Donat Mg launches digestive system, normalizes the functioning of the kidneys, stomach and liver. After consumption, heartburn disappears and insomnia disappears. Water contains magnesium, which reduces fatigue and regulates electrolyte balance.

Many consumers find the price high. Buyers say that the water does not taste good when warm. There is a liter plastic bottle on sale. Its price is 155 rubles.

Advantages

  • tangible effect;
  • relief general condition Gastrointestinal tract;
  • eliminating heartburn;
  • increases appetite;
  • delicious when served cold.

Flaws

  • overcharge.

Healing mineral water Planinka "Prolom voda"

Next in the ranking is water of volcanic origin, which is produced in Serbia. The product is characterized by low mineralization and high pH. Thus, mineral water has an alkaline reaction. It supports kidney health, prevents the formation of stones and prevents urinary tract infections.

Buyers choose water for its good taste and pleasant feeling of lightness after drinking. The liquid adds energy due to the presence of sodium, magnesium, calcium and potassium compounds. Products are sold online and in specialized markets. Price for 6 bottles of 1.5 liters – 1000 rubles.

Advantages

  • perfectly relieve thirst;
  • tasty and soft;
  • acceptable concentration of minerals in the formula;
  • improvement of the genitourinary organs.

Flaws

  • Not everyone can afford it;
  • difficult to find.

The mineral water from the Italian brand is famous for its healing qualities and quick therapeutic effect. The chemical composition of water includes magnesium, calcium, chloride, silicon. This is a tasty and clean product, which is chosen by people suffering from pathologies of the genitourinary organs.

Buyers note that the liquid perfectly removes sand and stones and normalizes stool function. Many doctors recommend this product as a preventive measure for kidney and bladder diseases. It is permissible to drink up to 2 liters of water per day. The product cannot be found in regular stores. For 6 glass bottles 1 liter volume will have to pay about 1380 rubles.

Advantages

  • very tasty;
  • rich composition;
  • good healing effect;
  • recommended by doctors;
  • Available in glass.

Flaws

  • expensive for frequent use;
  • Sold only online.

The best medicinal table mineral water

Unlike other participants in the rating, the medicinal table mineral water “Essentuki” is saturated with carbon dioxide. Doctors vying with each other advise drinking mineral water for preventive purposes, so buyers choose this product because of its availability and reasonable price. Judging by the reviews, water instantly relieves heaviness in the stomach, eliminates heartburn and nausea. It is useful to drink it 30 minutes before meals and half an hour after meals.

Despite the many advantages, we must remember that you should not drink Essentuki during an exacerbation of the disease. Independent examinations show that the liquid contains much more mineral salts than stated. But there are no microorganisms or bacteria in it. Some customers didn't like the brackish water that tasted like bleach. Price for 12 bottles of 0.5 l - 360 rubles.

Next in the ranking is magnesium-calcium water, produced in accordance with GOST production standards. It has been bottled in the North Caucasus for many years. The product has natural carbonation and is useful for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Mineral water "Narzan" is drunk for ulcers, pathologies of the liver and pancreas.

Buyers note the pleasant taste of the water and recommend it for purchase. With each purchase, you must carefully consider the bottle and signs that belong to the original. A 0.5 liter bottle costs 26-35 rubles.

Advantages

  • pleasant taste;
  • optimal composition;
  • acceptable price;
  • removes toxins;
  • source of magnesium.

Flaws

  • many fakes on sale;
  • presence of contraindications.

Medicinal water "Novoterskaya healing", carbonated

The rating is completed by water from JSC Kavminvody. This is a modern European-class organization. Its specialists are working to bring the mineral water to consumption in the form in which it was mined. More than 85% of customers recommend this product. It is chosen for its safety, compliance with GOST requirements and reliable labeling.

It is advised to drink liquid only after medical consultation, since mineralization more than 4 g per liter is not suitable for regular intake. Judging by the reviews, the water is highly carbonated and has a wonderful, fresh taste. It helps well with heartburn. The price-quality ratio is optimal. Mineral water costs from 36 rubles (1.5 l).

Advantages

  • price equals quality;
  • excellent taste;
  • saves from heartburn.

Flaws

  • strong carbonation;
  • not for every day.

Attention! This rating is subjective in nature, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.

Water is an inorganic, inherently unique substance that determines the existence of life on our planet. She is the basis for everyone biochemical processes, universal solvent. This substance is unique because it can dissolve both inorganic , so organic substances.

Throughout life, it accompanies a person, and our body mostly consists of it. Therefore, it is impossible to live without it.

The article below will talk about why drinking water is healthy, how to do it correctly, and why you need to choose certain water to get maximum benefit for the body.

The question of what kind of water you can drink is relevant for most people. Very often we drink it without thinking about its origin.

However, you should always ensure that the liquid consumed is physically complete and healthy. When discussing whether it is beneficial to drink water of a certain origin, the following factors must be taken into account:

  • natural origin is important - it must be extracted from an underground source;
  • it should not contain any artificial additives;
  • the absence of deep purification by osmosis is important;
  • it is desirable that it be slightly mineralized (0.5-0.75 g/l).

After all, only a liquid of natural origin contains all the elements necessary for the body. Accordingly, it is difficult to find a more beneficial drink for the body.

Of course, during the discussion, other questions arise - for example, what kind of water is better to drink - boiled or raw.

Which water is healthier - boiled or raw?

Since raw water contains many microelements in the form of salts, it is best to drink it. The molecules in it are arranged in a peculiar way. This is why raw water is sometimes called living water. It promotes cell regeneration and prevents the formation of free radicals . However, boiling water is often necessary, since the untreated raw liquid may contain toxic substances and harmful bacteria .

However, boiled water is practically useless for the body. Moreover, it is even harmful, which is why sometimes it is even called “dead.” This name is due to the following factors:

  • after boiling, the oxygen content decreases significantly;
  • beneficial for the body salt during the boiling process they form an insoluble precipitate;
  • If you boil tap water, then chlorine , which it contains, turns into toxic compounds, which can subsequently provoke the development of oncological pathologies;
  • Since the structure changes after boiling, bacteria begin to multiply in it after about a day.

But when discussing the questions of how “dead” water is useful, whether boiled water can be consumed, its benefits and harms must be assessed adequately. After all, there is always a very actual question safety, and no one can guarantee that raw food does not contain substances harmful and even dangerous to the body. Therefore, those who ask whether drinking boiled water is healthy can be answered that the benefits of boiled water are at least in its safety.

But those who still choose boiled water should adhere to some rules. It is necessary to let the raw liquid settle for two hours, after which it is boiled. You need to turn off the kettle as soon as it starts to boil. Then the liquid will have time to be disinfected, but some of the minerals will still remain in a form in which they can be absorbed by the body.

It is also important to drink boiled water only fresh and not store it long time. But it should be clearly understood that only liquids of natural origin contain all the important health benefits. microelements And macronutrients .

Is drinking water safe in our country?

Is it possible to drink tap water - a question that is relevant for many modern people. And not only from the tap, but also from spring or bottled water.

Thanks to the use modern systems disinfection and cleaning, from the point of view of sanitary-chemical and microbiological indicators, the water in the taps is safe. However, you need to remember that in most populated areas the water supply is worn out, which leads to an excess of chlorine and iron in the liquid that flows from the tap. And sometimes it even contains bacteria and organic matter.

It is more preferable when it comes into the water supply from an underground source. However, in most settlements, especially very large ones, the population receives it from various land sources - rivers, lakes, large reservoirs. Without a doubt, it is cleaned, but still it remains not as high quality as when it was raised from the ground.

What is the healthiest water to drink?

If we talk about raw, many people have different opinions. Some believe that it is better to buy bottled, even taking into account the rating of its manufacturers. Others calmly drink what comes out of the tap.

Let's take a closer look at which water is best for drinking.

Tap

It is pre-purified at enterprises that supply water to the population to such an extent that it meets all the standards specified in the relevant documents. But still she is not best choice. If other options are not available, the following recommendations should be followed:

  • practice boiling taking into account the principles described above;
  • filter;
  • stand for two hours, and drink only the top half of the settled liquid.

However, the latter method will not provide protection against harmful microorganisms and.

Bottled

A good choice is bottled water. What it is? This is raw water that has been previously industrially purified. It is safe for consumption. It is also packaged in large bottles of 5, 10, 19 liters, etc. If we discuss the rating of bottled water, we need to take into account that it can be of the first and highest category.

  • The first category is purified by deep cleaning method tap water, taken from surface water bodies.
  • The highest category is purified using gentle methods, disinfected with ultraviolet light, from an artesian well.

But before you buy just such a variety for the whole family, you need to clearly know what bottled water is and whether it is healthy. Provided that the cleaning was carried out correctly, its benefits are undeniable, and there is no need to boil it before consumption. But the reality is that many manufacturers, trying to save money, carry out certain stages of purification in bad faith. As a result, the product is often not as high quality as the annotations on the label indicate. And often low quality is confirmed by test purchases.

To determine which bottled water is the best and choose a good product, you need to consider the following:

  • a manufacturing company that has been operating on the market for a long time is more reliable;
  • conscientious manufacturers use high-quality packaging and labels;
  • a kind of “rating” of the best bottled drinking water can be found out by talking with people - “popular” opinion is also important as an argument when choosing;
  • To fully verify the quality of the product, it can be taken to a laboratory and ordered to be tested for safety and quality.

Rodnikovaya

Spring water, the benefits or harms of which are often discussed by users, undergoes natural purification, making its way through several layers of soil. In such a liquid, as a rule, there are no harmful impurities and, moreover, it is enriched minerals , passing through the soil.

When choosing just such water for children and adults, you need to take into account that those springs that are located next to big cities, highways or industrial enterprises are not suitable in this case, since they are not clean and safe.

But there are a lot of springs, both widely known in certain regions, and small but very clean ones, from which they take water that belongs to the highest category in all respects. Some of these springs tend to have official passports and access is restricted.

Can be found spring water and on sale - it is also packaged and sold in bottles. But there are often cases when ordinary artesian water is packaged by unscrupulous manufacturers instead of spring water. Its benefits and harms have already been described above. But in any case, artesian water is not spring water, so you should be very careful in your choice. In addition to following the recommendations that have already been described, you need to ensure that the label indicates the spring where the contents of the container were taken.

Those who prefer to collect water from a spring themselves must ensure that the container is always clean. Periodically, samples must be taken from the source and tested in the laboratory.

Mineral

Mineral water comes from natural sources and contains a large number of salts and microelements from deep layers of soil. As it passes through the soil, it gradually mineralizes. It is divided into three groups depending on the salt content in it:

  • medicinal – with mineralization more than 8 g/l;
  • medical dining room – with mineralization 1-8 g/l;
  • dining room – with mineralization less than 1 g/l.

You can figure out why mineral water is useful, and which mineral water is the healthiest, by learning more about each of its varieties.

Dining room

You can drink it without risk, since it does not have an active effect on the body. It is useful to drink such mineral water for those who have recently suffered poisoning, intoxication, or acute intestinal infection. However, it is still not recommended to drink it constantly. And under no circumstances should you completely replace regular drinking mineral water. It should also not be given to children under 12 years of age unless prescribed by a doctor.

Healing mineral

It is prescribed by a specialist, always determining the dosage and period of use. Like medications, it has both indications and contraindications. Therefore, you should not consume such water without a specialist’s prescription.

Medical dining room

This mineral water is also prescribed by a specialist. But later the patient himself can use it in the same courses, adhering to previously received recommendations.

Nowadays, filtered water is consumed very widely, and many homes have quick filters for purification. This is the most economical way to get quality liquid straight from the tap.

Pick up best filter A specialist will help you for drinking water. You can purchase a flow filter that is built directly into the water supply system, as well as mobile jug-type filters.

But in order to get the most optimal result, you first need to analyze the water coming from the tap. Since each filter has a special cleaning basis, it is necessary to understand exactly what undesirable substances are in the liquid.

You can obtain a safe and healthy liquid at the output by adhering to the following conditions:

  • choose the right filter to filter out specific substances;
  • change cartridges in a timely manner, ideally without waiting for the time specified by the manufacturer to expire;
  • Have samples tested in the laboratory from time to time to determine if filtration is helping.

Universal filters

They completely clean the liquid from bacteria and other harmful substances. Their operating principle is the so-called reverse osmosis. Are there any harm or benefits to the body when using such filters?

This water is safe because it is completely free of impurities. However, at the same time, it is also cleansed from salts. And distilled (salt-free) water is not very healthy.

Distilled water: benefits and harms

If you regularly consume such liquid, demineralization of the body develops. Liquid without salts will gradually remove them from the body. As a result, diseases of the heart, blood vessels, and skeletal system may develop. Premature aging of the body will also occur, and metabolic processes will be disrupted.

Some modern expensive filters are equipped with a system that provides artificial mineralization of purified water. However, those salts that were added to the liquid artificially are not absorbed as well as natural ones. In addition, they can adversely affect the function of the urinary system.

It is also necessary to take into account the fact that chlorine compounds, which are carcinogenic, penetrate back through the membrane. And this increases the risk of developing cancer.

Jug filters

They purify the liquid only from specific types of contaminants. And if a laboratory test has not been previously conducted to determine the presence of toxins and pollutants, such filtration may be useless. And pathogenic microorganisms can multiply in the cartridges, which subsequently only worsen the condition of drinking water.

Melt water: harm and benefit

Relatively recently, information that melt water is very useful began to be widely disseminated in different sources. In particular, much has been written about the fact that the molecular structure of such a liquid ensures its positive impact on the body. It is believed that it activates, reduces blood levels, strengthens and improves physical and intellectual activity.

But in fact, under normal conditions it is impossible to obtain a useful “product”. After all, even if after defrosting it is necessary to separate top part, then harmful impurities may still remain in it.

Kolodeznaya

Wells are still often used in villages. But very often well water is not safe, and if tested in a laboratory, it will not meet sanitary standards. Often this liquid contains a large amount of nitrates, iron, and sulfates. And sometimes pathogenic organisms that are dangerous to health are found in it.

It is extracted from surface aquifers, which are heavily polluted by wastewater. It also gets into the wells rainwater, polluting it even more. In addition, garbage and carcasses of birds and animals often end up in wells. Therefore, unfortunately, there is no need to talk about the safety and benefits of such water.

Until the child is three years old, he should be given bottled water of the highest category. It must be boiled. When the child is three years old, he can drink it without boiling. But you need to buy only a high-quality, proven product.

However, there is another opinion, less conservative: after a year you can start giving your child clean, unboiled water, provided that the parents are completely confident in its quality.

Experts, as a rule, do not recommend buying a special one for children. After all, it contains few minerals and salts, and it can “pull” them out of the child’s body.

In any case, conscious people should ensure that the whole family consumes only high-quality and proven liquid. After all, health and well-being directly depend on this.

In Europe, there has long been a rule to drink at least 2 liters of still water every day, regardless of the number of first courses eaten and coffee, tea, and other drinks drunk. This norm is sacredly observed by people of any profession and any material wealth. In our country, people are also gradually becoming accustomed to this rule, but not everyone knows what kind of water is best to buy. There is so much of it on store shelves that it’s dizzying. Few people carefully read the information on labels, and besides, it is often presented in such small print that you need to take a magnifying glass. Therefore, among the abundance of brands, some choose the most famous one, others choose the one that is cheaper, believing that the water is all the same. This is not entirely true, because there is water of the highest category and the first, and among them there is natural and purified, which is far from the same thing. So what kind of water should you take for it to be beneficial? Let's figure it out.

Why does the body need water?

Even children know that we are all 80% water. Every day, 500 ml is lost through sweat and breathing, 1500 ml - through urine. In order to restore losses, you need to pour 2000 lost ml into yourself, but it must be high-quality drinking water. All this is true, but only partly.

Firstly, the figure of 80% is the statistical average, but in fact, depending on age, weight and other indicators, each of us has a different amount of water. Secondly, we also lose it in different ways. In the heat more, in the cold less, while on the move more, lying on the couch less. That is, some people need to drink 2 liters, while for others 3 liters will not be enough. But why drink it? Is it only to recover losses? It turns out that water can easily dissolve both organic matter and all kinds of chemical compounds, such as salts. When it enters our body, it absorbs a lot of harmful substances, which are safely excreted in the urine. Thus, a natural cleansing of our systems from toxins and other nasty things occurs. Of course, the best drinking water, that is, chemically purer, copes with this task much more effectively. And another important function of water is that chemical reactions take place in it and complex complex compounds are formed, without which we cannot live. That is why the loss of only about 10% of fluid by our body can end very sadly.

Types of drinking water

Nowadays they write a lot about what drinking water of the highest category is. The rating of this product partly helps to figure out which brand to buy. It is based on all kinds of analyzes and tests that determine the compliance of the chemical composition of water with GOSTs and SanPiNam. But the results of such tests are rarely displayed on labels. But there is almost always data that water was extracted in such and such a region from such and such a depth, and other data that is not understandable to everyone is reported. To clarify the situation, or perhaps to confuse it even more, we note that in nature there are approximately 476 modifications of water, depending on which isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen make up its molecule. Naturally, the properties of these waters differ, and not all of them are equally beneficial for health. Fortunately, not all modifications are able to last long enough, and information about them is not displayed on the labels at all. What kind of water can be used for drinking? Its most famous types are:

  • light;
  • heavy;
  • soft;
  • hard;
  • underground (extracted from wells and aquifers);
  • mineral;
  • water supply;
  • purified.

Drinking water categories

Apart from the technical ones, which are not discussed in this article, there are two categories of water - the highest and the first. Each country has GOSTs and SanPiNs for bottled drinking water, regulating their taste, color, chemical composition, and transparency. Drinking water of both categories, unless it is medicinal mineral water, must be clear, odorless, free of foreign impurities and sediment, otherwise it should not be consumed at all. Regarding the chemical composition, higher requirements, of course, must be met by drinking water of the highest category. The rating, taken into account by many buyers, shows which of the water brands that have undergone quality control meet the standards. It is these products that are becoming the most popular. Currently, about 700 types of drinking water are produced. It is clear that it is difficult to check all of them, and unscrupulous manufacturers can write anything they want on the label. How to the common man distinguish quality water from fake?

Firstly, the price. If the water is actually extracted in an ecologically clean region, and even from a decent depth, it means that it has high production costs. Therefore, it cannot possibly be cheap. If the water is of poor quality, the manufacturer does not risk setting a high price, since it is very important for him to quickly sell his product and receive benefits before a possible inspection.

Secondly, according to the information on the label. If it really is water of the highest category, it must indicate the place of its extraction, the address and website of the manufacturer, and the chemical composition. In reality, almost all elements from the periodic table can be present in natural drinking water, but most chemical elements are such a small number that they are not taken into account.

Mainly indicate the content of such chemicals and compounds:

  • potassium (up to 10 mg/l);
  • magnesium (up to 20 mg/l);
  • sodium (up to 100 mg/l);
  • calcium (up to 20 mg/l);
  • nitrates (up to 45 mg/l);
  • chlorides (up to 100 mg/l);
  • sulfates (up to 30 mg/l);
  • bicarbonates (up to 300 mg/l).

Sometimes the labels indicate the pH of the water, which should be in the range of 6.5-7.5. Inconsistency of even one of these indicators does not give the right to assign the highest category to water.

Light and heavy water

The taste, color, smell of both are the same, but in terms of usefulness they are very different. Numerous experiments have proven that the best drinking water, which, among other things, has high medicinal properties, is easy. It contains practically no impurities of deuterium (an isotope of hydrogen) and other heavy elements, therefore cleansing the body of toxins and all metabolic processes in it are better. Light water even helps in the treatment of cancerous tumors. in which deuterium atoms are attached to the oxygen atom, it is harmless to humans if drunk in small quantities. But there is no benefit from it. In nature, deuterium molecules are present in any water, from wells no matter how deep it is extracted. It is logical that any drinking water of the highest category contains these molecules. There is no rating on this issue, but when choosing bottled water, you can buy products from well-proven brands, and make it at home from this good, but ordinary water the easy way freezing in the refrigerator followed by thawing. What will melt, first of all, will be the cleanest drinking water in the world, which is most beneficial for health. It is advisable to throw away the remaining ice after such a procedure, as it will collect all the harmful impurities.

Soft and hard water

With these characteristics the situation is simpler. Whether water is soft or hard depends on the content of magnesium and calcium salts in it. You can drink both in small quantities, but in large quantities, hard water can lead to the formation of kidney stones, and soft water can lead to problems with blood pressure. In everyday life you can do it by eye. So, if there is too much calcium and magnesium salts in it, there will be little foam when soaping your hands, and if there is a shortage, it will seem that the soap is not washed off your hands. But when buying water in a store, no one conducts such experiments. Yes, this is not necessary, because the content of hardness salts in water is strictly determined by GOST and must be indicated on the label. The numbers may vary slightly in different countries.

In Russia, as of January 1, 2014, water hardness is measured in degrees and designated “°Zh” or in milligram equivalents per liter, of which drinking water must contain no less than 1.5 and no more than 2.5 units. Sometimes the labels indicate not the hardness, but the amount of calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+), as well as their salts (CaSO4, MgSO4, CaCl2, MgCl2). The quantity of each salt is not regulated by GOST; it only indicates how many of them should be in total. If these standards are met, it means that we may well have drinking water of the highest category suitable for everyday use. To be high, the rating must take into account the content of other useful microelements, especially nitrates. As for the tests for magnesium-calcium, such well-promoted brands as “Aqua Minerale”, “Dombay” did not pass it, and the water of the brands “Holy Source” and “Shishkin Les” turned out to have a lot of chlorine.

Mineral water

Now mineral water is freely sold in any store, so many people buy it as regular drinking water, being confident that mineral water is any water that contains trace elements. In fact, mineral water is water that is extracted only from certain aquifers and has a strictly regulated chemical composition. It is precisely this water of the highest category that can have a rather unpleasant taste, smell, and sometimes even color and sediment, which depends on the salts in which it is rich. It is important to know that, despite the rich chemical composition (indicated on the labels), water is not considered mineral if it is a mixture of natural and artificially made.

Water, which is a mixture extracted from various aquifers, will not be a high-quality mineral water, but, unfortunately, you cannot determine this from the label. You can navigate here only by brand names. So, time-tested and having good feedback consumers' natural drinking water is "Borjomi", "Narzan", "Essentuki", "Mukhinskaya", and in Ukraine - "Mirgorodskaya", "Kuyalnik", "Polyana Kvasova". In terms of composition, mineral waters can be sulfate, hydrocarbonate, chloride, mixed, and in terms of the concentration of nutrients, table waters (microelements in them up to 1 gram per 1 cubic dm3), medicinal table waters (microelements up to 10 grams per dm3) and medicinal. You can only consume the canteen every day without consulting a doctor.

Tap and purified water

Previously, no one bought bottled water, and even still water, everyone drank tap water. There are also GOST and SanPiN standards for its purity, so, in principle, it should be suitable for drinking in any quantity. Tap water in most countries is subjected to several stages of purification: mechanical, coagulation, filtration, aeration, sterilization or, in other words, chlorination. Despite such serious technology, the rating of drinking water from the tap is one of the lowest, because it almost always contains large quantities of salts of various chemical elements, these elements themselves, such as chlorine, and sometimes pathogens. Therefore, we no longer want to drink such water.

Savvy entrepreneurs have figured out how to capitalize on it and do good at the same time. The method is simple and involves additional cleaning. The costs of the entire process are relatively low, therefore the price of the product is low, although the label may indicate that the water is crystal clear, mineralized and generally the best.

However, a reasonable buyer should understand that the best bottled water cannot cost 5-10 rubles for one and a half liters, even if it says “spring” or “artesian”. For comparison, bottled water obtained from pure natural sources of the Alps costs 70-80 rubles per liter bottle.

But what is purified water? We use two methods: reverse osmosis, which inspires confidence among the people, although few understand it, and mysterious coagulation. Let's figure out how they work.

Reverse osmosis is the passage of water through several membranes with a microscopic texture, on which all the elements dissolved in the water remain one after another. The result is almost perfectly pure water, similar to distilled water. It is not good for health, because once it enters the human body, it begins to replenish the beneficial substances removed from it, taking them away from our body. To prevent this from happening, manufacturers enrich it again, so the composition of microelements indicated on the labels of such water may be correct, but it is rarely assigned the highest category.

Coagulation involves adding a coagulant (clarifier) ​​to ordinary water, which precipitates certain chemicals and trace elements. After this, the water is separated from the sediment and bottled. The process is so cheap and simple that about 70% of all manufacturers use it. So, when buying the cheapest drinking water, you may stumble upon a product that is not particularly suitable for health.

Water from the depths of the Earth

Many Russians have wells of varying depths (even more than 50 meters) in their yards. It would seem, why should they buy bottled natural water if they can use their own, also natural. However, such water shows an excess of microelements in it not two, or even ten, but several dozen times. It is clear that you cannot drink it. The problem is that the entire thickness earth's crust, like a shortcake cake, is composed of geological layers - loams, sandstones, limestones and others. The closer to the surface of the earth and the closer to settlements, especially to industrial centers, the more in the layers there are chemical elements, garbage, human and animal waste. All this easily gets into shallow water layers, so they can be used for drinking only after thorough cleaning.

Not suitable for drinking and so-called high water formed during floods and river overflows. And yet, the bowels of the Earth can give us clean and healthy water, but to get it, we need to drill artesian wells. In different regions their depth ranges from 100 to 1000 meters. Needed water must be between waterproof layers rocks and be there under pressure, so it flows like a fountain from the drilled well. In many respects, artesian water is the best bottled water available in stores, despite the fact that it also contains some salts and trace elements. Manufacturers, as a rule, indicate on the labels from what depth and in what region their product was extracted. If this is, for example, the Carpathians, the Urals or the Alps, the ecological purity of which no one doubts, we can safely say that such drinking water is of excellent quality. There can be dozens of brand names here. Which one should you choose if there are no famous or popular ones on sale? There is only one piece of advice here - trust the information on the label.

Carbonated water

It is believed that soda quenches thirst better than plain water, that it is more tasty and completely harmless. But is it useful? If you take European countries, for example Greece, the founder of the rule about daily and compulsory drinking of water, it is almost impossible to find soda there in one and a half liter, and even more so two-liter bottles. This kind of water is sold in maximum half-liter glass bottles, not counting classic soda.

We have everything in a row, adding to it carbon dioxide. It really changes the taste, and in addition, it helps the salts remain dissolved and not precipitate. This is why they enrich them with carbon dioxide before bottling, because they contain a lot of salts. Should non-mineral water of the highest category be carbonated? And why do this if there are not so many salts in plain water that you would be afraid of their precipitation, and the taste should be good even without carbon dioxide? The answer to these controversial issues there may be taste preferences of buyers, many of whom like soda.

You can safely purchase products from famous brands whose manufacturers value their name, but when buying cheap soda, it’s worth wondering whether there’s anything good in it other than carbon dioxide. But high-quality carbonated water should not be drunk in large quantities, since the CO2 included in its composition activates the secretion of gastric juice, has an adverse effect on enamel, and promotes increased gas formation in the intestines.

Rating of drinking water of famous brands

A single study that would cover all commercially available water, not forgetting that intended for coolers, has not yet been carried out, so the rating of brands can be considered conditional, since it is based on checks made randomly. According to some data, Bon Aqua water is the best, followed by “Holy Source”, “Aqua Mineral”, “Arkhyz”. According to others, “Holy Source” and “Aqua Mineral” did not reach the highest category at all, and the first place was taken by Nizhny Novgorod water “Dixie”. Second and third places went to “foreigners”, the French Vittel and Evian. Not only in Russia, but also in Europe this is water of the highest category. Customer reviews about it are excellent, but absolutely all respondents note the high price.

The domestic “Lipetsk Pump Room” is a little cheaper, but it also contains fewer microelements. According to the results of the test, “Aqua Mineral” turned out to be completely without microelements, that is, almost sterile, although the label does not indicate this. But the waters “Shishkin Les”, “Simply ABC”, Crristaline, Aparan, “Holy Source” and even Bon Aqua, bottled in Moscow, were blacklisted due to gross violations of quality standards and deception of customers.

We simply need water... like air and water. But water from the tap is not the best option for our body and health. That's why everyone more people buy bottled drinking water, hoping that they are getting pure liquid. But it is not always the case. Let's think about what kind of water is better to take.

How much water do we need and what kind

Most of all, the human body is like a swimming pool: water flows into it and flows out almost simultaneously. About half a liter per day comes out along with sweat, through the kidneys - about one and a half liters, another 400 ml comes out of the lungs and about 200 from the intestines. This means that we really need to drink about 2-2.5 liters of water. Moreover, if you play sports, are breastfeeding, have a cold, like to drink or smoke, are on a diet or go to the sauna, add at least another 300 milliliters to this dose.

But not all water is created equal. The one from the tap is best used for technical purposes, but you should drink and use the bottled one for cooking. Especially the correct one.

First of all, you should remember that bottled water can be:

  • Drinking. They often take it from the tap. But it carries out additional cleaning and is enriched with minerals. It is better to take similar water from well-known brands, as their reputation is important;
  • Mineral. This type is taken from sources, but it differs from medicinal mineral in that it is suitable for daily use. These are the so-called table mineral waters. By the way, they are not cleaned much. Some types of preservatives and filtration are allowed, as well as degassing and aeration.

By the way! Mineral water does not necessarily come from exotic sources. Perhaps the source is in your city or region, you just don’t know your homeland well.

So, we choose from two options. How to buy good water?

  • First of all, it is better to take it in large shopping centers. Here they cooperate only with trusted sellers, so there is less chance of stumbling upon a “linden”;
  • Study the label. If there is little information here, it may be a fake or low-quality water;
  • The label can also tell you about the expiration date, because water also spoils. If the bottle is glass, the shelf life is two years, if it is plastic, it is one and a half years;
  • The composition must also be indicated on the label. What elements and in what quantity are contained here? Make sure there is a table and numbers;
  • If you take mineral water, make sure that the well where it was taken from is indicated. If it’s tap water, this will also be indicated, perhaps in some veiled way. For example, “taken from the city’s central heating system system”;
  • Which container is better? Glass. If you choose plastic bottle, make sure that it is not made of polyvinyl chloride: this is the most toxic material.

Which one is the best?

  • Arkhyz from the manufacturer of the same name. There are no heavy metals or contaminants and different best performance security. And its taste is transparent, pleasant and light. The only downside is that there is not enough fluoride here. But many, even very high-quality waters, are guilty of this;
  • Senezhskaya from Bobimex. The same applies to the leaders in the drinking water rating. Refers to mineral table waters. One of the most complete in its composition: it contains enough fluorine, magnesium and calcium. You can drink it daily. The downside is that there is slightly more lithium than required by standards;
  • BonAqua drinking. Manufacturer: Coca-Cola HBC. It is quite good, but the amount of ammonium cations is exceeded, which indicates the presence of organic contaminants. Perhaps it is not cleaned very well in production. There is one more drawback: it contains no fluoride at all;
  • Nestle Pure Life drinking. We think everything is clear with the manufacturer.

The water is completely safe and very tasty. It has low levels of organic pollution, and there are no heavy metals here either. Another feature is that it has no color (while other popular waters, by the way, have it). The disadvantages include the fact that there is no fluorine;

  • Shishkin Les from the manufacturer of the same name. Drinking. The composition is not bad, but microbes were found in the forest under laboratory conditions. The advantage is a sufficient amount of fluorine, which is generally not very typical for many waters;
  • Baikal drinking. Manufacturer: BAIKALSEA company. Quite a good composition, but fluoride, calcium and magnesium are insufficient. Another problem is that germs are found here.

Important! If you doubt the quality of your water, do not hesitate and contact the laboratory.

It is also worth paying attention to the following types of water:

  • "Santalovsky spring". ;
  • "Narzan";
  • "Borjomi"
  • "Holy spring";
  • GG&MW Co. N.V (manufacturer - Borjomi);
  • "Kavminvody";
  • Water "Ulanskaya".
  • "Mercury". And the composition is so-so (not enough of almost all necessary elements, and microbes are much higher than normal). In addition, according to reviews, after it there may be a residue on the cup and a metallic taste may be observed;
  • "Raifa Spring". Also so-so in composition, taste, and purity;
  • "Avka". Unfortunately, it also does not differ in its level of purification and the mineral composition leaves much to be desired;
  • "Biba." Produces the same "Mercury", so the same problems.

And finally, just some advice. If you don’t trust any water manufacturers, just get yourself a water filter and get minerals from vitamin and mineral complexes. The most reliable option and quite good.

Sales of bottled water in Russia are growing every year. Many people buy bottled water not only in hot weather outside, but also for daily use at home. How not to make a mistake with your choice? Roskontrol experts selected 12 popular brands drinking and mineral water at prices from 20 to 150 rubles.

At the very first stage, Roskontrol experts were in for unpleasant surprises. The most important indicator safety of drinking water - content of microorganisms. In some samples their permissible amount was exceeded 70 times! This means that batches could easily contain dysentery bacilli, salmonella and other dangerous microorganisms and viruses. For non-compliance with safety requirements, these brands of water are included in the “black list” of Roskontrol.

Some brands significantly exceed the permissible amount of nitrates and nitrites, including quite expensive brands. Most likely, water was taken near industrial enterprises, treatment facilities, collective farms or farms. Moreover, the water clearly lay on the surface or at a shallow depth.

Experts discovered a bunch of unnecessary rubbish in the supposedly clean water: ammonium ions, permanganate oxidation. Exceeding the standards for these indicators indicates that gasoline, kerosene, phenols, pesticides and others could have gotten into the water. harmful substances.

But the declared beneficial micro- and macroelements, on the contrary, were missing. Some samples contained almost no calcium and magnesium. With constant consumption of such water, there will be a deficiency of the corresponding substances in the body. Which in turn will lead to various health problems. And this, judging by the tests, is quite likely, because sales of bottled water in Russia are growing every year. Many people buy it not only in hot weather outside, but also for daily use at home.

For the examination, bottled water was purchased: “Shishkin Les”, Bonaqua, “Holy Source”, Evian, “Lipetsk Pump Room”, Cristaline, Vittel, “Simply ABC”, Nestle Pure Life, Aparan, Aqua Minerale, “D (Dixie)” .

Below is a table of testing results and a rating of samples for safety, naturalness, usefulness and taste.

Test results:

1. Drinking water "D" (Dixie) still

Water that is produced in Nizhny Novgorod region commissioned by the Dixie retail chain, recognized by experts as the most useful. It has an ideal composition in terms of micro- and macroelements.

From 12 rub. for 1 l

2. Vittel mineral still

Vittel mineral still

Based on the results of the examination, Vittel mineral water produced in France was recognized as natural and safe. Its disadvantages include low fluoride content.

From 63 rub. for 1 l

3. Evian mineral still

Evian water meets all safety requirements - no microbes, nitrates or other harmful components were found in it. And here useful elements- calcium and magnesium - more than in other tested samples.

From 84 rub. for 1 l

4. "Lipetsky Buvette" drinking non-carbonated

This water turned out to be the most delicious among the tested samples. But according to the results of laboratory tests, “Lipetsk Pump Room” is far from a leader: in terms of total mineralization and fluorine content, the water does not reach the norm of physiological usefulness.

From 16 rub. for 1 l

5. Aqua Minerale drinking non-carbonated

From 32 rub. for 1 l

6. Nestle Pure Life drinking non-carbonated

The Nestle water label states that it is deeply purified water. Indeed, it was well cleaned of harmful substances, but, unfortunately, during the cleaning, there were much fewer useful elements in it.

From 25 rub. for 1 l

7. "Prosto Azbuka" non-carbonated drinking

Beautiful words on the label of this water - “the purest water”, “ideal for cooking”, “does not form scale” - turned out to be only partially true. There will indeed be little scale from this water: it contains too little calcium and magnesium, but it certainly cannot be called the purest: the number of microbes in this water exceeds the norm by 70 times.

From 14 rub. for 1 l - Black list

8. "Shishkin Les" drinking non-carbonated

The sample is included in the “black list” for deceiving consumers. Shishkin Les water does not correspond to the first category indicated on the label in terms of macronutrient content. It is safe for occasional use, but if consumed every day, it can be harmful to health.

From 17 rub. for 1 l - Black list

9. Bonaqua drinking non-carbonated

Drinking water under the Bonaqua brand does not meet safety requirements: an examination showed that the source of the water supply from which it was obtained could be contaminated with wastewater

From 23 rub. for 1 l - Black list

10. Cristaline drinking non-carbonated

The sample revealed numerous violations of the requirements for water of the highest category. The complex toxicity indicator (the sum of nitrates and nitrites) was 40 times exceeded.

From 40 rub. for 1 l - Black list

11. Aparan drinking non-carbonated

Armenian Aparan water is unsafe: the number of microorganisms in it is 3.5 times higher than the norm, and nitrates are 2 times higher than allowed for water of the highest category.

From 49 rub. for 1 l. Black list

12. "Holy Spring" drinking non-carbonated

This water is unsafe for health: it exceeds the level of organic pollution. The label also contains inaccurate information about the composition of micro- and macroelements.

From 18 rub. for 1 l. - Black list.

Safety

At the very first stage of the research, the experts encountered unpleasant surprises. The most important indicator of the safety of drinking water is the content of microorganisms in it. In the “Simply Azbuka” water, which is produced in the Stavropol Territory by order of the Azbuka Vkusa retail chain, the number of microbes is 70 times higher than the permissible standard.

Also, according to this indicator, Aparan water (produced in Armenia) was recognized as unsafe; it contains 3.5 times more microorganisms than the norm.

This level of microbial contamination indicates a general problem with the water supply source. This means that the next batch of “Simply Azbuka” or Aparan water could easily contain dysentery bacilli, salmonella and other dangerous microorganisms and viruses. For non-compliance with safety requirements, the above brands of water are included in the “black list” of Roskontrol.

In addition to bacteria, nitrates were found in Aparan water - they are twice the norm. The complex toxicity indicator (the sum of nitrates and nitrites) is 40 times higher in expensive French water Cristaline.

Nitrites enter the water source from Wastewater and are an indicator of so-called “organic pollution”. Most likely, water was taken from places located near industrial enterprises, municipal treatment facilities, collective farms or farms, and the water clearly lay on the surface or at shallow depths (experts use the term “horizons that are not sufficiently protected from the penetration of water from surface runoff”).

Experts have identified several more indicators of water pollution - the content of ammonium ions and permanganate oxidation. Exceeding the standards for these indicators indicates that gasoline, kerosene, phenols, pesticides and other harmful substances could get into the water. According to test results, the Bonaqua and “Holy Spring” brands do not meet safety requirements, and Cristaline water, although safe, does not meet the increased requirements stated by the manufacturer, who labeled it as water of the highest category.

How could this happen? Why does even water that says “artesian” and has well numbers indicated turn out to be contaminated? Shouldn't manufacturers clean it?

Rufina Mikhailova, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Head of the Laboratory of Hygiene of Drinking Water Supply and Sanitary Protection of Reservoirs, Research Institute of Human Ecology and Hygiene environment named after A.N. Sysina:

“Any water goes through a preparation stage before packaging. There are many technologies for water purification, depending on the initial quality of water. The only requirement is that chlorine should not be used to disinfect water intended for bottling. If the water is initially close to ideal, and only a few elements are exceeded, simple filters are used.

The most common technology is “reverse osmosis”. It allows you to obtain a sterile, ideal clean water– special membrane filters retain all impurities, guaranteeing stable quality of purified water. But here the opposite effect also occurs - unfortunately, if the water is purified too thoroughly, the water is deprived of not only harmful, but also beneficial substances. In its properties, such water is close to distilled water.”

All water samples were also tested for the content of toxic elements - mercury, lead, arsenic, aluminum and others: none of the water exceeded the content of these substances.

Quality

The value of drinking water is determined by micro- and macroelements, about 50 substances in total. For humans, there is a certain physiological norm for the amount and composition of mineral salts dissolved in water. Almost all bottled water labels indicate general level mineralization. From the point of view of daily water consumption, a level of 200–500 mg/l can be considered optimal. WITH drinking water a person can receive up to 20% of the daily dose of calcium, up to 25% magnesium, up to 50-80% fluoride, up to 50% iodine.

The examination showed that there is almost no calcium and magnesium in the water of “Shishkin Les” and “Aqua Mineral”, a lack of fluoride is in the water of Bonaqua, “Holy Source”, “Lipetsk Pump Room” and even in the expensive water of Evian and Vittel. With constant consumption of such water, there will be a deficiency of the corresponding substances in the body. Let us remind you that a lack of fluoride causes caries, calcium - osteoporosis and reduced bone density (and, as a result, a tendency to fractures, and in children - impaired skeletal formation), magnesium - problems with the heart and nervous system.

The content of bicarbonates in Shishkin Les water is exceeded; according to this indicator, the water does not correspond to the first category stated on the label.

According to doctors, drinking water with a high content of bicarbonates is not recommended for people suffering from chronic kidney disease, incl. with the formation of stones, as well as for people with reduced secretion of gastric juice.

Based on the results of our tests, water from Evian, Vittel, Nestle Pure Life, Aqua Minerale, “D” (Dixie) and “Lipetsk Pump Room” was recognized as safe. Optimal composition(in terms of the content of minerals and microelements) - for drinking water “D” (Dixie). By the way, it is the cheapest of the tested samples.

The participants of the tasting found the most delicious water "Lipetsk pump room" (which lacks useful elements) and French water Evian and Vittel (which contains sufficient amounts of calcium and magnesium, but no fluorine at all)