What real mineral water should be and how to find it in the store

What is mineral water and how does it differ from drinking water

Natural mineral water are extracted from underground aquifers, naturally protected from human influence. Usually, such water is deep, and several geological layers separate it from the surface. Such water does not require thorough cleaning, therefore it is bottled after a very gentle preparation, which completely preserves the natural composition and structure of the drink.

Mineral water can be used as table water, medical-table water, and medicinal water. The difference is in the amount of minerals. All indicators are described in GOST R 54316-2020.

Type of water	Mineralization level
Canteen	up to 1 g / dm³
Medical dining room	1-10 g / dm³
Therapeutic	10-15 g / dm³ or up to 10 g / dm³, but with a high content of biologically active components (for example, iodine, boron, magnesium or silicon)

Table mineral water has a neutral taste. It is very similar to ordinary drinking water, with the difference that it is natural and is extracted exclusively from wells in protected aquifers. It can be drunk without restriction, and can also be used in food preparation. Table water can be either carbonated or non-carbonated.

Have medicinal table water due to the greater amount of minerals, the taste is brighter and salty. It is always carbonated - this is the requirement of regulatory enactments. Aeration helps maintain the mineral content of the water throughout the shelf life of the product.

Taste medicinal water even richer due to the increased mineral content. It is also compulsorily carbonated. The last two types of water have both therapeutic and prophylactic uses. In the first case, it is prescribed by doctors. But healthy people can also consume such foods for prevention, maintenance of well-being and replenishment of water-salt balance.

You can also find on store shelves drinking water or treated drinking water … It is obtained in various ways: from aquifers, rivers or lakes, and even from municipal water sources. Before bottling, water undergoes deep purification, which often completely changes its original composition. At the same time, it must meet the quality requirements described in the technical regulations for bottled water TR EAEU 044/2017. Specific types and standards of production of both drinking and mineral waters are also described there.

Another type of bottled water - natural drinking … Such water is obtained only from natural sources: underground aquifers (unprotected), springs, springs, rivers or lakes. The methods of its processing are the same gentle as those of mineral water, in order to fully preserve the natural composition of the water.

How to find quality mineral water

In order not to run into counterfeit products and to accurately choose healthy mineral water, adhere to the following rules.

1. Examine the label

The label should contain all the information that will help to accurately identify the type and type of water. The following information should be provided.

Type of water

The label of high-quality water will say “Natural mineral water”, as well as its type - table, medical-table or medicinal.

GOST

Mineral waters are produced in accordance with GOST R 54316-2020. The same standard contains the compositions of products of well-known brands of mineral water ("Essentuki", "Narzana", "Novoterskaya" and others).

It happens that other GOST numbers are given on the labels. But they do not relate to the requirements for the quality and composition of mineral water, but, for example, to the organization of production processes or packaging.

Instead of GOST, a technical condition (TU) can also be indicated. This is permissible, but usually mineral water according to TU is produced by small regional producers who, for some reason, did not add their waters / springs to GOST. Large manufacturers strive to get into GOST, therefore, from time to time, new editions of it appear.

Water extraction site

The packaging must indicate the source of the water, for example, the deposit and the region where it is located, the number of the well or, if it is not in the deposit, its exact address. For example, the label of the mineral water "Essentuki No. 4" states: Stavropol Territory, Essentukskoye field, well No. 49-E or No. 71. And on the label "Essentuki No. 17" - Stavropol Territory, Essentuki field, well No. 46.

Often the names of mineral waters appeared from the names of geographical objects or formed historically. In this case, the name is not just a trademark, but an appellation of origin (AO). The right to use the AO is secured by a certificate issued by the Federal Service for Intellectual Property, Patents and Trademarks (Rospatent).

The list of registered AOIs can be found on the Rospatent website in the "Open Registers" section, and at the same time find out who owns a particular AO certificate and check the information with the manufacturer and source data on the label. The document can also be requested from the manufacturer to verify the authenticity of the water.

Mineral water "Essentuki No. 4" and "Essentuki No. 17" are examples of the appellation of origin of goods, the right to use which is possessed only by the manufacturer who received the certificate of the AO. And for this it is necessary to extract and pour water from specific wells of the Essentuki field. Mineral water "Narzan" is also an example of such a name (it is bottled from certain wells of the Kislovodsk deposit).

The Holding Aqua group of companies is the only producer of the mineral water Essentuki No. 4 and Essentuki No. 17, which has the exclusive right to use this appellation of origin for all wells of the Essentuki field with water Essentuki No. 4 and Essentuki No. 17 »Designed for bottling water.

These are the names you will surely find on a bottle with real mineral water. It is mined by Holding Aqua directly in the Essentuki field in the ecological resort region of Kavkazskie Mineralnye Vody.

2. Inspect the bottle

Conscientious manufacturers monitor the quality of both products and packaging. Good mineral water is packed either in glass or in bottles made of high-quality plastic - transparent, without extraneous inclusions and strange color transitions. Sometimes manufacturers add special imprints or 3D symbols to the bottles to protect them from counterfeiting.

The label also needs to be evaluated. You should be suspicious of a blurry pattern, a dull and desaturated print color. But remember that damage to the label can also appear on genuine products, for example, due to temperature and humidity fluctuations in a store or warehouse. Therefore, pay attention only to obvious flaws.

3. Study the logo

If a familiar brand has changed its label design, then look at the logo. It is not radically changed and the continuity is preserved: name, colors, characteristic symbols.

If in doubt, visit the manufacturer's or brand's website. Usually, information about a design change on official resources is published simultaneously with the appearance of products in a new design on store shelves.

On the real mineral water "Essentuki No. 4" and "Essentuki No. 17" there is a logo with the image of mountains and a soaring eagle. In 2021, to strengthen the protection of the original brand, Aqua Holding updated the glass bottle. The logo became voluminous and the inscription "Essentuki" appeared on it. Now you can even find the legendary mineral water by touch, so nothing will prevent you from enjoying its characteristic salty taste and rich composition.

What to do if you still have doubts about water quality

If you often buy the same water, then one day you may notice that its taste or smell has changed. Or you walk into a store and see bottles with a new design and logo. Finally, you might think that the mineral water has signs of fake.

In such cases, contact the manufacturer's hotline: send him pictures of the questionable product with the general type of packaging, label, production date and batch number (usually placed at the top of the bottle) and indicate the address of the store. For the responsible companies, the website, mail and telephone number are indicated on the label. The manufacturer will be able to determine whether it is a genuine product or a fake by its appearance, date of bottling and batch number.