What is Natural Spring Water? Health Benefits and Properties

Water, the most basic need of the human body, has a direct and very powerful effect on our lives, from our cellular functions to our general health. However, today, we encounter many different water options on market shelves, television adverts or tap lines coming to our homes. As such, that extremely critical question appears in the minds of consumers: What is natural spring water and why is it different from other options for our health? Briefly defined, this type of water is pure drinking water that comes directly to the surface of the earth without any heavy chemical or artificial treatment as a gift of the natural balance underground. In this detailed guide, we will take a step-by-step look at the background of the water we drink, its vital effects on our health and the safest ways to consume water for our household.

What is Natural Spring Water and How is it Formed?

Natural spring waters are formed by the rain and snow waters falling from the sky to the earth, which embark on a long and miraculous journey. As these waters descend to the earth, they pass through various permeable rock layers in the earth’s crust as they percolate deep into the soil. During this slow and steady journey underground, the water undergoes a tremendous organic filtration process.

As water percolates through the layers of soil and rocks, it also comes into contact with the rich mineral deposits underground. Through this contact, it incorporates components such as calcium, magnesium and potassium, which are extremely critical for human health. When the groundwater reaches a certain saturation and under the influence of geological pressures, it is extracted spontaneously or by special drilling methods. The biggest difference from processed or chlorinated tap water is that it is transmitted directly to the filling facilities without any microbiological or chemical laboratory intervention by preserving its pure state at its source.

What are the Differences Between Processed Water and Natural Mineral Water?

Not all waters sold in the market are of the same quality or origin. One of the most confusing issues for consumers is the fundamental differences between natural spring waters, processed waters and mineralised waters. Understanding these differences is the first condition to gain the right water consumption habit.

What is Natural Mineral Water?

Natural mineral water is a special type of water that has its origin in groundwater, just like spring water, but with a much higher mineral density. In order for a water to receive the title of “Natural Mineral Water”, the dissolved mineral and trace element ratios it contains must generally be above 1000 milligrams per litre. This high mineral concentration and the physiological benefits of water to the human body must be approved by independent health authorities. These waters, which we often call “mineral water” in everyday language, can come out of the ground with or without natural gas and do not contain any preservatives.

What is Processed Water (Mains Water)?

Treated Drinking Water (Treated Water) is water that does not necessarily originate from an underground water reserve and can be obtained from sources such as rivers, lakes, dams or wells. These waters are subjected to heavy chemical or physical interventions from outside in order to bring them to potable standards. The most well-known methods are reverse osmosis, chlorination and ozonation. During the reverse osmosis process, while harmful substances in the water are separated, unfortunately, useful minerals are also destroyed. For this reason, manufacturers have to add minerals to this purified water by artificial means.

Water Types Comparison Table:

Which Minerals Are Found in Natural Spring Water?

The main reason why the water we drink not only quenches our thirst but also nourishes our body is the minerals it contains. Natural spring water collects the most suitable minerals for human biology in a balanced way as it is filtered from underground rocks.

• Calcium (Mineral): It is indispensable for bone and tooth development. It provides a natural calcium support especially for growing children and adults at risk of osteoporosis. It plays an active role in the regular contraction of the heart muscle.
• Magnesium (Mineral): It is vital for the healthy functioning of the nervous system, prevention of muscle cramps and energy metabolism. Its effects of reducing stress and supporting cell regeneration have been scientifically proven.
• Potassium: It helps to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance in the body. It must be present in sufficient amounts in intracellular fluids in order to regulate blood pressure and maintain healthy nerve conduction.
• Sodium: It is generally low in natural spring waters and this is advantageous for cardiovascular health. It is a critical electrolyte that plays a role in muscle contraction and transmission of nerve impulses.

What are the Health Benefits of Natural Spring Water?

Regular consumption of good quality, clean natural spring water is the key to keeping the body’s functions at an optimum level. One of the most obvious benefits is that it eliminates the risk of dehydration; saturating the cells with water makes the skin look brighter, more supple and younger. The minerals in the natural structure of water strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier, preventing drying and cracking.

In addition, it has relaxing and regulating effects on the digestive system. When consumed in sufficient amounts, it balances stomach acid, supports the health of the intestinal flora and helps weight control by accelerating metabolism. In addition, it does not contain harmful pathogens that exhaust the immune system as it has the highest standards in terms of microbiological safety. It strengthens the general detoxification mechanism by facilitating the process of filtering and removing toxins from the body by the kidneys.

How to Recognise Real Natural Spring Water?

When you go to the supermarket or grocery store, the marketing words on the labels of packaged water can sometimes be misleading. There are some concrete legal criteria that you should pay attention to in order to recognise whether a water is really natural from its source.

First of all, it is obligatory to have the legal phrases determined by the state authorities on the label of the water. If it is a real spring water, it is clearly labelled as “Natural Spring Water”. If the label reads “Processed Drinking Water”, it means that this water is processed through processes such as reverse osmosis and then minerals are added. The second most important criterion is production permits and inspection logos. The date and approval number of the production permit of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey must be included on the packaging of the water you will buy.

In addition, the label must contain the full address of the source, a detailed mineral table showing the analysed values of the water and a recycling logo indicating that the packaging is recyclable (PET, Glass or PC). If this information is not presented transparently to the consumer, it is best to be sceptical about the reliability of the water.

What should be considered when choosing and consuming natural spring water?

When buying water, it is important to pay attention not only to the brand, but also to the metric values and storage conditions that determine the biological quality of the water. The pH level of a good drinking water is a critical criterion for our body to maintain acid-base balance. Within the scope of the Ministry of Health regulation, the pH value of ideal drinking water should be between 6.5 and 9.5. For body health, slightly alkaline waters (pH 7.5 and above) are generally preferred.

Your storage conditions after purchasing water directly affect the quality of the water. Especially carboy and PET bottled water should not be exposed to direct sunlight and should be stored in cool and odourless environments to prevent chemical dissolution. Nowadays, with the increasing awareness of sustainability, glass packaging is one step ahead due to its health and nature-friendly nature. Brands in the sector are also investing in smart packaging and new generation hygienic filling systems to minimise their carbon footprint.

The packaged water sector has a large volume in the Turkish economy and social life. Looking at the sector statistics, the market size of the packaged water sector in Turkey reached a total of 31.1 billion liras in 2023. In 2023, the market volume was recorded as 10.8 billion litres, of which 5.3 billion litres were carboys and 5.5 billion litres were PET packages. While the average annual per capita consumption in Turkey is 127 litres, the sector provides employment opportunities for 94 thousand people with a foreign currency inflow of 74.4 million USD.

Modern Solutions for Clean Water Consumption: Water Treatment Devices

As large as the packaged water sector is, consumers are looking for more sustainable, economical and practical solutions rather than constantly ordering carboys at home or at work. This is where modern technologies come into play, which transform tap water into safe drinking water by passing it through advanced filtration systems. Water purifiers are a healthy alternative for conscious consumers who want to save on bottled water costs and access clean water 24/7 at home.

Especially in crowded office environments or large families, much more functional devices are needed to meet the need for tea, coffee and direct drinking water. In such high consumption areas, equipment that can offer high performance hot and cold water options at the same time makes life much easier. With a water purification dispenser that you can place in the kitchen or waiting room of your workplace, you can solve the need for clean liquid consumption of staff and guests in the most hygienic way.

In addition, thanks to the latest technological developments, these modern systems are capable of filtering only harmful chlorine and heavy metals without disturbing the naturalness of the water. Unlike older generation purifiers, quality devices have special alkaline filters that restore natural minerals after water purification. Thanks to modern water treatment dispensers with stylish design and new generation filter technology suitable for your home, you can take a very important step towards protecting both your own health and nature by reducing plastic packaging waste to zero.

Nevertheless, the filter structure and maintenance requirements of each device are different from each other. It is possible to increase your quality of life in the long term by choosing the most suitable capacity for your budget and water consumption amount among the advanced purification dispenser models that combine reverse osmosis technology with mineral supplementation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the difference between natural spring water and natural mineral water?

Both types of water are naturally obtained from underground and do not undergo any chemical disinfection. However, the dissolved mineral and trace element ratios contained in “Natural Mineral Water” are richer than natural spring water (usually over 1000 mg/litre) and their physiological contributions to human health have been scientifically approved by state authorities. Natural spring waters are soft, standard and safe drinking waters that meet the daily general hydration needs.

What are natural spring waters?

Natural spring waters are the waters formed as a result of the accumulation of rain and snow waters underground by filtering through the permeable rock layers in the earth’s crust. During this slow and long journey underground, it incorporates useful minerals such as calcium and magnesium in soil and rocks. Unlike processed or tap water, it is delivered to the filling facilities in its pure form at its source, without any laboratory intervention.

Is natural spring water healthy?

Absolutely healthy. Since they are not treated with heavy chemicals (chlorination, etc.), the natural structure of the water and the beneficial minerals it contains are preserved. Since they pass through a natural filtration process, they are also extremely safe from a microbiological point of view. However, possible damages and risks arise not from the water itself, but from contamination of the source by external factors, unsupervised production or incorrect packaging conditions. Therefore, water that has been inspected by the Ministry of Health should be preferred.

Can pregnant women drink natural spring water?

One of the safest and most beneficial drinks for pregnant women is unquestionably natural spring water. The increased need for fluids and minerals (especially magnesium and calcium) during pregnancy can be safely supported with these spring waters, which are additive-free and preserve their natural structure. Chlorine or heavy metal risks that can be found in municipal waters and artificial interventions in processed waters are not found in these waters. Expectant mothers are recommended to prefer Ministry of Health approved brands with a pH value between 6.5 and 9.5.

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