Water, water everywhere, especially the bottled kind. In fact, there is so much bottled water out there, sometimes it can be hard to choose the best one. So we’ve made a list of 10 of our favorite brands on shelves today to compare, with average pH levels, highest mineral contents, etc. Some are still, some sparkling, some with flavors, some without. So whatever you prefer, we’re confident you’ll be able to find a bottled water on this list to fit your taste, and your budget.
San Pellegrino
Well-known throughout the world, San Pellegrino made its name in restaurants as the model for sparkling mineral water. Its water is clean tasting and its soda flavors are sweetly refreshing. There’s pretty much no market or decent restaurant you won’t find it.
Source: Pellegrino Terme, Lombardy, Italy
Still or Sparkling: Sparkling
pH: 5.6
TDS (Total Dissolved Solids): 940
Highest Minerals (in TDS): Sulfates (430), Bicarbonate (238), Calcium (160), Magnesium (53)
Flavors: Aranciata (Orange), Limonata (lemonade), Sanbittèr (bitters), Pompelmo (grapefruit), Aranciata Rossa (blood orange), Chinò (chinotto), Melograno e Arancia (Pomegranate and Orange) and Clementina (Clementine)
Glass, Plastic, or Aluminum: Sparkling Water – glass/plastic, Soda – aluminum cans
Price: Water – $2.69 (0h 4m) (0h 4m)/750mL, Soda – $4.98 (0h 6m) (0h 6m)/6-11.15oz cans
Crystal Geyser
One of the America’s water industry giants, Crystal Geyser is probably best known for its convenient, single serving water bottles. More recently, their sparkling water flavors have become more popular, as well.
Sources: Weed, CA; Olancha, CA; Norman, AR; Benton, TN; Salem, SC; Moultonborough, NH; Johnstown, NY.
Still or Sparkling: Both
pH: 7.0
TDS (Total Dissolved Solids): 250+
Highest Minerals (in TDS): Sulfate, Calcium
Flavors: Still; Sparkling: Lime, Lemon, Orange, Mixed Berry, Peach, Pineapple Mango
Glass, Plastic, or Aluminum: Plastic
Price: $5.99 (0h 8m) (0h 8m)/35 16.9oz bottles, $1.49 (0h 2m) (0h 2m)/42.3oz bottle
Mountain Valley
A premium American staple since 1871, Mountain Valley is one of the most recognizable and refreshingly clean water brands available. They prefer to keep their product line small, but have recently released two new delicious varieties of sparkling water.
Source: Ouachita Mountains, Hot Springs, Arkansas
Still or Sparkling: Both
pH: 7.8
TDS (Total Dissolved Solids): 220
Highest Minerals (in TDS): Calcium (74), Magnesium (7.3), Potassium (1.0)
Flavors: Still; Sparkling: Unflavored, Lime Twist, Blackberry Pomegranate
Glass, Plastic, or Aluminum: Glass
Price: $2.69 (0h 4m) (0h 4m)/1.5L bottle
Evian
Evian was one of the very first luxury brands on the water scene. With a price tag towards the top end of the spectrum, we sure hope it’s actually from the French Alps.
Source: Cachat Spring, Évian-les-Bains, France
Still or Sparkling: Flat
pH: 8.0
TDS (Total Dissolved Solids): 357
Highest Minerals (in TDS): Bicarbonate (350), Calcium (80), Magnesium (26), Silica (14)
Flavors: none
Glass, Plastic, or Aluminum: Glass and Plastic
Price: $3.29 (0h 4m) (0h 4m)/1.5L
Voss
Best known as the choice of Las Vegas nightclubs, Voss is the probably most well-known for its unique, simply shaped water bottle. Voss water is sourced nowhere near Voss, Norway, but its taste is rather clean, and its new sparkling water flavors quite refreshing.
Source: Iveland, Southern Norway
Still or Sparkling: Both
pH: 6.0
TDS (Total Dissolved Solids): 290
Highest Minerals (in TDS): Sodium (90), Chloride (12), Calcium (5)
Flavors: Still, Sparkling: Lemon Cucumber, Tangerine Lemongrass
Glass, Plastic, or Aluminum: Glass and Plastic
Price: $3.69 (0h 5m) (0h 5m)/800mL still/unflavored sparkling bottle
Fiji
Sourced from an artesian spring, Fiji Natural Artesian Water claims to be “free from human contact until you unscrew the cap”. Fiji is best known for its signature square, tropical looking bottle, and certainly does with this visual appeal.
Source: Viti Levu, Fiji
Still or Sparkling: Still
pH: 7.3 – 7.7
TDS (Total Dissolved Solids): 222
Highest Minerals (in TDS): Silica (93), Calcium (18), Magnesium (15)
Flavors: none
Glass, Plastic, or Aluminum: Plastic
Price: $2.29 (0h 3m) (0h 3m)/1.5L
Saratoga
Saratoga Spring Water is a premium water with a rich history. Many people have not only trusted the purity of this water itself, but they have also claimed healing properties in the New York sources from which it came. Saratoga is a pure tasting water, and its flavored sparkling varieties are subtle yet satisfying.
Source: Geyser Lake, Saratoga Springs, NY
Still or Sparkling: Both
pH: 6.98
TDS (Total Dissolved Solids): 160
Highest Minerals (in TDS): unknown
Flavors: Still, Sparkling: Lemon Lime, Orange Tangerine, Wild Berry
Glass, Plastic, or Aluminum: Glass
Price: $2.59 (0h 4m) (0h 4m)/28oz bottle
Smartwater
Distilled from local sources, Smartwater is essentially purified water with electrolytes added for taste. So what makes it “smart”? Great marketing, of course!
Source: Municipal, Groundwater
Still or Sparkling: Both
pH: 6.97
TDS (Total Dissolved Solids): 21
Highest Minerals (in TDS): n/a
Flavors: none
Glass, Plastic, or Aluminum: Plastic
Price: $1.29 (0h 2m) (0h 2m)/1L bottle
Arrowhead
Another large water brand in the western United States, Arrowhead water gets its name from a natural rock formation in the San Bernadino Mountains that is shaped like an arrowhead. A regional staple in drinking water, it’s an easy-to-drink H2O with not much leftover on the palate. Word of caution: keep away from sunlight and drink well before expiration date, to avoid that vile, plasticky taste.
Source: Various springs, wells, and municipal sources, California
Still or Sparkling: Still
pH: 6.33-8.2
TDS (Total Dissolved Solids): 129
Highest Minerals (in TDS): Bicarbonate (81.1), Calcium (20.4), Sodium (11.1)
Flavors: none
Glass, Plastic, or Aluminum: Plastic
Price: $1.29 (0h 2m) (0h 2m)/50.7oz bottle
Aqua Carpatica
Aqua Carpatica is a relatively new water brand on the scene, especially in the US. Its major marketing focus is the health consciousness of its water: nitrate-free water, magnesium-rich, and low sodium. For this forward-thinking brand from the Transylvanian mountains, we’re interested to see how it catches on.
Source: Carpathian Mountains, Romania
Still or Sparkling: Both
pH: 8.24
TDS (Total Dissolved Solids): 200+
Highest Minerals (in TDS): Bicarbonate (220), Calcium (52), Magnesium (17)
Flavors: none
Glass, Plastic, or Aluminum: Glass and Plastic
Price: $2.99 (0h 4m) (0h 4m)/1.5L
