Eco-Friendly Mineral Water
Are there any good sources of mineral water in the U.S.? Follow Nutrition Diva’s advice for finding mineral water with a low carbon footprint.
Monica Reinagel, MS, LD/N, CNS
Q. Why are most of the mineral waters for sale in the U.S. imported from overseas? I hesitate to buy the heavy-carbon-footprint waters such as Gerolsteiner or San Pellegrino. Do we not have good sources in the U.S.?
Answer. You’re right that many popular brands of mineral water come from Europe, and that importing water in heavy glass bottles uses a lot of fuel, making the carbon footprint of these beverages pretty high.
We do, in fact, have many sources of natural spring water here in the U.S., although I know of only one (Hawaiian Spring) which is naturally carbonated. Most sparkling mineral water, including San Pellegrino, is artificially carbonated. The mineral content of various spring waters also varies greatly. For detailed — and I mean detailed — information on bottled waters from around the U.S., check out this fascinating website: Bottled Waters of the World.
See also: Is Carbonated Water Good for You?
But if you’re looking for sparkling water with a low carbon footprint, you might want to consider bubbling your own! I use a Sodastream carbonator to make sparkling water using filtered tap water. No bottles to lug, store, or recycle. Even the CO2 cartridge is refillable.
And, as I talked about in my episode on mineral water, most tap water contains some minerals. For example, if you drink two liters of water a day, you could be getting 10-15% of your daily calcium requirement and up to a third of your required magnesium just from the water you drink.
For more on drinking water, see How Much Water Should I Drink?
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Sparkling Wateropens IMAGE file photo from Shutterstock.
About the Author
Monica Reinagel is a board-certified licensed nutritionist, author, and the creator of one of iTunes’ most highly ranked health and fitness podcasts. Her advice is regularly featured on the TODAY show, Dr. Oz, NPR, and in the nation’s leading newspapers, magazines, and websites. Do you have a nutrition question? Call the Nutrition Diva listener line at 443-961-6206. Your question could be featured on the show.