What is Water?
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a polar inorganic compound occurring naturally on Earth as a solid, liquid, vapor, or ice. It is the principal constituent of Earth’s streams, lakes, and oceans.
Water covers 70 percent of the Earth’s surface. It is vital for all known life forms and makes up about 98 percent of the human body. The high dielectric constant of water makes it a poor conductor of electricity. Still, its other physical properties include high thermal conductivity, which means it can efficiently transport heat from one place to another without much loss due to resistive heating.
The Importance of Water
Water is the most basic need for human survival. It is also essential for economic and social development. Water has many uses, including drinking, sanitation, irrigation, industry, and energy generation. It is vital to the livelihood of millions of people worldwide, providing them with food and jobs. Estimates indicate that 70 percent of the world’s population lacks access to safe drinking water, and almost 2 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation facilities.
Water plays a massive role in the production of products such as clothing (textiles), cars (steel), and electronics (cameras). About 60% of all goods require water during their production process.
How Does Water Get Its Taste?
Water is tasteless. However, it can get a taste from its origin. Water tastes different depending on where it comes from and the minerals dissolved in it. For example, distilled water has no minerals dissolved and tastes very bland compared with tap water or mineral water, which has many dissolved minerals. Mineral content determines the taste of water because some minerals give water an acidic taste while others give water a basic or alkaline taste.
How Does Origin Affect Water Taste?
Many factors affect the taste of water. It is impossible to say that one region’s water tastes better than another’s. The taste of water depends on the minerals and contaminants it contains in its history and production process.
The best-tasting water is likely to be found in areas where the groundwater has little exposure to human activity. Water from deep wells tends to be better tasting than surface water because surface water may be contaminated by animal waste or agricultural runoff.
Water taken from deep wells tends to be higher in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and iron, giving it a more distinct taste than surface water.
In contrast, purified and mineral waters undergo extensive treatment processes before they’re ready for consumption. Distilled water is produced by filtering out bacteria, minerals, and other substances from regular tap water; mineral waters contain added minerals such as calcium carbonate or bicarbonate — which can affect the final taste of the product.
What are Water Taste Enhancers?
Water taste enhancers are a class of chemicals that are added to drinking water to improve its taste. The most common water taste enhancers are sodium hydroxide and potassium carbonate.
Taste-enhancing chemicals can be used in place of or together with chlorine when chlorinating a municipal water supply. You can also use the chemicals in bottled water and drinking fountains.
The primary benefit of using taste-enhancement chemicals is that they can be added directly to the water at the point of use (e.g., at home, in office buildings, etc.). This avoids the need for storage and transportation of large quantities of chemical additives, which could adversely impact the environment if spilled.
Types of Water Taste Enhancers
Water taste enhancers are used to make tap water taste better. They can be added to the water in a pitcher or directly to the faucet. Water taste enhancers have no calories, carbohydrates, sodium, or sugar. There are several types of water taste enhancers available. The most common types include:
Carbon Filters- Carbon filters remove chlorine and other chemical odors from tap water. They help remove contaminants like lead, mercury, and asbestos that may cause cancer or other health problems. Carbon filters may also remove trace amounts of heavy metals such as copper and zinc. However, carbon filters don’t remove fluoride from your drinking water.
Sweeteners – Sweeteners are used to make drinking water taste sweeter, making it easier for people who do not like the taste of plain water to enjoy drinking it instead. Sweeteners can come in many forms, including cane sugar, corn sweeteners, and aspartame (artificial sweeteners).
Flavored Waters – Flavored waters are flavored beverages that do not contain carbonation. They are typically made from fruit juice concentrates or extracts, artificial flavors, and sweeteners such as high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) or sucrose (table sugar). Flavored waters come in many flavors, including lemon-lime, raspberry, orange, grapefruit, and strawberry.
How Does a Bottle Type Affect Water Taste?
The most common types of water bottles are made from plastic, glass, stainless steel, and aluminum. Each material has its pros and cons regarding taste and health.
Plastic: Plastic water bottles are lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to find. However, they leach chemicals into the water and can break down over time. Some studies have found that BPA (bisphenol A), a chemical in some plastics, can interfere with hormones. These plastics include polycarbonate and polyethylene terephthalate.
Further, plastic bottles are made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), used in most single-serving soft drinks and water bottles. PET does not react with most beverages, but it does break down over time when exposed to the sun’s UV rays or high heat. This means that leaving your plastic bottle in direct sunlight or a hot car could leach chemicals into your drink over time.
Glass: Glass water bottles are a product of borosilicate glass (Pyrex), which is heat-resistant and very strong. This makes them great for hot and cold drinks. Glass bottles are heavy but durable and do not leach chemicals into your water. They are also easy to clean and rarely break down over time. However, they are heavier than other materials, so they’re not as portable as plastic or stainless steel bottles. Glass bottles can also break more easily than plastic ones if dropped or knocked over.
Aluminum bottles: Aluminum bottles are popular because they are lightweight and inexpensive. They also don’t break easily and can be recycled. However, aluminum reacts to acidic drinks like orange juice and wine, so some people avoid them altogether. In addition, if you store acidic beverages in your aluminum bottle, they may react with the container and cause corrosion inside the bottle.
Steel Bottles: Steel bottles are heavier than other bottles but provide better insulation due to their thicker walls. They’re also more durable; steel won’t dent or break when it gets dropped on hard surfaces like concrete or rocks (although it can dent if hit with enough force). Steel bottles tend to come in smaller sizes because they are not as cost-effective when producing more significant quantities.
Top Rated Water Brands Based on Taste
1. Fiji Water
This water is the world’s best-selling brand of bottled water. It comes from Fiji, an island nation in the South Pacific; Fiji Water is from an aquifer beneath the rainforested island of Viti Levu in Fiji. The company claims it takes five years for its water to reach the surface through natural filtration processes that remove impurities. The result is “clean” water with no added minerals or elements like sodium or fluoride commonly found in North American and Europe tap water sources.
2. Evian Natural Spring Water
Evian Natural Spring Water is also one of the top choices for people who want spring water that tastes great. Evian is bottling takes place at its source in France’s rolling hillsides and mountains near Lake Geneva, where natural filtration occurs through the volcanic rock over thousands of years. The secret to Evian’s taste lies in its mineral content and natural purity, making it perfect for drinking or cooking.
3. Perrier Sparkling Natural Mineral Water
Perrier Sparkling Natural Mineral Water is an addition of carbon dioxide instead of added carbonation. Its unique taste makes it a favorite among sparkling mineral water drinkers around the globe. Perrier Sparkling Natural Mineral Water comes from sources located near Vergèze in Southern France, where its bottling has taken place since 1898.
4. Saint Geron Mineral Water
Saint Geron Mineral Water is bottled at the source in France, making it among the purest and most natural bottled waters available. This mineral water has been filtered through the volcanic rock over thousands of years to create a unique mineral blend that provides a healthy alternative to other choices in bottled water.
5. Pellegrino Artesian Sparkling Mineral Water
Pellegrino Artesian Sparkling Mineral Water is naturally carbonated and contains no added sugar or artificial flavors. Bottling takes place on the shores of Lake Garda. It was founded in 1899, making it one of the oldest brands of sparkling mineral water still available today.
6. Dasani Bottled Water
Dasani is a product of The Coca-Cola Company and is one of the top-selling bottled waters in America today. Dasani has been around since 1999 and has grown steadily due to its unique taste and packaging design that makes it stand out from other brands (it comes in clear plastic bottles). Dasani also boasts that its water comes from natural springs near Niagara Falls.
7. Aquafina Purified Water
Aquafina Purified Water is another top-rated purified water brand that has been selling well for years. This product comes in 30-ounce bottles, purchased in single packs or as part of a larger package. The taste of this water is relatively neutral, making it perfect for anyone who wants to stay hydrated without having to worry about any bad aftertastes.
8. Nestle Pure Life Water
Nestle Pure Life Water is a top-rated water brand based on taste. It has a unique taste and is one of the most popular brands in the world. Nestle introduced the brand in 1999, and it is available in different flavors such as lime, lemon, lime-flavored, carbonated, and purified.
Nestle Pure Life water is made from natural spring water from the natural springs at Hope Valley, British Columbia. It has no added sugar or calories and is free of artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. The company uses reverse osmosis technology to make this product with zero calories and zero fat content.
Water is vital for human survival. It is directly responsible for the existence of life and plays a crucial role in the functioning of all living organisms. It aids the production of products that benefit human life. People should protect water sources by reducing carbon emissions and eradicating pollution.
