Artesian

• Comes from a well in a confined aquifer.
• Levels in well must stand at some height above the top of the aquifer.

Water from a well that taps an aquifer--layers of porous rock, sand and earth that contain water--which is under pressure from surrounding upper layers of rock or clay. When tapped, the pressure in the aquifer, commonly called artesian pressure, pushes the water above the level of the aquifer, sometimes to the surface. Other means may be used to help bring the water to the surface.

According to the EPA, water from artesian aquifers often is more pure because the confining layers of rock and clay impede the movement of contamination. However, despite the claims of some bottlers, there is no guarantee that artesian waters are any cleaner than ground water from an unconfined aquifer, the EPA says.  

Distilled

• Water that has been turned into steam to leave impurities behind.
• Steam is condensed into pure water.
• Used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical and liquid dry prescriptions.

Fluoridated

• Contains fluoride that is added within the limitations set by federal regulations.
• Some spring and artesian sources have naturally occurring fluoride in trace amounts.

Mineral

• Water from an underground source that contain no less than 250 parts per million (ppm) total dissolved solids (TDS) (solids being the minerals in the water).
• Must come from a geologically and physically protected underground water source.
• Distinguished from other types of water by the regular mineral and trace elements present.
• Minerals and trace elements must come from the source of the underground water.
No minerals may be added to this water.

Purified

• Produced by distillation, de-ionization, reverse osmosis or other suitable processes that meet the legal definition of “purified water.”
• May also be known as "demineralized water."

Sparkling

• Contains, after treatment and possible replacement of carbon dioxide, the same amount of carbon dioxide that it had at emergence from the source.
• Soda water, seltzer water and tonic water are not considered bottled waters. They are regulated separately and considered soft drinks.   Please See:   Why You should drink Carbonated Water.

Spring 

• Must come from underground formation and flow naturally to the surface of the earth.
• Emanates from beneath the earth, from under strata that formed in prehistoric times.
• Must be collected at the spring or through a bore hole tapping the underground formation finding the spring.   If some external force is used to collect the water through a borehole, the water must have the same composition and quality as the water that naturally flows to the surface.

Well water

Water from a hole bored or drilled into the ground, which taps into an aquifer.

Bottled water may be used as an ingredient in beverages, such as diluted juices or flavored bottled waters. However, beverages labeled as containing "sparkling water," "seltzer water," "soda water," "tonic water," or "club soda" are not included as bottled water under the FDA's regulations, because these beverages have historically been considered soft drinks.

Some bottled water also comes from municipal sources--in other words--the tap. Municipal water is usually treated before it is bottled.

Examples of water treatments include:

• Distillation. In this process, water is turned into a vapor. Since minerals are too heavy to vaporize, they are left behind, and the vapors are condensed into water again.
• Reverse osmosis. Water is forced through membranes to remove minerals in the water.
• Absolute 1 micron filtration. Water flows through filters that remove particles larger than one micron in size, such as Cryptosporidium, a parasitic protozoan.
• Ozonation. Bottlers of all types of waters typically use ozone gas, an antimicrobial agent, to disinfect the water instead of chlorine, since chlorine can leave residual taste and odor to the water.