Spring water is water that is harvested from a natural spring. Unlike many forms of bottled water that are filtered and treated to remove impurities, water from a natural spring is considered to contain a beneficial level of minerals and is normally bottled directly at the source. In recent years, it has become available in a number of different retail outlets.
Part of the attraction of spring water is that it is often water that has moved to the surface from some type of underground water source. As such, the water is considered to be free of contaminants as well as unspoiled by the use of modern filtration techniques. Many proponents note that the liquid has a naturally refreshing taste that cannot be replicated by other types of water.
Many people assume that spring water and mineral water are the same. This is not the case. While both types of water are harvested from the hydrosphere, mineral water tends to contain a higher level of elements that are known as Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). While some people consider these additional minerals to be beneficial, others think of them as being too much of a good thing. For people who prefer water that contains trace amounts of minerals without altering the natural taste of water, spring water is a much more attractive option.
The use of spring water has become common in many households. Users of the water note that using it to brew coffee or tea will result in a more desirable taste for the beverage. Many people who worry about contamination levels in municipal water systems will use this water for cooking and drinking purposes and use water from city systems for bathing or washing clothes.
Once available only in health food stores, spring water is now found in a number of different retail outlets. Supermarkets often carry at least one brand, as do convenience stores and large discount retail chains. Even coffeehouses often will carry at least one brand of bottled water for consumers who wish to refrain from coffee and tea based beverages.