What most people do not realize is that bottled water brands can vary a lot in quality. Some of the offerings are not clear about how they are obtained, what processes they might have been subjected to or other factors that might influence a consumers decision to purchase.

This type of water comes from sources all over the world. Some of it is very high quality that is obtained from natural artesian wells. Unlike man made wells, this type comes from far below the surface of the ground and has natural barriers like rock and sand to protect it. These types are generally very pure in quality and need little, if any, processing to make them useable. Some of these types come from underneath glaciers in Scandinavia.This type is often found at first class hotels, fine restaurants and other places that want to offer top quality water to their clientele.

Some water comes from the ground but has carbonation added to it. This is commonly called sparkling water and many people find it very refreshing. Mineral water is also a type that many people like to use. Depending on where it comes from, it may have trace elements of helpful minerals that people want to incorporate into their diet.

Other types of water products may come from mountain springs or other natural sources. Some of these have additional processes such as filtration added to remove any unwanted ingredients. This could be any mineral that gives the water an odd taste or color, sediment or other things.

Some bottled water products are merely tap water. These have been subjected to different types of filters. Reverse osmosis is one of these types and is used for any water that may have lead, arsenic or other extra, undesirable features. Deionization and other filtering systems are also sometimes used.

Because these products can come from many sources, it is not always possible for the consumer to know what they are getting. Some of the bottlers have very transparent information in their literature or on their websites that states all the details about their product. They may state where it comes from, how it is processed if at all or what minerals or other contaminants it might contain. Unfortunately, not all bottlers are this straightforward about what they are selling. While not exactly deceptive, they may not make it very clear that their product is merely filtered tap water. Because of this problem, people may want to research their bottled water brands carefully.