Drinking enough water is essential to your health, as it helps every cell in your body work properly. That’s why it’s important to stay hydrated throughout the day.

Many types of water are on the market, with spring and purified varieties being among the most popular. This may lead you to wonder how they differ, and whether you should choose one over the other.

This article explains the difference between spring water and purified water.

Spring water is a popular form of bottled water. It comes from groundwater, which is water that exists underground in an aquifer that sits at or below the earth’s natural water table (1, 2, 3).

As water naturally flows to the ground’s surface, it’s collected at the opening of a spring. It can also be collected directly underground from a borehole (1, 2, 3).

This water is generally considered pre-purified, as it has traveled through natural filters like limestone, sandstone, and clay (3, 4).

Once collected, it’s sampled and analyzed to ensure it meets strict safety standards set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Finally, it’s bottled and ready to be sold (1, 2, 5).

Spring water comes from underground water. It has been naturally filtered and is collected at the opening of a spring or from a borehole.

Purified water is water that has been mechanically filtered or processed to remove impurities like bacteria, viruses, chemical pollutants, and minerals like lead and copper (6).

In most developed countries, including the United States and Canada, tap water is purified to ensure it’s safe for consumption.

It undergoes various treatment methods. Simply put, these include (7):

Other purification methods may also be used to produce bottled water or at home, such as (1, 8):

If companies can meet the required FDA and EPA guidelines for safety, they can label their water as “purified” (1).

If preferred, you can purchase at-home filters to purify your tap water. For example, the Brita filter uses activated carbon ion exchange to remove contaminants like lead, chlorine, and mercury (9).

Purified water usually comes from groundwater or tap water. It’s treated in a water processing plant to remove impurities and contaminants. You can also purchase in-home filters to purify your tap water.

If you’re wondering which type of water to choose, rest assured that both are excellent choices.

Both spring water and purified water must meet strict safety standards set by the FDA and EPA, making them safe for you to drink.

The type of water you should choose depends mostly on your preferences and what’s accessible to you. In many cases, people choose the type of water that tastes best to them, which can be largely subjective.

Ultimately, you should choose the water that you’re most likely going to drink.

Both spring water and purified water meet strict safety standards and are safe for humans to drink. Choose the type that best aligns with your preferences and is accessible.

How much water you need per day depends on many factors, including your physical activity levels, climate, age, health status, and more.

As such, it’s best to follow these general principles (10):

If you’re trying to drink more water, here are some helpful tips:

To keep yourself hydrated, make water your drink of choice and enjoy it regularly throughout the day.

Water is essential to life, and drinking enough of it has many benefits.

In most developed countries, we’re privileged to have a variety of options for clean, safe drinking water to choose from. Spring water and purified water are popular and excellent choices.

Spring water is naturally filtered underground. It’s collected from springs or boreholes. Meanwhile, purified water is any type of water that has undergone a controlled filtration and purification process to remove impurities and contaminants.

The type you choose should largely depend on your personal preferences and what’s accessible to you. Both are safe options that meet strict safety standards.

At the end of the day, pick the type of water you’re most likely to drink.

Try this today: Set a reminder to drink water on your phone every 30 minutes during the day. You may notice a difference in your energy and hydration levels when you drink water more consistently.

Last medically reviewed on August 23, 2021

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