What are the minerals found in mineral water?
Mineral water contains dissolved minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, sulfate and chloride. In the US, water sold as mineral water must contain at least 250 mg per liter of total dissolved solids. The exact mix varies by source, so the label's analysis is the only reliable guide.
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In this article
What minerals are in mineral water?
Mineral water picks up minerals as it passes through rock underground. The main dissolved ingredients are:
- Calcium and magnesium, which together make water “hard”.
- Sodium and potassium.
- Bicarbonate and carbonate.
- Sulfate, chloride, and sometimes nitrate or silica.
- Trace elements such as iron or manganese in some waters.
Every spring is different, which is why two bottles of mineral water can taste quite unlike each other.
What is TDS?
TDS means total dissolved solids: the combined weight of everything dissolved in the water, reported in milligrams per liter (mg/L). Gases and sediment do not count. A fine-water guide groups TDS roughly as follows.
| Level | TDS (mg/L) |
|---|---|
| Super low | Under 50 |
| Low | 50 to 250 |
| Medium | 250 to 800 |
| High | 800 to 1,500 |
| Very high | Over 1,500 |
The same guide says most bottled waters fall between 50 and 800 mg/L, and that in the US mineral water must contain at least 250 mg/L TDS.
How do minerals change the taste?
TDS is the biggest factor in taste. Low-TDS water tastes clean and neutral; high-TDS water has more distinct, sometimes salty or bitter character. TDS does not tell you which minerals are present, so a high number could be mostly calcium, sodium or sulfate.
How to read the label
- Look for the mineral analysis, listed in mg/L.
- Check sodium if you watch your salt intake.
- Check calcium and magnesium if you want a harder or softer water for taste.
- Compare against tap water; your water supplier publishes a report.
Common mistakes
- Assuming mineral water is healthier than tap water; mineral levels differ, and any health benefit depends on the amount, not the label.
- Choosing by TDS alone without checking sodium.
This is general information, not medical advice. If you follow a low-sodium diet, ask your doctor which waters suit you.
People also ask
What makes water mineral water?
In the US it must contain at least 250 mg/L of total dissolved solids, from natural underground sources. Rules differ in other countries.
Which minerals are in most mineral waters?
Calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, sulfate and chloride, in amounts that vary by brand.
Does higher TDS mean better water?
No. It only means more dissolved solids and a stronger taste. It does not say which minerals they are.
Sources
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