Rating of mineral water without gas. What is the best quality water?

Updated: 06/10/2019 04:15:48 PM

Expert: Elizaveta Rabinovich


*Overview of the best in the opinion of the editors of the site. About selection criteria. This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

Mineral waters are quite popular in our country. They speed up metabolic processes, remove metabolic products and improve digestion. Our experts have selected 12 of the best mineral waters that are suitable for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes. Let's find out what their pros and cons are.

How to choose mineral water

It is mandatory to indicate the class of water on the bottle. You need to pay attention to it:

Sulfate. Useful in diseases of the bile ducts and liver. Such a product is suitable as a prophylactic in case of congestion. Water stimulates intestinal peristalsis, allows you to reduce weight, improve the functioning of internal organs. Sulphate water is prohibited for children, pregnant women and diabetics.

Hydrocarbonate. This water reduces the acidity in the stomach and eliminates heartburn. Useful for infections. It is contraindicated in gastritis.

Chloride. Water is recommended for problems with blood vessels and the heart, bones, and nervous system. It is not suitable in case of inflammation, pathologies of the kidneys and urea. It is not recommended to drink chloride mineral water for pregnant girls and allergy sufferers.

Magnesium. Fights constipation, insomnia, gout. The product is taken during stress, menstruation, diet, to improve digestion. Contraindications - indigestion.

calcium. Replenishes the deficiency of minerals in the body. Useful for children and girls in position. Water has no contraindications. The main thing is not to consume more than 150 ml per day.

The label of a quality product displays the following information:

  1. Name;
  2. manufacturer's contacts;
  3. chemical formula;
  4. degree and method of mineralization;
  5. source name;
  6. shelf life.

It is necessary to give preference to water in glass bottles, not plastic, take into account all contraindications and doctor's recommendations. It is important to pay attention to organoleptic indicators - color, smell, taste, transparency.

To choose the most useful product at an affordable price, you should refer to the rating of the best products. It is compiled on the basis of consumer reviews and expert opinions.

Rating of the best types of mineral water

The best table mineral water

In the first nomination, waters suitable for frequent use are indicated.

Mineral water "Legend of the Arkhyz Mountains", without gases

The winner of various national ratings is natural water, corresponding to all microbiological and physico-chemical parameters. This is an absolutely safe liquid that has a reliable label. It is suitable for daily consumption and has high organoleptic qualities.

The composition does not include fluorine, the magnesium content is minimal. The product is extracted from a well in the village of Nizhny Arkhyz. The manufacturer has long established itself as a conscientious supplier of healthy table water. For a bottle of 1.5 liters you have to pay 35-45 rubles.

Advantages

  • absolute security;
  • an excellent option for drinking water for daily use;
  • pleasant taste;
  • availability in stores;
  • reasonable price;
  • compliance with quality standards;
  • good reputation of the manufacturer.

Flaws

  • little magnesium in the composition.

Mineral water "Senezhskaya", non-carbonated

Water "Senezhskaya" is produced in accordance with the requirements of GOST. Independent examinations show that it satisfies all the conditions of the ECT and SanPiN. Appearance, color, taste and transparency cause no complaints. The amount of nitrites and nitrates is normal. The fluorine index is within the allowable value. Contains calcium and magnesium.

Buyers note the mild taste of mineral water and say that they have been drinking Senezhskaya water with the whole family for many years. The price for 0.33 liters is from 13 rubles.

Advantages

  • useful composition;
  • soft taste;
  • compliance with GOST;
  • correct information on the label;
  • affordable price;
  • safety.

Flaws

  • high concentration of fluorine.

Mineral table water "Chernogolovskaya", without gases

The advertised water "Chernogolovskaya" is produced in the Noginsk region in the north-east of the Moscow region. Laboratory tests have shown that it meets the quality and safety requirements. It has no microbes. It does not need to be boiled to drink.

Water has optimal indicators of alkalinity and hardness. The product has a lot of magnesium and calcium. It does not contain fluorine, but this is not a violation. I am pleased with the budget price of the product, acceptable taste and availability in almost all stores. The price for 0.33 liters is from 19 rubles.

Advantages

  • complies with security settings;
  • affordable;
  • contains calcium and magnesium.

Flaws

  • peculiar taste;
  • contains no fluorine.

Mineral table water Vittel, non-carbonated

Next in the ranking is mineral water from a French brand that meets all safety requirements for hygiene standards. The composition does not contain harmful components, toxins or nitrites. 1.5 liters of liquid provides 15% of the daily calcium requirement.

To many, the price of mineral water seems too high. But buyers like the pleasant taste. The main thing is to purchase an original product, not a fake. The cost of 1 liter is from 89 rubles.

Advantages

  • natural composition;
  • safe;
  • promotes weight loss;
  • good taste.

Flaws

  • little fluorine.

Mineral table water RusseQuelle, without gases

RusseQuelle spring water is produced in the Vladimir region. It meets all quality requirements and is safe for regular use. There are no dangerous microorganisms, harmful or toxic elements in the formula. The liquid contains the optimal amount of calcium, magnesium and potassium. There is almost no fluorine in it.

Buyers call mineral water "live". It perfectly quenches thirst. A stylish and beautiful bottle pleases the eye. For high quality, pleasant taste and presentable capacity, you need to pay a considerable amount. The price for half a liter is 80 rubles.

Advantages

  • very tasty;
  • well satisfies the feeling of thirst;
  • ideal composition;
  • presentable appearance bottles.

Flaws

  • high cost;
  • no fluoride.

The best healing mineral water

Therapeutic mineral water is prescribed by a doctor for specific pathologies.

Mineral water from Slovenia is produced according to ancient traditions and eliminates the negative impact of external factors. The product is considered unique due to its special blend of minerals. Donat Mg starts the digestive system, normalizes the functioning of the kidneys, stomach and liver. After use, heartburn disappears, insomnia disappears. The water contains magnesium, which reduces fatigue and regulates electrolyte balance.

To many consumers, the price seems high. Customers say that warm water is not tasty. On sale there is a liter plastic bottle. Its price is 155 rubles.

Advantages

  • tangible effect;
  • relief of the general condition of the gastrointestinal tract;
  • elimination of heartburn;
  • increases appetite;
  • delicious when cold.

Flaws

  • overcharge.

Therapeutic mineral water Planinka "Prolom voda"

Next in the ranking is water of volcanic origin, which is produced in Serbia. The product is characterized by low mineralization and high pH. Thus, the mineral water has an alkaline reaction. It supports kidney health, prevents the formation of stones and is the prevention of urinary tract infections.

Customers choose water for its good taste and pleasant feeling of lightness after drinking. The liquid adds energy due to the presence of sodium, magnesium, calcium and potassium compounds in the composition. The goods are sold via the Internet and in specialized markets. The price for 6 bottles of 1.5 liters is 1000 rubles.

Advantages

  • perfectly relieve thirst;
  • tasty and soft;
  • acceptable concentration of minerals in the formula;
  • recovery of the urinary organs.

Flaws

  • not everyone can afford;
  • difficult to find.

Mineral water from the Italian brand is famous for its healing qualities and quick therapeutic effect. The chemical composition of water includes magnesium, calcium, chloride, silicon. This is a tasty and clean product that is chosen by people suffering from pathologies of the genitourinary organs.

Buyers note that the liquid perfectly removes sand and stones, normalizes the work of the chair. Many doctors recommend this product as a prevention of kidney and urinary diseases. It is permissible to drink up to 2 liters of water per day. You can't find the product in regular stores. For 6 glass bottles of 1 liter each, you will have to pay about 1380 rubles.

Advantages

  • very tasty;
  • rich composition;
  • good healing effect;
  • recommended by doctors;
  • produced in glass.

Flaws

  • expensive for frequent use;
  • sold only online.

The best medicinal table mineral water

Unlike other participants in the rating, Essentuki mineral water is saturated with carbon dioxide. Doctors vying advise drinking mineral water for preventive purposes, so buyers choose this product because of its availability and reasonable price. Judging by the reviews, water instantly relieves heaviness in the stomach, eliminates heartburn and nausea. It is useful to drink it 30 minutes before a meal and half an hour after a meal.

Despite the many advantages, we must remember that it is impossible to drink Essentuki during an exacerbation of the disease. Independent examinations show that the composition of the liquid contains much more mineral salts than stated. But it does not contain microorganisms and bacteria. Some customers did not like the brackish water "with a touch of bleach." The price for 12 bottles of 0.5 liters is 360 rubles.

Next in the ranking is magnesium-calcium water produced in accordance with GOST production standards. For many years it has been bottled in the North Caucasus. The product has natural gassing and is useful for violations of the digestive tract. Mineral water "Narzan" is drunk with ulcers, pathologies of the liver and pancreas.

Buyers note the pleasant taste of water and recommend it for purchase. With each purchase, you must carefully consider the bottle and signs that belong to the original. A 0.5 liter bottle costs 26-35 rubles.

Advantages

  • pleasant taste;
  • optimal composition;
  • acceptable price;
  • removes toxins;
  • magnesium source.

Flaws

  • many fakes on sale;
  • presence of contraindications.

Medical table water "Novoterskaya healing", carbonated

The rating is completed by water from Kavminvody CJSC. This is a modern European-class organization. Its specialists are working to bring the mineral water to use in the form in which it was mined. More than 85% of buyers recommend this product. It is chosen for safety, compliance with GOST requirements and reliable marking.

It is advised to use the liquid only after a medical consultation, since mineralization of more than 4 g per liter is not suitable for regular intake. Judging by the reviews, the water is highly carbonated and has a wonderful fresh taste. It helps a lot with heartburn. The ratio of price and quality is optimal. Mineral water costs from 36 rubles (1.5 l).

Advantages

  • price equals quality;
  • excellent taste;
  • saves from heartburn.

Flaws

  • strong gas;
  • not for every day.

Attention! This rating is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

More and more we buy water for our homes. But do we know how to choose it correctly? We all know how to choose products in the store, such as vegetables and meat. It turns out that water has its own quality. Water can even deteriorate like any product: if you store it in the light, for example. The smaller the volume of the water bottle, the longer the water is stored: 6 months for 19.8 l bottles, 1 year for 6 l and 1.5 l bottles.

Preservatives (silver, iodine, carbon dioxide) have been added to some waters, just like foods. Therefore, they are stored longer.

Bottled water comes in several varieties: natural mineral, artificial mineral, fresh drinking natural and artificially created.

Any water can be natural or artificial water: this should become clear when pointing to the source of water. On the label with natural water, the number of the well from which water is extracted is indicated, and on the label of "artificial" waters, as a rule, there is no such information.

About artificial and natural water argue for a long time. Like in artificial water, you can better control the composition, and natural water is strong in its natural properties. But we think the truth is somewhere in the middle. Of course, natural water is better. However, some missing mineral, fluorine or iodine, can also be added to it, since macro and microelements are better absorbed from water than from food.

natural mineral water extracted from artesian wells, mineral springs. Mineral water is drunk in certain doses for treatment. link

Artificial mineral water obtained by adding mineral salts, micro and macro elements. The composition and concentration per 1 liter of these substances must be indicated on the label.

Water quality depends on:

1. From a water source: surface or underground.

2. From the chemical composition

3. From the container in which the water is located and from the cleanliness of the cooler

I. Water source: underground or surface.

An underground source includes natural wells, that is, artesian and spring (or spring waters, since spring water breaks up in the form of a key).

To the surface - river, lake and glacial waters. Such water is considered more aggressive for the human body, as they are softer (less potassium and magnesium salts).

Artesian wells from which water can be extracted for drinking purposes must be officially registered in State Water Registry textual.ru/gvr. However, unfortunately, not all drinking sources are registered there. Every organization has an Account Card of the borehole from which water is extracted. The card is issued by the Russian Federal Geological Fund (Rosgeolfond).

According to Rospotrebnadzor, there are no deep springs in Moscow and you can’t drink from them.

Information on water sources also includes information on aquifer. Water in different aquifers can be softer or harder, as well as with a reduced or optimal content of fluorine and some other chemical elements. It is especially important to know this for people with certain diseases, for example, diseases of the liver, kidneys, gallbladder, blood vessels.

An important factor for the aquifer, and accordingly, the water source has ecological well-being of the region. Thus, the aquifer Podolsko-Myachkovsky in such districts of the Moscow region as Volokolamsky, Shakhovskoy, Istra, Ruzsky, Mozhaysky, Odintsovsky, Naro-Fominsky, Podolsky, Domodedovsky, Voskresensky, Kolomensky, Chekhovsky is characterized by a constant high content of fluorine and iron. Fluoride can even cause genetic changes.

II. By chemical composition waters are categorized.

For mineral waters - purpose of water for mineral /b>dining room, medical, medical-dining room according to GOST R 54316-2011.

The quality of water is better, the closer it is in composition to the nursery.

Water the highest category- can also be natural or artificially created by man. But this is already physiologically high-grade water, which is useful for the body. The composition of the main components: total mineralization 200-500 mg/l, potassium 2-20 mg/l, calcium 25-80 mg/l, magnesium 5-50 mg/l, bicarbonates 30-400 mg/l, iron 0.3 mg/l l, hardness 1.5-7 mg-eq/l, alkalinity 0.5-6.5 mg-eq/l, fluorides 0.6-1.2 mg/l, iodine 0.04-0.06 mg/l l, silver 0.0025 mg/l, carbon dioxide 0.2%, chlorides 150 mg/l, sulfates 150 mg/l.

baby water as a kind of higher - the most useful water. It is not only useful for children, but also for everyone who leads a healthy lifestyle, and especially for people at risk - pregnant women, the elderly, people with any diseases. The composition of the main components: total mineralization 200-500 mg/l, potassium 2-10 mg/l, calcium 25-60 mg/l, magnesium 5-35 mg/l, bicarbonates 30-300 mg/l, iron 0.3 mg/l l, hardness 1.5-6 mg-eq/l, alkalinity 0.5-5 mg-eq/l, fluorides 0.6-0.7 mg/l, iodine 0.04-0.06 mg/l, silver Not allowed! , carbon dioxide Not allowed! , chlorides 150mg/l, sulfates 150mg/l. In addition, it should not contain any harmful substances.

b) The number of individual components is very important!

Drinking fresh water of the highest category or for children already contains all the necessary components in the right amount. But sometimes, if some element is not enough, then selenium, iodine, fluorine can be added to the water.

Allergic people should pay attention to whether they are allergic to specific components. And in what quantity they are added to the water.

Both a deficiency and an excess of an element in water can adversely affect the body. With an excess of calcium in the body, there is a violation of the state of water-salt metabolism, early calcification of bones in children, slowing down the growth of the skeleton, a lack of magnesium in the body can lead to extreme cases to sudden death of infants, as well as tachycardia and fibrillation of the heart muscle. With an excess - the possibility of developing syndromes of respiratory paralysis and heart block, irritation of the gastrointestinal tract. With increased alkalinity, there was a violation of the acid-base balance in the body, a decrease in the acidity of gastric juice. Therefore, it is very important that it is the children who drink the most harmonious water for their body. You can read more about this in SanPin.

In mineral water with a fluoride content of more than 1 mg / dm3, the manufacturer must indicate in the labeling - "Contains fluorides"; with fluoride content more than 2.0 mg/dm- must indicate on the label: "High fluoride content: not suitable for regular consumption by children under seven years of age".

For mineral waters indicate the purpose (dining room, medical table, medicinal) and the group of water. Mineral waters are divided into types, depending on the predominant element: ferruginous, siliceous, iodine, etc.

c) It is desirable that in any water there should be as little as possible harmful substances (xenobiotics) such as mercury, cadmium, nitrates, selenium and others. Permissible levels can be viewed for mineral waters in GOST R 54316-2011 table 4 and for fresh waters in SanPiN 2.1.4.1116-02 in table 2. These documents are freely available on the Internet.

d) Not allowed in baby water at all preservatives (silver, carbon dioxide). The only natural preservative is iodine (iodide ion). In water of the highest category of silver, there should be no more than 0.0025 mg / l. Iodide ions - no more than 0.04-0.06 mg / l. Carbon dioxide (=carbon dioxide=carbonation) not more than 0.2%. Children under the age of 7 should not drink carbon dioxide water at all..

Mineral waters often contain carbon dioxide, so people with certain diseases should not drink mineral waters. Accordingly, it is not desirable for children.

If carbon dioxide is added to fresh water, then the type of water becomes carbonated and only 1 category. Carbonated can taste better, however, if you drink a lot of it, you can get a headache. The properties of such water deteriorate significantly.

Mineral water is sometimes treated with carbon dioxide from microbes and the water lasts longer.

e) Optimal rigidity drinking water has no more than 6 mg-eq / l. Hardness is the presence of calcium and magnesium salts in water, which usually affect appliances in the home.

III. Ideal container for any water glass. In glass, water can be stored much longer than 24 months, while in plastic bottles 3-18 months (0.33-5l bottles - about a year, from 9 to 19.8l only 3-6 months).

After glass, the most reliable and tested material is polycarbonate(in the triangle on the bottom, the number "7"). On 19 liter bottles of drinking water, it is forbidden by law to write on the label - "baby water". If a family buys such a bottle for everyone, then a child can drink this water from birth. It's all about the shelf life of an open bottle.

It is equally important to clean the cooler!! once every 6 months. Better once every 3 months. Take off Labels from bottles. Take the bottle with clean hands. Otherwise, the water blooms, many bacteria multiply, labels clog the tap. Such dirty water from the cooler brings great harm to health!

Conclusion: To buy quality water:

I. Better choose underground spring water (artesian, spring (spring) waters), it is desirable that it be registered in the State Water Register textual.ru/gvr.

View: a) the depth of the well (preferably at least 100 meters).

b) aquifer c) ecological well-being of the region

For mineral: dining room, medical-dining room, medical. GOST R 54316-2011.

The highest quality water for children! Not 1 category and not a dining room.

Important: a) know the amount of individual components (such as magnesium, calcium, potassium, etc. Be sure to know the total mineralization)

b) the number of harmful substances within the MPC (maximum permissible concentrations)

c) the presence of preservatives in water (carbon dioxide, silver, iodine). Carbonated water is less healthy due to carbon dioxide.

The composition of the water in the bottle is reflected in label. A conscientious manufacturer will definitely indicate both the category and number of the well, which will confirm to the buyer that the water is natural. However, it is not scary if iodine is artificially added within the normal range.

III. Correct design labels GOST R 52109-2003, 51074-2003, 54316-2011: name of water, category or purpose, source of water intake!!!, type, composition, production date, storage conditions, expiration date, TU where water is spilled!!!

Additional information such as source of water intake and place water spill can add information about water quality. Our guests refer to this only as desirable information. For example, foreign campaigns, if they take water from the water supply, then they indicate so on the label - raw water - tap water.

The spill site may not be at the place of production, which means that the water may lose its quality, since the water must be delivered to the bottling point.

The label must also indicate THAT, i.e. technical specifications. TU 9185 - mineral water, TU 0131 - drinking water for every day. BUT number ISO 9001, 9002(system of international standards) confirms the quality system of production, but not the product itself.

IV. When choosing a supplier, pay attention to:

-evidence on the water

Company registration in register of Rospotrebnadzor fp.crc.ru,

Full chemical composition water (presence of at least 93 indicators in analyzes).

Openness of the main information you need. The presence of dialogue, not belief that we are better.

- Water price varies greatly from supplier to supplier. Water can cost more if brought from afar. Or brand awareness. It must be remembered that cheap water cannot be of high quality. However, now such a trend is more often observed - new, but small companies on the market with high-quality water, in the struggle for a client, often offer a quality product at a slightly lower price. Fortunately, the choice on the Moscow market is quite large and there are plenty to choose from. We hope we helped you make your choice!

v. Water quality also depends on bottle quality in which water is stored. The best material is polycarbonate (number 7 in a triangle at the bottom of the bottle). In bottles of other materials, water absorbs plastic elements.

Cooler cleanliness is also very important! Do not ignore the simple rules of hygiene.

And in a timely manner, do sanitization at least once every 6 months, so as not to worsen your health!

Source of drinking water supply- a water body (or part thereof), which contains water that meets the established hygienic standards for drinking water supply sources, and is used or can be used to draw water into drinking water supply systems.

Water is considered bottled if it matches

state standards, hygienic requirements for drinking water, placed in a hygienic container and sold for human consumption. However, it should not contain sweeteners, chlorine, flavorings. It is allowed to add flavors, extracts and essences of natural origin to bottled water, which improve its quality, not exceeding one weight percent.

Drinking water bottle reusable - a container made of polycarbonate, related to consumer reusable packaging, having a hygienic certificate, subject to sanitary processing in production conditions.

Russian quality system (Roskachestvo) conducted a study of another group of products and made a rating of bottled water. For this, the organization's specialists purchased about 60 samples still water various trademarks of Russian and foreign production (Armenia, Georgia, Italy, Norway, Finland, France). At the same time, three types of water took part in the study - the first category, the highest category and mineral. As a result, it turned out that 15.5% / 9 samples can receive the Outstanding Quality Mark, 63.8% / 37 samples can simply be called a quality product, and 20.7% / 12 samples fall short of this title.

Rating bottled water, the most significant violations of experts Roskachestvo found in mineral water brands Arkhyz, Elbrus and Biovita. In the studied samples, there were too many microorganisms, which theoretically can have a negative effect on the human body. At the same time, the researchers noted that this problem may be caused by violations of the rules of transportation or storage conditions.

As for the remaining nine copies included in the rating of bottled water, the violations in them mainly concerned the discrepancy between the labeling and the actual composition. And most of all, water producers of the highest category distinguished themselves here, to which higher requirements for content are applied. Among them was the water of the Italian brand norda, Armenian Aparan and Russian Dixie, Glavvoda, Alive key, BabyIdeal, Courtois, Demidovskaya Suite. Also in this list there is one brand that produces water of the first category - Uleimskaya.

The best specimens included in the rating of bottled water were the French mineral Evian and Russian aquanics, water of the highest category Volzhanka, Simple good and Arctic, as well as representatives of the first category Bon Aqua, Lipetsk pump room, Novoterskaya and O! Our a family. All these brands are representatives Roskachestvo characterized as having a safe chemical composition, not contaminated or chlorinated, microbiologically safe and rich in macro / micro elements, having normal hardness and mineralization level.

By the way, bottled water rating and research Roskachestvo debunked the consumer myth about the frequent presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, nitrites and toxic elements in water - they were not found in any sample.

And finally, important information - New York University conducted a study and found out that. Roskachestvo apparently doesn't know it yet.

As part of the rolling study of Roskachestvo, 58 samples of drinking water without gas, the most popular on the Russian market, were studied. Laboratory tests were carried out on 98 quality and safety indicators. The cost of products at the time of purchase ranged from 20 to 260 rubles. The vast majority of goods were manufactured in Russia, while the products of Armenia, Georgia, Italy, Norway, Finland, and France were presented in the rolling study. According to the results of laboratory tests, the goods of only nine brands confirmed their high quality, as they met not only the requirements of the current quality and safety standards, but also the requirements of the leading Roskachestvo standard. We are talking about water under the trademarks "Volzhanka", "Lipetsk byuvet", "Novoterskaya", "Oh! Our Family”, “Simple Kindness”, ARCTIC, AQUANICA (5 liters), Bon Aqua and EVIAN. All these products, with the exception of water under the EVIAN trademark, are produced in Russia, and therefore a proposal was made to producers of high-quality water to undergo a voluntary certification procedure, after which a decision will be made to award the goods with the Russian Quality Mark. Goods under the EVIAN trademark will not be able to qualify for the Russian Quality Mark due to their foreign origin. The study showed that, in general, most of the tested products can be considered high-quality and safe, however, laboratory tests also revealed 12 products with violations.

RUSSIAN QUALITY SYSTEM STANDARD

The standard of the Russian Quality System has established for drinking water without gas, applying for the Russian Quality Mark, tougher (leading) requirements for the content of harmful and potentially hazardous chemicals, pesticides and some insecticides.

Tougher requirements were also introduced for the smell of water, the phenolic index of its composition and the hydrogen index. In general, packaged drinking water, claiming the right to be labeled with the Russian Quality Mark, must meet the requirements of physiological usefulness for water of the highest category (with the exception of certain indicators). The required level of product localization for awarding it with the Russian Quality Mark is at least 98% of the cost of goods.

What kind of water is there?

In the mind of the consumer, packaged water is divided into two categories: sparkling water and non-carbonated water. Roskachestvo chose water without gas as the subject of its first study of water. It contains water of three different classes: drinking water of the first category, drinking water of the highest category and mineral drinking watera. Consumers are advised to pay special attention to the category of water indicated on the marking (label). The fact is that water, depending on the category, varies greatly in its properties and origin. So:

Drinking water of the first category- this is source water without treatment or after water treatment, which can be obtained from various sources (for example, from a banal water supply system). After filtration, useful elements are added to the water. The main mandatory requirement for a product in this category is its complete safety for human health.

Drinking water of the highest category- water, which, as a rule, is extracted from well-protected water sources (for example, from artesian wells, springs). Products of the highest category, in contrast to the "first-class", in addition to safety, must carry mandatory benefits for the consumer. The requirements for such water are much stricter than for the goods of the first category. Moreover, for water of the highest category, additional requirements are established for its physiological usefulness, for the content of biologically necessary macro- and microelements, for which not only the maximum maximum permissible concentrations are established, but also the minimum and optimal norms of physiological usefulness for a person.

Mineral table drinking water- this is water obtained from a well, which has a registered and confirmed initial physico-chemical and microbial composition of substances. That is, useful (and sometimes not the most useful) elements are already incorporated into it by nature. The requirements for mineral water, compared to drinking water, are much softer, since the mineral composition of such water is difficult to predict (it depends on the well), which means that it is difficult to standardize.

By the way, another category of mineral water is medicinal water(for example, these are goods under the trademarks "Essentuki", "Narzan", etc.). This product is not presented in this rolling study of Roskachestvo, since it is a specific product. Such water is not suitable for regular consumption and should ideally be prescribed by doctors when patients have certain health problems.

Finally, as follows from the above, drinking water can also be classified by origin: it can be created, as they say, by nature itself (for example, extracted from a well) or artificially created by man (for example, taken from a water supply system, purified and subjected to “refining”) . However, as the study showed, the origin of drinking water will not be a determining criterion for its quality and composition.

Ideal environment. All about microbiological safety

It is known that in the case of water safety is a doubly important issue. First, a person regularly drinks water. Secondly, many consumers have long formed their preferences and use the products of certain manufacturers, perhaps not realizing the health consequences.

One of the key indicators of water safety is the so-called TMC (total microbial count). It is almost identical to the QMAFAnM indicator, with which some manufacturers of goods on the market have serious problems. Excesses in this indicator can indirectly indicate the presence of pathogenic bacteria or viruses in the water, as well as a violation of the operating modes of water treatment and bottling systems.

As laboratory tests have shown, in water that has undergone thorough industrial purification, that is, drinking water of the first and highest category, no problems have been identified in terms of general microbiological contamination.

However, three samples of mineral table drinking water turned out to be very “alive”: a relatively large amount of bacteria was found in their composition. As mentioned above, these could be pathogenic bacteria or viruses. They can have a negative impact on the human body, in particular on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The severity of the diseases caused depends on the variety of bacteria and on the toxicity of the poisons they secrete. Mandatory safety requirements in this part were violated by manufacturers of goods under the trademarks Arkhyz, Elbrus, Biovita. However, it is worth mentioning that the presence of an increased number of microbes in the water is not always the fault of the manufacturer. Perhaps the rules for transporting the goods or the conditions for its storage were violated.

The identified inconsistencies were recorded only in mineral water, since it is not subjected to additional processing, but is extracted from natural sources.

Hard liquid. About the hardness of drinking water

Water hardness is one of the defining characteristics of this product category. Hard water, even when used externally, dries the skin, and when ingested, it is at least bitter. This characteristic is closely related to the presence of calcium and magnesium salts in the liquid in the water, that is, the more of them, the higher its hardness. Quite often, ordinary tap water has a high coefficient of hardness. By the way, the hardness of water is easy to determine in domestic conditions: a white precipitate that remains on the dishes after boiling will tell about this.

However, the conclusions as a result of this laboratory test are encouraging: frankly hard, which means bitter water, was not found in the study. On the contrary, 17 samples of water of the first category and four samples of mineral water were noted as rather soft.

The same could be said about the water of the highest category Nordica, but for her "softness" was more critical. The fact is that Russian requirements for water of the highest category also set a lower threshold for values ​​​​for the hardness parameter. Nordica water turned out to be too soft for its category, which means that it cannot be fully called “highest category drinking water”, which automatically indicates a violation of consumer rights to reliable labeling.

In the dry residue from water: about the total mineralization

Theoretically, any water, except distilled, can be called mineral in one sense or another. In its pure form, H 2 O does not occur in nature, and for the human body, such water is more harmful than beneficial. The fact is that clean, not saturated with salts water will “pull” and remove salts from the body. That is, prolonged use of such water will definitely lead to serious diseases. Therefore, any water sold in stores contains dozens of different inorganic compounds.

In order to understand how much various mineral and organic substances are contained in the water, in laboratory conditions, the indicators of the total mineralization of the dry residue, that is, the actual mass of substances after water evaporation, are determined, and the total mineralization of drinking water is also calculated from the anion and cation content.

According to the results of laboratory tests, a relatively low level of total mineralization was recorded in 13 samples of drinking water of the first category. However, this water, we recall, does not pretend to be useful, it is "enough" for it to be safe.

Another thing is that in the water declared as “drinking water of the highest category” under the brand name Norda (Italy), there were only 77 mg/l of minerals, while the median indicators of other water in the corresponding category were 200–300 mg/l. That is, in fact, this water cannot be considered a product of the highest category, which is a violation of the rights of consumers to reliable labeling.

As for mineral table drinking water, according to the results of the study, in six of its samples the content of total mineralization of mineral salts is not optimal (in terms of the Unified Sanitary-Epidemiological and Hygienic Requirements for Goods), that is, it does not satisfy the physiological needs of a person (respectively, in four of them less, two more). This is not a violation, however, these products are deprived of the opportunity to qualify for the Russian Quality Mark.

How can I help you. All about anions and cations

Any drinking water, depending on the brand, water source, method of purification and enrichment with microelements, geography and even the depth of the well, is a unique cocktail of substances called anions and cations (positive and negatively charged ions). So, for example, cations include potassium, magnesium, iron, and anions - sulfates, fluorine and iodine. The content of these substances is often indicated by the product label, which indicates their percentage. It is difficult for an unprepared person to read it, so we suggest you use this short note, where all the pros and cons of the anions and cations contained in the water are described.

Separately, in this part of the study, it is worth dwelling on the problem of the content of calcium and magnesium in water. Firstly, it is believed that these elements affect the correct functioning of the musculoskeletal system and the cardiovascular system. Secondly, the main discrepancy with the values ​​declared on the label was found precisely in terms of calcium and magnesium. For example, a relatively low content of magnesium was found in six samples of drinking water of the first category and in six samples of mineral table drinking water. The situation was better with the calcium content. But all this does not apply to water of the highest category, where a lack of magnesium was noted in three products, calcium - in one. Due to more stringent requirements for drinking water of the highest category, manufacturers of goods under the trademarks "Billa", "Glavvoda", "D" ("Dixie") and "Norda" violated the rights of consumers to reliable labeling of goods.

A similar problem was revealed in drinking water of the highest category under the brand name Courtois - it was found to contain much less iodine than the manufacturer promised.

Also, four samples of drinking water of the highest category contained less fluoride than indicated on the label. And this element has a positive effect on the health of teeth and bone tissue.

The form influences the content. About the container into which water is poured

Any water, even if it is as safe, of high quality and useful as possible, can always be easily spoiled in production. And this can be done with the help of dubious containers into which liquid is poured. It is believed that glass is the safest container for a person - water simply at the chemical level cannot enter into any reaction with it. This cannot be said about plastic - it, especially when heated, can potentially release harmful substances into the water. In the course of laboratory tests, traces of such a "migration" of substances were not recorded. In terms of safety, water in plastic containers did not differ on average from water in glass bottles. However, glass is the choice for those who want maximum guarantees for the safety of their drinking water.

Reference:

Pay attention to the label of drinking water. Often there is a note on it: "store in places protected from light." Water really needs to be kept away from light, as light causes water to bloom. Of course, water in which algae and other life forms develop their vital activity will be considered polluted.

A substance without taste, without color, without smell: about the aesthetic properties of water

Water is perhaps the most organoleptically neutral commodity imaginable. It will be difficult for an ordinary consumer to single out and somehow describe the taste, color, smell of water. At the same time, a person usually prefers a certain brand of water, and a third-party product can irritate both the taste buds and their owner.

In general, various mineral salts and their percentages can affect the taste of water, the characteristics of a particular well can affect the smell, the color will vary depending on the presence of various mechanical impurities or minerals in the composition. It is important to note that under laboratory conditions, the assessment of organoleptic properties is carried out under two temperature conditions, as required by the leading Roskachestvo standard. First, the water is heated to 20, and then to 60 degrees Celsius.

Almost all the water presented in the study under these conditions proved to be a high-quality product, at least in terms of aesthetic properties. The experts were embarrassed by the color (color) of only one sample - drinking water of the first category "Uleimskaya". It differed significantly from the values ​​of mandatory requirements, which, however, does not indicate the danger of such water. From a microbiological point of view, the sample is completely safe. It is possible that the color deviation could be affected by the characteristics of the container or the conditions of water storage.