Purified water is not simply a matter of taste or comfort. For many industrial and pharmaceutical applications, it is a strict necessity. In everyday life, it also raises important questions about quality, transparency and trust.
Thanks to technologies such as distillation, reverse osmosis and ion-exchange resins, water can now reach extremely high levels of purity. These processes remove bacteria, heavy metals and organic impurities, producing water that is technically very clean.
However, recent controversies in the bottled water industry have shown that purification is not just a technical issue, but also a regulatory and consumer trust issue. In particular, they highlight the strict rules that apply to natural mineral water, and why treatment methods matter.
Purified water and mineral water: what is the difference?
Not all drinking water is regulated in the same way. While purified water may undergo a wide range of treatment processes, natural mineral water and spring water are subject to much stricter rules.
Natural mineral water comes from protected underground sources and must retain a stable mineral composition. Because of this, disinfection methods that significantly alter its natural characteristics are not permitted. The same principle applies to spring water, which must also meet strict quality and purity criteria at the source.
Purified water, on the other hand, may be treated using techniques such as activated carbon filtration, ultraviolet light or reverse osmosis. These methods are commonly used to make water potable or to improve its quality, but they are not compatible with the legal definition of natural mineral water.
A bottled water controversy that raised wider questions
A recent bottled water controversy in Europe brought these distinctions into sharp focus. Investigations revealed that certain bottled waters marketed as “natural mineral water” had undergone purification treatments that are not permitted under existing regulations.
Health authorities and consumer protection bodies confirmed that while the water itself did not pose an immediate health risk, the issue lay in labelling and regulatory compliance. In other words, consumers were not being given a fully transparent picture of how the water had been treated.
This case was not limited to a single brand or facility. It exposed a broader tension within the bottled water industry between maintaining microbiological safety and preserving the legal and natural definition of mineral water.
As a precaution, several million bottles were withdrawn from sale, and additional monitoring measures were introduced. The episode highlighted how even well-established bottled water markets can face challenges when treatment methods and regulatory definitions collide.
Why regulation and oversight matter
In the UK, bottled water quality and labelling are overseen by regulatory bodies such as the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), alongside food safety and consumer protection authorities including the Food Standards Agency and Trading Standards.
These bodies ensure that bottled water sold in the UK complies with strict standards, including clear distinctions between natural mineral water, spring water and treated or purified water. Similar principles apply across Europe and internationally.
The aim of this regulatory framework is not only to protect public health, but also to ensure transparency. Consumers have the right to know where their water comes from and how it has been treated.
Is purified bottled water dangerous?
The use of purification techniques such as activated carbon filtration or ultraviolet treatment does not, in itself, make water unsafe. In many contexts, these methods are widely accepted and effective.
The core issue raised by recent cases is not safety, but classification and trust. When water is marketed as “natural mineral water”, consumers expect it to meet specific legal and natural criteria. If those criteria are not met, even safe water may be considered non-compliant.
This distinction can be confusing for consumers, particularly when bottled water is often perceived as a simple and reassuring choice.
Understanding the different types of drinking water
| Category | Type of water | Description |
| Purified water | Distilled water | Water stripped of minerals and contaminants through distillation. |
| Deionised water | Water with minerals removed using ion-exchange processes. | |
| Reverse osmosis water | Water filtered through a semi-permeable membrane to remove impurities and minerals. | |
| Natural water | Natural mineral water | Water from protected underground sources with a stable mineral composition. |
| Spring water | Water from underground sources, bottled at source, without fixed mineral content. | |
| Table water | Treated water from various sources, regulated differently from mineral and spring water. | |
| Conceptual | Virtual water | The amount of water used to produce a good or service (economic concept). |
How can consumers ensure good-quality drinking water?
In the UK, mains water is generally safe to drink. However, recent industry controversies have made some consumers more cautious about bottled water and more attentive to how water is treated and labelled.
One option is to focus on transparency and control at home. Household water filtration allows individuals to improve the quality of their drinking water without relying on bottled alternatives.
At Weeplow, we offer gravity-fed water filtration systems designed to reduce bacteria, chlorine, sediments, heavy metals and other contaminants, without chemical treatment. These systems operate without electricity and help preserve beneficial minerals naturally present in water.
- You are not affected by bottled water labelling or treatment controversies.
- You reduce plastic use and environmental pollution.
- You lower electricity consumption by using a non-electric filtration system.
By choosing a reliable filtration solution, households can take a more informed and sustainable approach to drinking water. Explore our collection to find a gravity-fed water filtration system suited to your needs.
