Bottled water

Bottled water is drinking water packaged in bottles for sale or personal use. It may come from springs, municipal supplies, or other sources and can be treated or left untreated.

Emergency water supply: Water stored or distributed to meet drinking and sanitation needs during disasters or service interruptions. Sealed bottles provide a portable reserve when taps or local water systems fail.
Water purification: The removal or inactivation of unwanted substances and organisms in water. Bottlers may purify source water before packaging it.
Tap water: Water supplied through pipes to buildings for drinking and other uses. It is the main alternative to buying water in bottles.
Plastic pollution: The accumulation of plastic materials in the environment, where they can harm ecosystems and wildlife. Discarded water bottles contribute to plastic litter and marine debris.
Mineral water: Water containing dissolved minerals, often marketed for its composition or natural source. Mineral spring water was an early commercial form of bottled water.
Water vending machine: A machine that dispenses water in exchange for payment or through a refill system. Vending stations offer an alternative to single-use bottled water.
Reverse osmosis: A membrane process that uses pressure to separate water from many dissolved substances. Some bottled-water producers use it to reduce dissolved minerals and contaminants.
Drinking water quality: The chemical, physical, and microbiological condition of water intended for human consumption. Both bottled and tap water are judged by safety and quality criteria.
Bottle deposit: A refundable fee added to beverage containers to encourage their return for recycling. Deposit systems can raise collection rates for water bottles.
Spa town: A settlement built around natural mineral springs or other therapeutic waters. Visitors to European spa towns helped create demand for bottled spring water.

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