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Rating of drinking water in bottles. The results of a study of drinking water have been published. Advantages and disadvantages of bottled water

In Moscow and the Moscow region - one of the signs of the XXI century. Now it is ordered not only for offices, hotels, children's, medical, government or commercial institutions, but also for ordinary city apartments. People have realized that the liquid they drink cannot simply be poured from the tap. Even the most powerful filter will not make it more valuable, but will only clear it of harmful impurities.

Whatever product the consumer chooses, he makes his own water rating of 19 liters, but relies not on one characteristic, but on a combination of factors that are important for him, whether it is an ordinary delivery of water to Butovo at home or an order to the most prestigious office in Moscow. The leading factor among them, His Majesty - the price. According to statistics, this is the first thing that the majority of consumers look at.

Having understood the order of prices, they begin to analyze what can be obtained for the money invested. It is this analysis that allows you to derive the optimal ratio, that is, to get the maximum benefit without overpaying.

It is no longer hidden from anyone that the main overpayment today is for the brand, and not for the value of the product, and this has been clearly demonstrated by the latest studies of leading government agencies.

You can arbitrarily and carefully read the composition, study reviews, taste the water, but you will never get an accurate confirmation of the content of drinks from different manufacturers. Order personal research in laboratories to determine the rating of water for drinking? It's difficult and expensive.

Checking bottled water in 19-liter bottles is officially carried out annually by several state organizations - Rospotrebnadzor, Roskontrol and Roskachestvo. It is their testing and conclusions that the Russian consumer trusts.

Water in containers of 19 liters is delivered by manufacturing companies to the door of the customer. It is sold in large hyper- and supermarkets such as Auchan, Metro, Dixie, etc. It is available at gas stations, where motorists who go to suburban areas buy it.

An official check was carried out in 2017, determining the winners, and here are the results of the research for the past 2018. The results are officially published, so you won't have to look for them for a long time. The 2019 rating is determined.

The analysis of 2018 involved the most popular brands in Moscow and the Moscow region that produce and sell bottled water with a volume of 19 liters.

The testing laboratory center of the FBUZ "Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the City of Moscow" took almost 1727 samples of bottled water in a 19-liter container. Of these, 1273 were tested for microbiological indicators. 4.0% did not meet the requirements of regulatory documents. In the study of water, 323 samples were checked for physical and chemical parameters and a discrepancy was found in 5.2%.

For a number of violations of sanitary and epidemiological requirements for bottled water, a number of batches were withdrawn from sale. The administration of trade and manufacturing enterprises was held accountable. In particular, drinking water "SV" (LLC "Akvamir") was banned from sale and confiscated.

When checking the quality, a discrepancy with the water standards was revealed, which is used by Moscow-McDonald's, Perrier and Vittel. The consumer properties indicated on the label of Essentuki No. 17 carbonated, sold at Perekrestok, did not match the content.

The Moscow Department of Rospotrebnadzor continues to monitor the quality and conduct tests of bottled drinking water 19 liters, but advises consumers themselves not to lose vigilance. Recommendations include checking:

* labels and purchase of water from natural sources (springs, artesian wells);

* signs on the container for compliance of the material of the bottle with permits for use with food products (plastic from polyethylene terephthalate - PET is recognized as safe);

* correct storage of bottled water (in a cool and dark place);

* terms of storage;

* the presence of damage to the cork and the sealing protective film in order to avoid contamination by bacteria and germs.

Answering the question of consumers, which water to choose, Roskontrol conducted its own examination of 11 popular brands of water. Among them: Arkhyz, Holy Spring, Chernogolovskaya, Senezhskaya, Russequelle, D (Demidovskaya Lux, produced for the Dixy retail chain), Narzan, Borjomi (Borjomi) , "Santalovsky source" "Novoterskaya healing", "Essentuki No. 4" (produced by OOO "Caucasian health resort") and "Slavyanovskaya" (LLC "Slavyanovskaya").

Mineral water "Narzan", "Borjomi", "Essentuki" are popular, but many people forget that you can't drink it all the time, because this is not a drinking category, but a medicinal one. The analysis also revealed that "Borjomi" in chain stores in Moscow is the original! A similar situation was the water "Essentuki No. 4" and "Novoterskaya healing". Accordingly, in all these waters, the content of mineral salts does not at all correspond to the declared one.

Samples of "Narzan" and "Slavyanovskaya" turned out to be real, but they were found to exceed the permissible alpha-radioactivity. Obviously, their uncontrolled use will harm the body.

For every day, Roskontrol recommends using only drinking water, but even here half of the samples were blacklisted, for example, Arkhyz in a 19-liter bottle for coolers. In previous years, contamination was found in the water of the Holy Spring. The last check showed that the violations have been eliminated, that is, full compliance with the standards has been confirmed.

Water "Demidovskaya Lux" from the TS "Dixie" had harmful compounds (benzene, naphthalene, quinoline, etc.), which gave a strong chemical odor. Its presence should immediately stop the buyer. Most likely, the impurity was caused by low-quality packaging, so the proposal from Dixy was excluded from the rating of bottled water.

Good results in terms of the content of useful elements (calcium and magnesium) were shown by the water "Santalovsky source"

A total of 65 types of bottled water in 19-liter containers were analyzed, including "Santalovsky Spring", "Ulanskaya", "Arkhyz", "Holy Spring", "Karachay", "Senezhskaya", "Aleksinskaya", "Semiruchye", "Volzhanka", "Novoterskaya" and others.

An interesting fact that was noted by the researchers: bottles with different names turned out to contain the same water, that is, some brands that have passed certification are identical, but at the same time they are sold at different prices because of the brand.

* For example, water "Aquaflot", "United", "Azbuka vody", "Pavlovsky Springs", "Bourgeois", "AquaAreal", "Eneya", "Slavnitsa", and "AVK", from the capital, but not at all there where stated!

* Similarly, "Mountain Peak" and "Legend of the Mountains" are identical, which is sold at a 20% higher price,

* "Glavvoda 19 liters" is pure drinking water "Semerik", which is 15-20% cheaper than its brother brand.

But even this is not a sensation in comparison with another discovery: Nestle Pure Life, renamed Eden, is obtained from the central Moscow water supply system, followed by conditioning according to the salt composition. So think about what to choose!

There were no doubts and received positive evaluations of such products as:

- "Santalovsky source",

- "Senezhskaya"

- "Volzhanka"

- "Ulanskaya"

Are you still looking for cooler water? Before making a choice in a store or ordering water delivery based on your own parameters, pay attention to the research of such serious state institutions as Rospotrebnadzor, Roskontrol, Roskachestvo.



The best mineral water in Russia, the rating of which is presented below, has healing properties and is very beneficial for health. Mineralized drinks can be consumed daily to maintain good health and remove harmful substances from the body. But with the use of waters classified as medical-table, you need to be careful, since their irrational use can lead to the deposition of salts. That is why you should consult a specialist before taking them.

10 Volzhanka

Volzhanka opens the rating of the best Russian mineral waters. Refers to a number of sulphate-hydrocarbonate magnesium-calcium medicinal-table mineral waters with a high content of organic substances from the Undorovsky mineral spring, which is No. 1 in Russia. Bottling of Volzhanka takes place at the Undorovsky Mineral Water Plant. The total mineralization is 800-1200 mg/l. Low mineralization is a guarantee that salt deposits will not occur in the body. Volzhanka is enriched with more than twenty micro and macro components. It is able to eliminate inflammatory processes in the body, activates the process of removing small stones from the genitourinary system and biliary tract, and helps to restore metabolism. Volzhanka improves the functioning of the digestive system and intestinal motility. It also has a diuretic and choleretic effect. Truskavets water Naftusya is considered to be its analogue.

9 Springs of Russia

The springs of Russia are among the ten best mineral waters in Russia. It is bottled by the Wim-Bill-Dann food company in Esntuki. The springs of Russia are characterized by an extremely low content of minerals and salts, which allows the daily use of this water. The sources for its production are the Caucasian mineral waters. The production of this product complies with all Russian and European quality standards.

8 Novoterskaya

Novoterskaya refers to medicinal table waters, which have been on sale since 1955. Its extraction takes place in the Stavropol Territory from a hydrocarbonate-sulfate mineral spring located near the village of Novotersky. Its mineralization is approximately 4-5.3 grams per liter, which is a relatively low indicator. Novoterskaya contributes to the replenishment of mineral reserves in the body and helps to strengthen its protective functions. The drink is intended for both prophylactic and therapeutic purposes of such diseases as increased acidity of the stomach, gastritis, ulcers. It is able to reduce acidity and eliminate spasms.

7 Lysogorskaya

Lysogorskaya belongs to the mineral waters of the popular Russian enterprise Zheleznovodsk. This medicinal drink is often prescribed in the treatment of excess weight. In addition, it is taken for chronic pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, including constipation, chronic colitis, dysfunction of the large intestine, etc. During the period of treatment, the intake of other liquids, as well as table salt, is limited. Lysogorskaya helps to restore metabolism and improve intestinal motility. It also has a diuretic effect and removes all toxins from the body.

6 Lipetsk Pump Room

Lipetsky Buvet is one of the ten best mineral waters in Russia. It is extracted from several wells located in the city of Lipetsk. It is bottled in two versions, one of which is represented by mineral waters extracted from a depth of 480 meters, and the other - from a 100-meter artesian well. This drink meets all quality standards. The Lipetsk Pump Room is famous for its lower content of chlorides than in other waters. Low mineralization and mild taste allow you to drink this drink daily to maintain good health and well-being.

5 Smirnovskaya

Smirnovskaya is one of the best mineral medicinal table waters produced in Russia. It is produced by ZAO Mineralnye Vody Zheleznovodsk. By its properties and composition, the drink is similar to Slavyanovskaya water. It is used in the treatment of most pathologies associated with the gastrointestinal tract and the urogenital area. Smirnovskaya is also prescribed for diabetes and impaired metabolism. With low acidity of the stomach, water is contraindicated for use. The total mineralization of this natural drink is 3-4 grams per liter.

4 Slavyanovskaya

Slavyanovskaya belongs to the mineral table and medicinal waters produced by the enterprise "Mineral Waters of Zheleznovodsk". It has a healing effect on the stomach, intestines, liver, kidneys, as well as the urinary and biliary tract. It is used for the prevention and treatment of pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, diabetes, obesity and diseases of the urogenital area. Water mainly contains calcium, magnesium salts, sulfates, chlorides and bicarbonates. The total mineralization is 3-4 grams per liter. The drink can also be used to relieve the "hangover syndrome".

3 Borjomi

Borjomi opens the top three best mineral waters in Russia. Hydrocarbonate-sodium drink is used in the treatment and prevention of diseases of the digestive system. It is also used for metabolic disorders and obesity in order to reduce weight and cleanse the body of toxins and toxins. Water is extracted from nine healing springs, which are located on the territory of the Borjomov Reserve. The total mineralization of Borjomi is 5-7.5 mg per liter. Borjomov waters contain a large number of useful micro and macro elements.

2 Essentuki

Essentuki are among the best mineral waters produced in Russia. Under this common name, more than 20 carbonic hydrochloric-alkaline mineral waters are produced, which are extracted from various sources. Essentuki are used not only for drinking, but also for inhalations, taking therapeutic baths. The most famous are Essentuki, produced under the numbers No. 1, No. 2, No. 4, No. 17 and No. 20. Mineral water is prescribed for the prevention and treatment of impaired metabolism, obesity, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver.

1 Narzan

Narzan tops the rating of the best mineral waters in Russia. Translated into Russian, the name of the water is translated as "drink of heroes." The uniqueness of this product lies in the fact that it has natural gas. Narzan has a low total mineralization, which is 2-3 grams per liter. A drink is poured in the city of Kislovodsk. Water is formed from the melting of the Elbrus peak glaciers, which penetrate deep into the soil. After that, it accumulates in underground lakes, on the way to which it undergoes chemical processes, and goes outside. The drink is prescribed for diseases of the digestive system, impaired metabolic processes. Also, water can be used for preventive purposes.


"A" - this is how the word "water" sounded in the language of the ancient Sumerians, and the first letter of the alphabets of almost all peoples also sounds. And, indeed, water is so important that without it there would be no life on Earth. But in the 21st century, when medicine and technology are very developed, we have moved far from nature, we have forgotten the wonderful properties of water that restore our health, we have lost folk recipes that can help each of us. One of these recipes is a harmonious diet and consumption of drinking quality water.

Young mothers or parent committees in schools are often looking for good quality water, but there is not much on the market for high-quality water and children's water. And sometimes parents just do not know how to choose it.

We all know how to choose quality products in the store, such as vegetables, meat. It turns out that water has its own quality. Water can also deteriorate like any product, it has special storage conditions (do not put it in the light, for example), a shelf life (the smaller the volume of water, the longer it is stored), some waters have added preservatives, as in food products.

Of all the waters, one can single out drinking water, which can be drunk without restrictions every day. The opposite is mineral water, which has healing properties (it also includes table water). In Russia, 4 categories of water quality can be distinguished: tap water, bottled water: 1 category, higher and for children. The lowest requirements are for tap water, and the highest for children.

The chemical composition, as well as the type of water source, will let us know how our body will absorb this water.

Everyone has tap water. (SanPin 2.1.4.1074-01 of 2002). In Moscow, the source of water from the tap is the Moscow River and the reservoirs of the Canal named after. Moscow-Klyazminskoye and Uchinskoye). Moscow tap water is of very high quality. It is checked by at least 56 indicators. Plus there are additional dimensions. Every year new filters are introduced: ozonation, membrane filtration, ultraviolet filter. But the SanPin documents refer to this water only from the point of view of its safety and harmlessness to the body. Since it is impossible to remove all harmful substances from the Moscow River. The list of chemicals that remain there after cleaning in scanty safe doses is given over 50 pages. To neutralize these substances, they mainly use the main water purifier: chlorine or its derivatives for water purification (sodium hypochlorite, for example). And even in the shower, we have to inhale its vapors, all harmful substances enter the bloodstream through the lungs, chlorine washes proteins out of the hair, and dandruff begins. In the digestive tract, water with chlorine kills our own immune bacteria - interferon. If you are cooking on tap water, then be sure to stand the water (preferably within 3 hours), freeze, and boil for a short time, while opening the window (this is how dioxins disappear). A chlorine filter would be nice too.

As a counterbalance to tap water, scientists from the Research Institute of Human Ecology and Environmental Hygiene. A.N. Sysina developed San-Ping for bottled water. It is much better than tap water in quality. And the state prohibits the chlorination of bottled water. High-quality bottled water is simply necessary for those people who are in poor health, pregnant women, the elderly, children, and just people who want to reduce the use of toxic substances. It is known that the minerals included in the composition are better absorbed by the body from water than from food. In addition, very often when eating refined, frozen foods, and then cooked on fire, up to 80% of macro and microelements are lost, and when they are deficient, the body processes them into fats. Therefore, it is doubly necessary to replenish the reserves of trace elements with water.

Water category 1. This is the largest part of the water that is found today on the shelves of stores in Moscow and the Moscow region (60%), but not the highest quality. SanPin (2.1.4.1116-02) also refers to category 1 water only from the point of view of its harmlessness to the body. This water is improved compared to tap water. By origin, it can be natural (wells, wells, rivers, lakes, reservoirs), as well as artificially created (taken, for example, from a water pipe and cleaned up). Now any water can be made drinking water. Water must comply with GOST R 51232-98, GOST 2761, SanPin 2.1.5.980, all impurities are removed from it using the strongest filters, they are made essentially dead, and micro and macro elements are artificially added using solutions of mineral additives, for example, " Rosinki". Category 1 water allows the presence of preservatives, which is prohibited for children's water.

Top quality category. Water of the highest category in the Russian market is about 15%. This is physiologically complete water - water that has the properties of the internal environment of the body. It is checked here in Russia according to 93 indicators. Water of the highest category is much more harmonious for cells. San Ping 2.1.4.1116-02 on bottled water reflects many years of research by our and foreign scientists on the relationship between the mineral composition and our well-being. For simple drinking water, in comparison with mineral water, GOST is prohibited from attributing medicinal properties. However, due to the optimal composition of salts and other elements, water accelerates the processes of cell repair, tissue regeneration, activates metabolic processes in the body, flushes out toxins and waste from the interstitial fluid and the whole body, and helps with heartburn and pressure. With regular use of high-quality water, memory improves in children, and it is easier for them to pass the exam, in adults, stones in the kidneys and pancreas dissolve, the aging of the body slows down, the skin becomes elastic, wrinkles are smoothed out.

Water holds solid structures in the cell itself, or rather in the cell membrane (a hydroskeleton is created in cells due to the “incompressibility” of water, and therefore, water protects bones and organs from impacts, serves as a lubricant for joints in the elderly.

SanPin 2.1.4.1116-02 of 2002 on bottled water defines this water as “optimal in quality (from independent, usually underground, water sources). Such a formulation suggests that water of the highest category can be not only natural (having a harmonious structure, memory), but also artificially created. Recently, companies have appeared that make water not only of the first quality category, but also of the highest category. But water from a natural water source, of course, will be much more harmonious than artificially created water. However, iodine or fluorine can still be added to water if there is not so much of it in natural water. In fairness, it must be said that artificially created water of the highest category will also be better than category 1 water in terms of its macro and micro indicators. Preservatives may also be added to premium waters. And for children's water it is prohibited.

About the water "table"!

There is another type of water - table water, which is the most controversial among scientists, and confusing to consumers.

“Table waters” are legally classified as mineral waters, which are medicinal waters. However, mineral waters have a certain formula, for example, chloride-sulfate, and are used for certain indications: iron deficiency anemia, chronic cystitis, urethritis, etc. You need to apply them for no more than 1 month and take a significant break.

"Table" waters, according to the total content of minerals, are classified as fresh, drinking water (mineralization 1 g / l), but they, like mineral water, may contain more of a separate component: chlorides, iron, etc. That is why it is important to see the content of the individual components on the label! And on the label, in addition to the fact that the water is “table”, recommendations for its use should be written. An increased content of any particular mineral can be dangerous for people with related diseases.

“Table” water accounts for a significant part of the water: 25% of all packaged water sold to the population and these are quite well-known brands of water that are supplied, including to children's institutions. The prices for some of them even exceed the price of baby water.

Bottom line: when choosing a water supplier, you should pay attention to the category of water. Be sure to check the water in the register of Rospotrebnadzor fp.crc.ru and carefully look at the certificate. It should be noted that the words “category 1” are not always written in the certificate for category 1 water, but it is noted that the water of this brand meets the sanitary and epidemiological and hygienic requirements for goods subject to sanitary and epidemiological supervision. And only in the link to the document on the Internet it is indicated that the water is of the 1st category. You should also ask for the complete chemical composition of the water.

Such data must be available, since any manufacturer has been issued a certificate or certificate for water, which should contain a complete list of analyzes for 93 indicators. Less information about the quality of water itself will be information about the awards of the enterprise, participation in various exhibitions, tenders and competitions.

The most important inscriptions on water labels (GOST on labels: GOST R 52109-2003, GOST R 51074-2003, GOST R 23109-03) are the name of the water, its type (category), date of manufacture, storage conditions, expiration date, chemical-physical composition of water (content of anions and cations, total mineralization, hardness). It is also important to indicate the source of water intake, that is, the number of the well. Manufacturers of natural water indicate the number of the well from which it is extracted. Manufacturers of "artificial" waters, as a rule, do not specify this.

About the importance of cooler sanitization!

Bottled drinking water reaches a person through a cooler and a pump. A very important point in maintaining water quality is timely cleaning of the cooler and pump. Sanitizing and replacing the pump is not an overkill, but a necessity. A dirty cooler and, as a result, blooming water, water with mold, smell may well cause poisoning.

You can not ignore the rules of hygiene when using the cooler: you must remove the labels from the bottles before putting the bottle on the cooler. Bottle labels, in addition to introducing dirt into the water, also clog the cooler taps.

It is necessary to take the bottle with clean hands, clean the neck of the bottle with water and the funnel with the needle into which the bottle is installed with a damp cloth.

If you drink water "Divo", then our organization recommends that you sanitize the cooler once every 6 months.

With intensive use of the cooler, it is advisable to carry out sanitization more often - once every 3 months.

It is also necessary to carry out sanitization of new equipment, and when switching from one water to another, after repair work in the room or after long-term storage of the cooler. In some cases, for example, new equipment, you can sanitize the cooler yourself at home: instructions. On our website you can also read the rules for connecting and operating the cooler in the "Equipment Maintenance" section.

So, now you know what water is best for your child to drink.

All criteria for choosing high-quality water are contained in the article:

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 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 consumer rights 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.

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.

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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.

We need water just like air and water. But tap water is not the best option for our body and health. That is why more and more people are buying bottled drinking water, hoping they are getting a clear liquid. But it is not always the case. Let's think about what kind of water is better to take.

How much water do we need and what

Most of all, the human body is like a pool: water flows into it and flows out almost simultaneously. About half a liter per day comes out with sweat, through the kidneys - about one and a half liters, another 400 ml comes out of the lungs and about 200 - from the intestines. So, we really need to drink about 2-2.5 liters of water. Moreover, if you play sports, breastfeed, have a cold, like to drink or smoke, are on a diet or go to the sauna, add at least another 300 milliliters to this dose.

But not all water is the same. The one from the tap is better to use for technical purposes, and you need to drink and use bottled for cooking. Especially the right one.

First of all, it should be remembered that bottled water can be:

  • Drinking. Often taken from the tap. But it carries out additional cleaning and is enriched with minerals. It is better to take such water of well-known brands, as reputation is important to them;
  • Mineral. This is taken from sources, but it differs from the healing-mineral one in that it is suitable for daily use. These are the so-called table mineral waters. By the way, they are not cleaned much. Some types of preservatives and filtration are allowed, as well as degassing and aeration.

By the way! Mineral water does not necessarily come from exotic sources. Perhaps the source is in your city or region, you just don’t know your homeland well.

So, we choose from two options. How to buy good water?

  • First of all, it is better to take it in large shopping centers. Here they cooperate only with trusted sellers, so there is less chance of stumbling upon a "linden";
  • Study the label. If there is little information here, perhaps this is a fake or low-quality water;
  • Also, the label can tell you about the expiration date, because water also deteriorates. If the bottle is glass, the shelf life is two years, if plastic, one and a half years;
  • Ingredients should also be listed on the label. What elements and in what quantity are contained here? See that there is a table and figures;
  • If you take mineral water, make sure that the well is indicated where it was taken from. If the water is from the tap, this will also be indicated, perhaps somehow veiled. For example, "taken from the city's CWS system";
  • Which container is better? Glass. If you choose a plastic bottle, make sure that it is not made of PVC: this is the most toxic material.

And what is the best?

  • Arkhyz from the manufacturer of the same name. There are no heavy metals or contaminants here and it has the best safety record. And the taste is transparent, pleasant and light. The only downside is that there is not enough fluorine here. But many, even very high-quality waters sin with this;
  • Senezhskaya from Bobimex. The same applies to the leaders of the rating of drinking water. Refers to mineral table waters. One of the most complete in its composition: there is enough fluorine in it, there is magnesium and calcium. You can drink it daily. The downside is that there is a little more lithium than is required by the standards;
  • BonAqua drinking. Producer: Coca-Cola HBC. Good enough, but the amount of ammonium cations is exceeded here, which indicates the presence of organic pollution. Perhaps it is not very well cleaned in production. There is another drawback: it does not contain fluorine at all;
  • Nestle Pure Life drinking. With the manufacturer, we think everything is clear.

The water is completely safe and very tasty. It has low levels of organic pollution, and heavy metals are also absent here. Another feature is that it has no color (and other popular waters, by the way, have it). The disadvantages include the fact that there is no fluorine;

  • Shishkin forest from the manufacturer of the same name. Drinking. The composition is not bad, but microbes were found in the forest under laboratory conditions. The advantage is a sufficient amount of fluorine, which is generally not very typical for many waters;
  • Baikal drinking. Producer - VAIKALSEA company. Quite a good composition, but fluorine, calcium and magnesium in insufficient quantities. Another problem is that microbes are found here.

Important! If you doubt the quality of the water, do not be shy and contact the laboratory.

It is also worth paying attention to the following waters:

  • "Santalovsky source". ;
  • "Narzan";
  • "Borjomi";
  • "Holy spring";
  • GG&MW Co. N.V (manufacturer - Borjomi);
  • "Kavminvody";
  • Water "Ulanskaya".
  • "Mercury". And the composition is so-so (almost all the necessary elements are not enough, and microbes are much higher than the norm). In addition, according to reviews, after it there may be a coating on the cup and a metallic taste is observed;
  • "Raif source". Also so-so in composition, taste, and purity;
  • "Avka". Also, unfortunately, it does not differ in the level of purification, and the mineral composition leaves much to be desired;
  • "Biba". Produces the same "Mercury", so the same problems.

And finally, just a tip. If you do not trust any water producers, just get yourself a water filter, and get minerals from vitamin-mineral complexes. The most reliable option and quite good.