Water 101 for 2025

Water that is safe for humans to drink is called “potable” water. Different types of potable water include mineral water, tap water, spring water, distilled water, hard or softened water and sparkling water. These designations refer to the substances found in the water or the origin of the water.

Mineral water usually contains minerals that occur naturally in the water. Mineral water can be gotten from underground rock formations and can naturally contain dissolved minerals like magnesium, sulfur, calcium and manganese. These minerals may have some added health benefits as the human body doesn’t naturally create them.

Some tap water may contain minerals, as may some bottled water. Read the label of bottled water to find the mineral content. To find the mineral content of tap water, you might review the information on the Long Beach Water Department website, https://www.lbutilities.org/water/water-sources as well as reviewing information on water bills.

Tap Water: Long Beach relies on several sources for tap water, including ground water and “imported” water from several areas. Long Beach tap water is “hard,” meaning it naturally contains minerals. If you want to filter or soften your tap water, you may be able to remove bacteria and contaminants as well as minerals, depending on your preference. These purifiers can remove contaminants or bacteria in tap water, although most tap water is generally safe to drink.

At the time of this writing, Long Beach water is fluoridated. Some water in California naturally contains fluoride, while some sources may require the addition of fluoride.

Spring Water: Just like mineral water, natural spring water comes from an underground source. Spring water is available in the Long Beach area for purchase, as Long Beach water is not sourced from springs.

Distilled Water: Distilled water goes through a heating and filtering process to remove dissolved minerals and salts. Distilled water products may be labeled as “reverse osmosis water”, which is one of the methods for creating distilled water. Distilled water is literally “H” and “O,” as in H20. It does not contain any minerals and is wonderful for maintaining equipment that uses steam. However, since it does not have any minerals, it’s not usually recommended to drink only distilled water, as not nutrients can be obtained.

Hard Water: Long Beach water is “hard water,” that is, water that contains minerals. Hard water can contain calcium, iron and magnesium or other minerals, depending on the water source. As water passes through limestone and other rocks, it picks up minerals, increasing the hardness (mineral content) of the water. Hard water is safe to drink, but it can present a challenge for the pipes in your home and may be a bit harsh on skin and hair. This can be resolved by “softening” the water with a filter. Any type of water, except for distilled water, can be “hard.”

Sparkling Water: Sparkling water, also called “seltzer” or “soda water,” is carbonated water mixed with carbon dioxide gas to provide some “fizz”. Sparkling water can be found naturally, when water bubbles up through limestone that releases natural carbon dioxide. Perrier water was one of the first commercially bottled, naturally occurring sparkling water. Most sparkling water on the market today is produced, rather than naturally occurring.

There are various benefits to drinking adequate amounts of water, including lubricating the joints, helping to keep kidneys healthy, help to keep the brain functioning and, perhaps, assist with weight loss.

How much water a person should drink in a day varies according to factors such as age, sex, health, medications and activity levels. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (www.eatright.org), the average recommended daily intake of water from both food and drink is 11.5 cups per day for healthy women, 15.5. cups per day for men and 5-11 cups for children, depending on their age. This is just a guideline and should be discussed with a healthcare professional, as we want to avoid under- or over-hydration.

Speaking of hydration, there are ways to include daily water intake in the foods and beverages you choose. There are Low- or no- calorie beverages such as plain coffee or teas, sparkling water, seltzers and flavored waters are low-calorie choices and beverages with important nutrients such as low-fat or fat-free milk; unsweetened, fortified milk alternatives; and 100% fruit or vegetable juice contain important nutrients.

Coconut water is the clear fluid, or juice, inside coconuts. It’s not the same as coconut milk, which is a blend of coconut water and grated unflavored coconut water is low in added sugar and calories.

Some people drink coconut water for its electrolytes. The body can lose water and electrolytes from sweating during exercise, during hot weather or from illnesses. Electrolytes in coconut water include potassium, sodium and manganese. The amounts vary by brand. Coconut water can be equivalent to “hard” or mineral water in terms of replacing electrolytes.

Please contact Nancy at foodprof2@gmail.com with questions about health and nutrition, or ideas for future columns