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The nomination of bottled waters is strictly regulated in Europe and most particular in France where the legislation is still more precise.
Three kinds of water are distributed in France:
  Mineral water
Spring water
Tap water
 MINERAL WATER
In France water can be sold as mineral water only if it is recognised as being beneficial for the health by the National Medicine Academy.
Thus, mineral and natural water are kinds of water which possesses therapeutic suitability officially identified. This water contains rock salt as well as oligo-elements that are favourable for the organism. Moreover, its composition is regular at any time.
Thus, its composition is guarantied as well as the constancy of all quality criteria. |
This water is subject to numerous daily controls and can only come from one source.
A protection perimeter is attributed for any mineral water recognised of public interest.
The therapeutic values of certain mineral waters are used for the thermal cure.
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SPRING WATER
Those waters come from non-polluted underground waters, deep or protected of repulsion by human activities.
Consequently they are naturally clean enough for the human consumption. Spring water can come from different sources.
The only treatments allowed in order to eliminate instable elements such as gas, iron and manganese are the following: aeration, decantation and filtration.
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The naturally sparkling waters, which content dissolved carbon gas, can be re-gazed before being bottled as well.
The exploitation of one source requires a prefectoral authorization and a favourable notice from the Departmental Consul of Hygiene. |
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DRINKABLE WATER
This water is made drinkable by treatments and is intended to the human consumption.
In France this water is principally tap water and has to respect the components and bacteriologic security norms. These norms are guaranteed by treatments such as filtration and chloration.
However some consumers do not use tap water because of its taste and its odour. |
Sometimes they do not dare to make use of it because they judge the quality as simply bad.
Some countries such as the US and India authorize the commercialisation of chemically treated water under the appellation “spring water” |
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