Educational resources about water quality, standards, and terminology
Understanding the different classifications of bottled water available in Malaysia
Mineral water comes from underground sources and contains naturally occurring minerals and trace elements. In Malaysia, it must contain at least 150mg/L of total dissolved solids (TDS) to be classified as mineral water. It cannot be treated except for filtration, ozonation, or carbonation.
Spring water comes from underground formations and flows naturally to the surface. Unlike mineral water, there's no minimum TDS requirement for spring water. It must be collected at the spring or through a borehole tapping the underground formation.
Purified water can come from any source, including tap water, but undergoes processes like distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis, or other suitable processes to meet purity standards. Most minerals are removed during purification, resulting in very low TDS levels.
This is a broad category that includes water suitable for human consumption. In Malaysia, it must meet the standards set by the Ministry of Health but doesn't have the specific source requirements of mineral or spring water. It may be treated with various processes to ensure safety.