Water has not only become a precious resource with the onset of climate change. More than a billion people have not had access to clean drinking water for years – one reason why the motto for this year's "World Water Day" on March 22nd is "Time to Act – Water Scarcity and Drought." Experts have been pointing out for years how important proper and sufficient hydration is for health. A person should drink one and a half to two liters per day. In Germany, everyone can easily follow this advice. Additionally, people here are fortunate to quench their thirst with natural mineral water. The 225 German mineral springs ensure that consumers have a choice among around 500 brands of water, which differ in origin, taste, and ingredients.
Germany is particularly rich in underground mineral water reserves, which are continuously replenished by rainwater. Before mineral water is bottled directly at the source, it has traveled a long journey. Raindrops penetrate various types of rock on their way into the depths. During this process, they absorb minerals that differ depending on the region and the type of rock, resulting in a diverse composition. Therefore, the geological characteristics of a region are reflected in its mineral water.
The flow of groundwater also plays a role in the taste of the mineral water. Dr. Traugott Scheytt from the Institute of Applied Geosciences at the Technical University of Berlin explains: "Groundwater originates from precipitation. The mineral concentration in the water depends on the speed at which the groundwater flows and the time it spends in the rock. The slower the groundwater flows, the more minerals and trace elements the water can dissolve from the rock."
Consumers benefit from the variety of mineral waters available in Germany. There is a suitable mineral water for every need: for example, with higher sodium content for sports, with more magnesium for concentration at work, or with higher sulfate levels for soft skin. Of course, the choice of mineral water is a matter of taste. The wide variety allows consumers to be selective.
