Kiwaii - 100% True New Zeland Spring Water

Every source of water has different properties. Each water source contains dissolved minerals and may contain various levels of harmful contaminants or impurities.

Water is H₂0 by molecular composition, but every natural water source on earth also contains dissolved minerals, trace nutrients, and has other properties such pH level and alkalinity that gives water balance. Water may also contain natural contaminants or pollutants.

The composition and properties of each water source comes from the local geology and environment when the water seeps through the ground on its way to an aquifer. Ground water is naturally filtered by plants and local geological formations (i.e. rock, sand, and clay) and not every region on earth is the same. Every source of water has its own unique properties imparted by the natural environment.

Water is by far the most important substance we consume—so it makes sense to drink the best and purest natural water that is available.

Unfortunately, because water is the ultimate natural solvent, it will also absorb pollutants and naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic and lead. Bacteria also live quite well in water, and most water supplies in the developed world are not safe to drink without treatment. More than 80% of the water on earth is salt water. Obviously this is not simply H₂0.

Think about how important water is for your body and good health. Don’t take water for granted in your diet. Perhaps you pay extra for natural and organic foods, free-range chicken and wild caught fish—but drink the cheapest, unnatural purified tap water. Water is by far the most important substance we consume—so it makes sense to drink the best and purest natural water that is available.

Every water supply has different properties and levels of dissolved solids, pH, organic and inorganic substances, bicarbonate, radioactive material, nutrients and contaminants. These properties give water different taste, color, odor and clarity. Water is not all the same.

No. Every water source is different, and the water quality is different for each source. In fact, many bottled waters come from a variety of different sources. (Kiwaii True Spring Water always comes from one single source—the Blue Spring in Putaruru, New Zealand.)

Look for brands of water that publish the name of the source and make their full water analysis available for consumers.

A large number of major brands of bottled water are simply purified tap water. This water originates from generally polluted water sources that have been chlorinated and must be filtered and purified to remove contaminants, bad odors and unpleasant tastes.

The same brand of purified tap water often comes from various city water supplies close to where it is sold. This is true for many low-cost mass-produced spring and artesian water brands. They rarely come from the same source all of the time, so they can’t be the same water.

Some bottled water brands are 100% natural and pure, and city tap water always contains harmful chlorine and disinfectant by-products.

Tap water in the United States is considered safe to drink because it does not cause acute sickness from microorganisms. Some local water supplies may even come from fairly clean sources. However, there is also significant evidence that municipal water supplies often contain harmful chemicals and contaminants that are unknown to the public that drink it.

People often choose bottled water because they don’t like the taste of chlorinated tap water. The number one reason people drink bottled water is they think it is healthier than tap water. Some studies have suggested this might not always be the case.

Millions of people install home filters under the false assumption these filters remove all of the harmful chemicals; when in reality many of them just improve the taste, color and smell.

While some bottled water does come from natural and healthy sources like springs and artesian wells, many bottled waters are just purified tap water. Some springs and wells are not always pure and clean, so they need to be disinfected just like tap water. This is probably the reason why some people are questioning the logic of buying water in a bottle that is readily available from your faucet.

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, most likely any springs and ground water wells near you are polluted. In industrialized countries thousands of harmful chemicals enter the water system daily. In the United States, our tap water supplies are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, drinking water regulations only require testing for 93 substances. And, since these regulations have not been updated for most chemicals since the 1980’s, the levels allowed in substances we test for may not be 100% safe.

A study conducted in 2010 revealed that 31 out of 35 U.S. city water supplies tested contained high levels of hexavalent chromium (chromium-6). There have been dozens of well-research articles and studies published in the last decade that reveal our municipal water supplies contain toxic chemicals, hormones, pharmaceuticals and carcinogens. Plus, all tap water contains chlorine and disinfectant by-products that are known to cause cell damage and possibly cancer.

Does bottled water still sound expensive?

Millions of people install home filters under the false assumption these filters remove all of the harmful chemicals; when in reality many of them just improve the taste, color and smell. Bottled water, especially water that comes from naturally pure sources, gives people an alternative choice in the water they drink.

So, before you ditch bottled water, you might think about what is in your tap water. You probably don’t want to know!

Both spring water and artesian water come from underground aquifers.

Spring water rises naturally to the surface under natural pressure. Artesian water is obtained by drilling a borehole to extract water.

“Artesian water” is really just a fancy name for “well water.”

Both types can have excellent purity and quality. However, a potentially significant difference is renewability and sustainability.

With artesian water, it is difficult to accurately manage the renewability of the water source. When a water source is not managed properly, people can remove more water than is actually being recharged into the aquifer. Water sources can dry up, causing a downstream impact on the environment and consequences for the people or wildlife dependent on that water source.

With spring water—like Kiwaii True Spring Water—natural pressure determines the flow of the water. This flow can be measured and monitored—and we can very accurately limit the amount of water taken from the source to make sure the quantity that is taken is less than the natural yield. A responsibly supervised spring source like the Blue Spring in New Zealand can be managed for indefinite sustainability.

Yes—in most cases. Plastic bottles come in a variety of different types, using different grades of resins and different manufacturing practices.

Bottles used for bottled water are generally #1 type PET plastic. Studies have shown that some PET bottles contain bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates, plus other degradable additives that can leach into beverages packaged in PET bottles.

Kiwaii True Spring Water uses high-quality PET—bottles that do not contain BPA, phthalates, or degradable additives. The FDA has not banned BPA in plastic beverage containers. If bottled water is stored properly there should be no concerns about drinking water from high quality PET bottles.

BPA and phthalates are thought to mimic hormone like compounds and could have health consequences, especially for children. This issue is not exclusive for bottled water since most beverage bottles are PET, yet bottled water is often subjected to criticism in the media.

Some low quality PET bottles may be produced from recyclable material that could contain BPA or phthalates. If you are concerned, write to the brand manufacture and ask if their bottles contain BPA or phthalates.

People pollute, not bottles. The fact is, all plastic PET bottles used for bottled water are recyclable into many useful products. Carpet and fleece are two common products produced from PET plastic. It is possible to enjoy the benefits of drinking healthy and pure natural spring water in a plastic bottle, and be environmentally conscious. Be responsible and recycle the bottles!

High quality plastic PET bottles—the same used by Kiwaii True Spring water—are an ideal package for bottled water. High quality PET has a low permeability to water vapor and preserves the freshness of the water. PET is almost unbreakable, making it safe, kid-friendly and convenient. PET is also very light in weight, so it uses less energy and is less costly to transport than alternatives such as glass.

Another issue raised with plastic PET bottles is they are produced from petroleum. This is true, and some people argue that this increases our demand for oil and pollutes the environment. There is some merit to this argument, but it should be balanced against the benefits—just like all of the other products packaged in PET plastic.

Water is the most important nutrient required by the human body.

Many essential nutrients are water soluble and require water for absorption and storage in the body. Toxins can also be absorbed and stored in water in the body. Therefore, for optimal health you should drink the purest natural water you can find.

You have probably heard the saying, “You are what you eat.” Well, it may actually be more accurate to say “you are what you drink.” The human body is 65-75% water weight. Babies may be as much as 80% water. Water is essential for all bodily functions. Maintaining proper hydration is important for optimum health and vital for maximum performance during any type of physical activity.

Even slight dehydration can have a negative impact on well-being, impair athletic performance, cause fatigue and reduce cognitive function. Dehydration is a major cause of headache and fatigue in our society. While humans can go for weeks without food, even a few days without water can be fatal.

Water is the most important nutrient in the human body. Every cell and tissue in the human body contains water. Water is the main component in blood, muscles, and the brain. Your bones and connective tissues even contain water. Water serves as a digestive substrate, a coolant, a lubricant, a transporter and a shock absorber for tissues in the body.

Bottled water is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA defines bottled water as one of three classifications:

1. Purified water
2. Artesian Water
3. Spring Water

Purified water typically is bottled from municipal water supplies and purified using reverse osmosis (RO) or distillation (although distillation is rarely used for bottled water because it is not considered good for the taste of the water). RO uses high pressure to force water molecules through an osmotic membrane while leaving dissolved solids behind. RO is capable of filtering out 90-99% of the dissolved solids in water, creating very pure water.

In essence, purified tap water is “man-made” water and no longer contains the properties of natural water.

The problem with purified water is that water naturally contains dissolved solids such as minerals and trace nutrients obtained from the soil. These dissolved solids help to give water a balance. In the absence of natural dissolved minerals water becomes aggressive and corrosive. Purified water will rapidly absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air and other substances it comes in contact with. CO2 makes water very acidic—therefore, purified water brands often have added acid neutralizers, minerals and other ions to stabilize the water.

Artesian water is essentially well water. It also comes from an underground aquifer, but is pumped to the surface from a borehole drilled into the aquifer.

Spring water—like Kiwaii True Spring Water—comes from an underground aquifer and rises to the earth’s surface under natural pressure.

Both artesian water and spring water are natural waters that contain natural properties imparted from the local geology where the aquifer is located. Some natural water sources are very pure while some can be contaminated. The quality of the source of the water, then is extremely important.

Reverse osmosis (RO) is a wonderful innovation that has helped to bring potable water supplies to people all over the earth. RO was invented as a means of using seawater to mass produce fresh water in areas of the world without an abundant fresh water supply.

RO is also very useful as a means to purify city tap water to remove harmful contaminants found in most supplies. Home RO systems are also often used to remove nitrates, heavy metals and pollutants from well water. RO is an important and useful process used by many bottled water companies to make a safe, pleasant tasting and convenient drinking water.

The biggest downside to RO is that the process consumes a significant amount of extra water that is completely wasted in the process.

But RO is not environmentally friendly. RO wastes a significant amount of water. Residential RO systems recover about 15% of the water used for purification. In other words, when water goes through the purification process, about 85% of the water is flushed out the system with contaminants. Residential RO systems are not very efficient and produce just a few gallons of purified water each day.

High efficiency industrial RO systems recover between 50-85% (average 60-70%) of the water used for purification. but even the most efficient systems still waste millions of gallons of water in order to produce the purified bottled tap water sold in stores.

A highly efficient bottling plant—like Kiwaii True Spring Water—can utilize almost every drop of pure water it takes from the source for its finished product.

The major bottled water brands of purified tap water are Dasani®, Aquafina® and Nestle Pure®. Penta®, a purified tap water sold as a premium brand, publicizes that its water goes through multiple stages of purification. Smartwater® is purified water. Most flavored water brands, including most of the popular coconut waters come from concentrate and are mostly just purified water. Green minded consumers should keep this in mind when selecting a bottled water brand.

RO processes also strips water of its natural properties and generally requires adding back electrolytes, minerals and pH neutralizers. Essentially, purified tap water is man-made water, not natural at all. Naturally pure water brands that come from springs and artesian aquifers don’t require RO purification.

The pH of the water you consume will have little, if any effect on the body’s pH.

First, you need a little background knowledge about where this idea originated. Nutritional scientists and medical doctors seem to agree that a diet high in meats, processed white flour, sugars and other processed foods has the effect of increasing acidity (lowering the pH) of the body.

Some companies are trying to promote that drinking “high-alkaline water” will raise the pH of the body. There is no physiologic or nutritional basis for this since water is not metabolized.

Evidence suggests there are negative health consequences from this acidifying diet—including premature aging, a weaker immune system, impaired cellular repair and chronic tissue inflammation. Studies even demonstrate a link between lower body pH and a person’s inability to lose weight and cancer.

The human body should have a pH balance of around 7.35, and even slight acidity can start to cause health problems. Stress, illness and poor health habits can also lower your body pH over time.

The “Alkaline Diet” has become a popular health movement. The idea is to eat foods that have an alkaline effect on the body to counter balance the things that increase acidity. Whether a substance is “alkaline” or “acid forming” has nothing to do with the pH level of the substance prior to being consumed. The effect on the body’s pH is the result of the metabolites of the food or beverage. Since water is not metabolized and has no metabolites, water does not have an acid forming or alkaline effect on the body.

Some companies are trying to promote that drinking “high-alkaline water” will raise the pH of the body. There is no physiologic or nutritional basis for this since water is not metabolized. The pH of the stomach acid is around 2.0-3.0. Food and beverages enter the stomach and mix with stomach acid, and this mixture enters the small intestine at a pH around 3.0. All food stuff is digested in the small intestine. The pH of the food/beverages you consume have little to no affect on the acid/pH of the body.

If you read reputable books and articles about the “alkaline diet,” you will find that many foods with a very low (acidic) pH contribute positively to the alkalinity of the body. By contrast, most of the foods that contribute to acidity have a higher pH. For example, almost all fruits have a pH below 6.0 but when metabolized have an alkaline affect. Spinach, kale, and most vegetables recommended in the alkaline diet have a pH of 5.5-6.4 (acidic). Meats, seafood and white flour have a pH of 6.8 to 7.5 but have an acidifying effect on the body’s pH. One of the foods with the highest pH, graham crackers (pH 8.0), is certainly not recommended in the alkaline diet. One last example should convince you. Vinegar, oranges and lemons—all alkaline diet recommended—all have a pH of 3.0 or lower.

Don’t be fooled into thinking high-alkaline purified tap water is good for you. Plain, pure natural water with a neutral pH will taste better and provide optimal hydration!

The alkaline diet is based on eating foods that when digested produce alkaline metabolites instead of acid. Water is supposed to be neutral, and in general any food/beverage with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5 is considered neutral. Most food and beverages have a pH below 7.0. Most foods in the alkaline diet have a pH below 6.5. Human taste buds are naturally attracted and programmed to like foods on the acidic side of the pH scale, because many poisonous substances are highly alkaline. High alkaline foods/beverages generally don’t appeal to most humans, and often have an acidic metabolic affect.

Don’t be fooled into thinking high alkaline purified tap water is good for you. It won’t have much of an effect on your body pH, especially if your diet is high in processed foods and meats. Instead, eat a diet rich in raw fruits and vegetables; and choose naturally pure water that does not need to be purified or have harmful disinfectant chemicals added to make it safe. Plain, pure natural water with a neutral pH will taste better and provide optimal hydration!