The FDA issues standards for bottled water, part of these standards center on the source of the water.  Here's a condensed list from the FDA website [CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21](https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=165.110):

| Water Name | Water Source |
| --- | --- |
Artesian Water | Water from an underground aquifer in a confined space where the pressure in the aquifer will raise the water level above the aquifer when tapped.<br><br>If a hole were bored into and artesian water source you could think of this as a naturally formed water fountain if the pressure in the water source is high enough. |
| Ground Water | Ground water is water inside the earth at varying depths.  This water is made available by digging or drilling wells. |
| Mineral Water | Water with total dissolved solids (minerals) of no less than 250 parts per million (ppm).  The minerals in the water will give the water a distinctive flavor and mineral water from different wells would taste different based on the naturally occurring minerals around the well. |
| Purified Water | Water that has been processed through distillation, reverse osmosis filtering, deionization, or other processes.  In these processes minerals are removed from the water to a level below 10 ppm.  Water in this category can also be referred to based on the process used, such as distilled water. |
| Sparkling Bottled Water | Water with naturally high levels of carbon dioxide.  Processing this water for cleanliness and safety removes the natural carbon dioxide.  Before bottling, the carbon dioxide is added back to the water to the original level before processing. |
| Spring Water | Underground water that has made it's way to the surface naturally or through the use of a bored hole.  If the water is not collected at a natural opening for the spring the bored hole (well) has to be shown to reach the same source of water as the spring.  In addition, water from the bored hole must not prohibit the natural flow of the spring water to the surface. |
| Well Water | Water from a hole bored into the ground into an aquifer.  This seems to be the same as ground water.|

For me this is all confusing, but that is what government regulations in conjunction with corporate lobbying groups tend to do.  In addition, many bottled water companies are reluctant to disclose the source of their water.  Two I were surprised about were Dasani and Aquafina, both are purified waters made from municipal water sources.

Ice Mountain water (normally available in the midwest) borders on false advertising.  The bottles have a picture of a snow capped mountain giving you visions of drinking water from snow melt.  In reality it comes from groundwater wells in Michigan.  I have traveled a lot of Michigan and have yet to see anything remotely resembling a snow covered mountain.

If you want to find out more about your favorite bottled water check out the Wikipedia page, [List of bottled water brands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bottled_water_brands).  For now, I think I will steer away from Dasani, Aquafina, and Ice Mountain and try to focus more on bottled spring water.  Growing up we had a natural spring on our property and I remember how good it tasted right from the source.  It never had any treatment of any kind so there is no telling what was in it, but I lived though it without the FDA protecting me.