Artesian Water: What Is It, and Is It Safe to Drink?

If you shop for bottled water regularly, you probably notice the hordes of bottled water options lining the shelves of your local grocery store. There weren’t as many choices back in the day, and you could quickly tell them apart by which fresh spring the water came from.

However, with newer and more complex options like isotonic, ionized, and Artesian water emerging now and then, it’s becoming more difficult to distinguish between them. Well, you might be familiar with ionized or isotonic water, especially if you have a science background, but artesian water will likely have you stroking your chin.

That’s because, unlike ionized, isotonic water and many other water types, artesian water isn’t named after its chemical composition but rather a famous location dating back to the Middle Ages. Artesian water also sounds fancy, and manufacturers tend to bottle it in fancy packaging for a fancy price.

But what is artesian water exactly, and where does it come from? Is it even safe to drink? This article answers all these questions and more.

What is Artesian Water?

Artesian water is a specific type of spring water that flows freely from underground wells. Unlike traditional wells, artesian wells don’t require a pump to extract water from underground. Instead, they rely on a natural phenomenon that involves the water flowing down into a porous material, such as rock, sand, or gravel, then being forced to the surface and out of a well due to the high pressure built up between two impermeable underground surfaces.

Before artesian water hits the shelves of your local grocery store, the extracted water is usually forced through a sediment filter system to remove dirt, sand, dirt, debris, and other suspended particulate matter. Next, the water filtration process is complete with a UV light and/or ozone treatment to kill bacteria, viruses, and other potentially harmful microorganisms. Finally, the water is bottled and ready for distribution and consumption.

There are many examples of artesian water, but perhaps the most popular ones are FIJI and Voss. Typically, these and other artesian water are a bit more expensive than regular bottled water because artesian water is stored in its natural source. It’s also believed that the intense natural pressure that forces artesian water from underground to the surface adds beneficial minerals to the water.

Where Does Artesian Water Come From?

To help you understand artesian water and its origins, let’s take a trip through history to where it all started. The name artesian comes from the free-flowing “artesian wells” constructed in the twelfth century at the Carthusian monastery near Lillers in the northeastern French province of Artois, known as the Roman city of Artesium during the Middle Ages.

Many of the artesian water sold in stores today may come from anywhere in the world. Georgia and Florida are home to the two of the biggest artesian wells in the US. However, the largest and deepest source of artesian water worldwide is located in Australia, known as the Great Artesian Basin.

Is Artesian Spring Water Safe to Drink?

Brands selling artesian spring water often claim it is naturally filtered because it travels through a porous surface at high pressure. Some even suggest this “natural filtering process” removes most contaminants in the water while also providing some beneficial minerals from the soil that contribute to refreshing-tasting water. While this all sounds good, especially to the aware, some of those claims are untrue, at least according to the US government, which stated that artesian water has the same chemical and physical makeup as regular groundwater.

If you know anything about groundwater, you know it can become contaminated with germs, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites, and chemicals, such as those used in fertilizers and pesticides, all of which can make people sick. Unfortunately, this means artesian water runs the same risk of exposure to many contaminants found in all unfiltered tap water, well water, spring water, and bottled water. Perhaps this is why Florida and Georgia have some of the least safe drinking water in the US, despite having considerable access to “naturally filtered” water from artesian wells.

A Safe and Healthy Alternative to Artesian Water

Thanks to science, we now know that artesian water is no cleaner or safer than regular well water, despite opposing claims from bottled water brands. As such, we recommend you consider installing one of our affordable and highly effective water filtration systems to ensure your water is being filtered using a science-backed method. Our systems are tested and certified to remove harmful contaminants, from sediment and heavy metals to toxic chemicals and pathogens.

Our Whole House Water Filters ensure you have clean, healthy, filtered water not just in your kitchen but at every faucet and in every water-using appliance in your household. You can also check out our Reverse Osmosis Under Counter Filters, which treat water at specific faucets in your home.

If you want to learn more about the dangers of artesian water and how our filtration systems can help you avoid these dangers, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

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