Is Smart Water Safe To Drink?
Staying hydrated is not just a health tip but a way of life. As pollution increases, the choices we make regarding the water we consume have become more critical. Clearly, the market is flooded with bottled water brands, each claiming to offer various benefits. As someone who has been intrigued by the different types of bottled water available, my journey led me to the analysis of Smart Water.
Intriguingly, the SmartWater website describes its water as being “everything you want from bottled water—pure, hydrating, and crisp”. Not only that, their vapor-distillation process was apparently “inspired by the clouds,” and has caught the attention of many health-conscious individuals. As a result, I decided to dive into the details, questioning whether the allure of SmartWater is more than just marketing hype. Is it truly a smart choice for hydration? What purification processes does it go through, and is it safe? Lastly, would I recommend people drink SmartWater if needed on the go? Today we will answer these questions and more.
Is Smart Water Safe To Drink?
To begin, two categories of bottled water enhancements have gained attention in recent years: mineral-enhanced water, where electrolytes are added, and alkaline water.
First, mineral-enhanced water contains higher levels of minerals and electrolytes. These minerals not only contribute to the water’s unique taste but also offer potential health benefits (source). For example, calcium chloride is crucial for bone health, while magnesium chloride plays a role in muscle function and electrolyte balance.
Second, some bottled water brands offer high pH alkaline water. However, alkaline water companies often imply or promise health benefits that may or may not be true. We will explore these concepts today as SmartWater plays to both of these water enhancement ideas.
What Is Smart Water?
To begin, SmartWater is a bottled water brand that gained popularity for its unique approach to hydration. Created by Glacéau, a subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company, SmartWater distinguishes itself from traditional bottled water brands through its unique ionization and distillation processes.
In addition, a bottle of SmartWater features a sleek, cylindrical design with a blue label, which has contributed to its recognition on store shelves. Further, the brand’s marketing often emphasizes the product’s purity, crispness, and its association with a “smart” and healthy lifestyle.
Is Smart Water Good For You?
Determining whether a particular water is good for you involves considering various factors beyond just its brand name.
First and foremost is the purity of the water related to the water source. It is important to note that water can contain different contaminants depending on what it flows through and to what pollutants it is exposed. In addition, it is best to examine the filtration and testing processes to determine if the proper methods were used to remove contaminants.
Second, we must consider the mineral and electrolyte content of the water. Some people prefer water with added minerals and electrolytes like potassium, calcium, and magnesium. These factors will also impact the taste of the water.
Third, we must look at the pH of the water. Typically, water has a reasonably neutral pH. Recently, however, there has been a growing trend to consume alkaline water. We will explore whether this is as good for you as companies claim.
Lastly, we need to factor in the chemicals in plastic packaging and ultimately the pollution associated with water bottle brands.
SmartWater Pros
In the following section, we’ll dive into a comprehensive examination of the pros associated with choosing to drink SmartWater. Also, I explore the unique features, purification process, and potential health benefits of SmartWater.
Hydration
Several factors influence how well our bodies absorb water. An easy point to forget is the role of taste. Taste, or flavor, of the water will impact how readily we consume it – if the water does not taste good to us, we probably won’t drink it. SmartWater considered this, as they remineralized their vapor-distilled water to add back minerals shaping the flavor. The company states that their distilled water is “crisp,” and I can agree that the water does indeed taste good.
Beneficial Minerals
Next, SmartWater specifically advertises that it contains added minerals and electrolytes. What role do minerals play, and why is this important?
To answer this, minerals are inorganic elements found in water that are important for taste and our health. Moreover, electrolytes are a subset of minerals, specifically those that carry an electric charge when dissolved in water. Notably, the most common electrolytes in the body are sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium, calcium, phosphate, and bicarbonates. Electrolytes are essential for maintaining fluid balance, facilitating muscle contractions, transmitting nerve signals, and supporting various cellular processes (source).
It is important to note that some purified water, such as distilled water, loses minerals and electrolytes in the process of removing harmful contaminants. This water is sometimes called “flat” because it lacks important flavor elements. While SmartWater doesn’t heavily market itself as a sports drink, the inclusion of electrolytes suggests a focus on not just hydration but also on replenishing essential minerals that may be lost during physical activity.
Relatively Clean Water
As mentioned earlier, the key feature of SmartWater lies in its vapor distillation process. But what does that mean?
Unlike standard filtration methods, vapor distillation involves turning water into vapor and then condensing it back into liquid form in another container. This process is designed to remove many impurities, resulting in what the company claims to be a crisp and clean taste. A central tenet of SmartWater’s brand is the emphasis on how vapor distillation mimics the natural water cycle.
While vapor distillation removes the majority of dissolved materials, there are certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can remain. Moreover, I reviewed SmartWater’s quality report and found that they addressed this by first processing the water through carbon filters to remove VOCs and chlorine (source). The exact medium details are not provided, but in theory, this should be sufficient.
Next, SmartWater uses ultraviolet light disinfection to destroy micro-organisms before remineralizing the water with small amounts of calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, and potassium bicarbonate.
Following this, the water also passes through an ionizer to raise the alkalinity of the water to a pH minimum of 9.0. This step is called ionization. Continue reading in the next section to learn more about why alkaline water is not ideal for everyone.
Finally, the water is pumped with ozone gas (O3) to disinfect the water before it quickly dissipates into the normal oxygen (O2). Consequently, I reviewed water ozonation and learned that it has a half-life of ~36 minutes, and therefore I am not concerned about residual ozone in the water (source). In fact, France has used ozonation in water treatment with success for decades to reduce the need for other disinfection chemicals (source).
SmartWater Cons
Indeed, the multi-step filtration process that SmartWater uses is impressive, but there are some lingering concerns I have for this premium-priced bottled water. Let’s discuss them below.
Alkaline Water Is Not For Everyone
In my opinion, contrary to popular trends, I don’t believe alkaline water is superior to regularly purified water. While I don’t object to individuals consuming alkaline water in specific situations, we must acknowledge the lack of studies proving it has tangible benefits. In fact, the properties of alkaline water might lead to adverse effects rather than the purported health benefits.
Further, I discovered this study that states that alkaline-electrolyzed-reduced water (ERW) with a pH greater than 9.8 can cause dangerous hyperkalemia. Subsequently, I want to draw your attention to SmartWater’s quality report that states that their water has a minimum pH of 9. Not only that but SmartWater’s “alkaline with antioxidant” variety has a pH of 9.5+ (source). This may not be an issue for everyone. However, children, and those with kidney disease may be particularly susceptible to adverse effects. I recommend that you consult with your physician before consuming alkaline water.
We Don’t Know Exactly How Clean The Water Is
While the filtration process that SmartWater has reported is extensive, there are some unknowns. For example, SmartWater’s quality report states: “Most facilities that purify and bottle smartwater® alkaline procure water from municipal water systems. At a few plants, however, water is obtained from protected groundwater sources.”
At this point, no geographical information is provided regarding the used water, nor the contaminants that may be in it. Tap water is known for having a variety of contaminant concerns. And groundwater (well water) is not free of contaminants either.
Provided that no reports are available regarding the purity testing, we remain a little in the dark. What minimum contaminant levels do they consider acceptable? For premium-priced bottled water, I would like to see these quality standards made available.
Plastic Packaging Leaches Toxins And Pollutes Our Environment
Last, but certainly not least, we must address that SmartWater is bottled in plastic. SmartWater is packaged in a recyclable plastic bottle made from BPA-Free PET plastic (source). While this may sound good, it is still susceptible to leaching toxins and microplastics. For example, did you know that “BPA-free” plastic simply means that another bisphenol is used in place of BPA?
It’s important to note that bisphenols and other toxins used in the production of plastic water bottles (including PET plastic) are known endocrine disruptors (source). This means they can disrupt the delicate balance of our bodies’ hormones.
Of course, besides polluting our bodies with toxins, we know that plastic bottles are an immense burden on our environment. This may seem like a tangent concern, but in reality, it still impacts our health. Between the toxic manufacturing of petroleum and the chemicals added to the plastic itself, there is no way we are left unaffected. These pollutants enter our air, waterways, and food chain, which further our toxic burden. Furthermore, some consider The Coca-Cola Company to be the worst plastic polluter in the world (source).
Thus, while SmartWater has made efforts to remove contaminants, there is reason to believe that additional toxins are added by their choice of packaging. A glass option (which is infinitely recyclable) would be a cleaner choice.
Summary Of The “Is Smart Water Safe to Drink?”
While SmartWater Appears To Be Free Of Many Concerning Contaminants, I Do Not Recommend It For Regular Consumption. Home Water Filtration Systems Are The Safest, Most Affordable Option.
To conclude, SmartWater undergoes a series of impressive filtration media to ensure that many contaminants are removed. The company purifies the water and safely disinfects it as well as adds back some important minerals. However, the consumption of alkaline water is not safe for everyone, and research does little to support its premium price. In addition, water bottled in plastic allows for the introduction of endocrine disruptors, microplastics, and other toxins. Furthermore, the practice of purchasing water bottled in plastic is not hard only on our environment but our wallets as well.
Consequently, I do not recommend that you drink SmartWater often. Instead, I suggest you invest in a home water filtration system. Thankfully, there are many kinds of temporary, travel/pitcher, and permanent options available. Further, my blog post How To Test Your Water Quality At Home explains how you can learn about the quality of your tap water. Next, my post called Best Water Filter System For You guides you through any questions you may have while shopping. Alternatively, you can connect with Clean Water Revival (CWR), and they will recommend filtration systems based on your specific water type and needs. Lastly, I use Pure Effect water filtration in my home after third-party testing confirmed it removed my contaminants while keeping beneficial minerals. Clean and safe water is truly one of the best investments we can make for our families!
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