

From still to sparkling, fresh to brackish, there are many different types of water. What might seem like a simple choice can turn into decision paralysis when you’re confronted with the various types of drinking water, like sparkling, flavoured, and plain. Each comes with different pros, cons, and uses.
Your decision may also change depending on whether you’re using the water for drinking, cooking or cleaning. After all, nobody washes the dishes with sparkling water, but soft water is a great choice for efficient (and cheaper) laundry needs.
In this guide, we will cover:
- Fresh water
- Filtered/Distilled water
- Hard water
- Soft water
- Alkaline water
- Well water
- Purified water
- Flavoured or infused water
- Bottled water (sparkling, spring or glacier)
- Undrinkable water
Before we weigh in on which type of water is the healthiest to drink.
1. Fresh water
You may be familiar with the statistic that 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered in water, but did you know that only 3% of the Earth’s water is fresh?
This water is found naturally in rivers, streams, lakes, groundwater, and wetlands. While it may not always be drinkable due to bacteria and other contaminants, it is defined ‘fresh’ due to its relatively low salt content.
Tap water is both fresh and drinkable because it undergoes a lengthy treatment process to remove any potentially harmful contaminants.
Pros of drinking fresh water:
Fresh water is the main category that all types of drinking water fall under. It keeps you hydrated and supports your mental and physical wellbeing. The alternative would be drinking salt water, which is not suitable for drinking, as it can be fatal in large enough quantities – and small quantities can make you ill.
Drawbacks of drinking fresh water:
While all drinkable water is fresh, not all fresh water is drinkable. It is not recommended to drink river or lake water directly from the source as this contains dirt, minerals, bacteria, and a host of undesirable ingredients.
Drinking poor-quality fresh water can be detrimental to your wellbeing, so it is important to be certain your water has been effectively filtered and cleansed of any unwanted contaminants.
2. Filtered/Distilled water
Distilled water is fresh water that has undergone a treatment process to remove any harmful ingredients. This often involves reverse osmosis and filtration to get rid of any bacteria, viruses, and sometimes minerals.
Pros of drinking filtered or distilled water
Filtered water boasts a superior taste and smell compared to regular tap water.
Many people also enjoy the added sense of safety, as reverse osmosis and filtration remove any PFAS (forever chemicals), parasites, bacteria, chlorine and heavy metals that may otherwise be present in your tap water.
Filtered water can easily be created with the help of a water filter jug, under-the-sink water filter system, or reverse osmosis system. However, the type of filter you need will depend on your preferences. For example:
- An at-home filter system like the Complete Twistlock can be installed in a variety of locations and is fairly low-maintenance, requiring a cartridge replacement once a year. It can filter out most particulates responsible for unwanted taste and odours, including chlorine.
- A reverse osmosis system can also fit under a kitchen sink, but goes a step further than a water filter. It can remove up to 99% of impurities on the molecular level, and can also remove minerals from the water.
- A water filter jug is a good compact option that is easily transported and fits into your fridge. However, jugs often require more frequent cartridge replacement, washing and general upkeep.
Drawbacks of drinking filtered or distilled water
There are no minerals in distilled water that has been through reverse osmosis, which can mean it tastes different. Many people do not enjoy the taste of pure H2O or softened water, and instead prefer their drinking water to contain some minerals, such as calcium or magnesium.
3. Hard water
Hard water is fresh water with no unwanted contaminants, but a high concentration of minerals like magnesium and calcium. Roughly 60% of the UK has hard water, which comes with some unique challenges.
You can easily check to see if you have hard water and determine if you should be concerned about any of the drawbacks of using it.
Pros of drinking hard water
Many people enjoy drinking hard water as they believe the additional minerals provide some well-being benefits. Others simply prefer the taste of hard water to its non-mineral counterparts.
Drawbacks of drinking hard water
While there are minimal cons to drinking hard water, it can actually do some concerning damage to other areas of your life.
- Hard water is responsible for limescale, which can build up in your pipes and heaters, causing blockages and breakdowns that are costly to repair.
- Smaller deposits of limescale can still be costly, with lower efficiency in water-based heaters and kettles.
- Soap is harder to use, and forms a ‘soap scum’ rather than a lather, making cleaning more difficult and costly, as you have to use more product to achieve the same amount of cleanliness.
- Staining and streaky surfaces can also occur after cleaning, with the water evaporating and leaving limescale deposits on surfaces all over your house.
The above means many people prefer to use a water softener to soften their water for cooking and cleaning purposes. However, if you still want to enjoy the mineral contents of hard water without the drawbacks, you can also use a combination of a three-way drinking water tap and a water softener.
4. Soft water
Soft water has little or no mineral content, and as such it is much easier to cook and clean with. It is rarer to find soft water in the natural world.
However, an increasing number of people are choosing to install under-the-sink water softener systems to provide softened water throughout their homes, not just for drinking.
Pros of drinking soft water
While both naturally soft and artificially softened water is safe to drink, the main benefits of softened water extend to your wider lifestyle, such as:
- Saved money – People who own a water softener save 20-64% on energy bills, and up to £550 per year.
- No limescale buildup – this helps to eliminate costly maintenance issues with your plumbing and water-reliant appliances like kettles, dishwashers, heaters, boilers, and beyond.
- Less cleaning required – as soft water builds up a lather instead of soap scum, you’ll find yourself spending less time and money on cleaning your home.
- Fewer stains – where limescale can sometimes leave unsightly stains on fabrics, glass shower doors, and other surfaces, soft water simply will not leave any marks around your home.
Drawbacks of drinking soft water
Some people note a slightly salty taste to soft water as a result of the softening process. As a result, many prefer to use water softeners in connection with a drinking water tap that can still provide hard water for drinking.
Unless you live in the 40% of the UK that has access to naturally soft water, you’ll probably need a water softener to enjoy all that soft water has to offer. This can come with a significant initial cost, but quickly pays for itself – and lowers your costs for the future, too.
5. Alkaline water
Drinking water with the right pH level is important, as many find water that is too acidic has a negative impact on their well-being. Enter alkaline water– this drink is on the opposite side of the pH scale and contains alkaline minerals like potassium, magnesium, calcium, and iron.
Pros of drinking alkaline water
Many believe that alkaline water can benefit your personal well-being, especially after exercise, thanks to the additional mineral content.
Drawbacks of drinking alkaline water
Alkaline water can be expensive compared to other types of mineral water.
It can be risky to interfere with your body’s natural pH balance. You should consult with a healthcare professional to see if alkaline water is the right solution for any specific issues you are facing.
6. Well water
Well water is fairly uncommon, however in more rural areas it can still be found and relatively relied upon as a drinking water source.
Essentially, rainwater trickles through the ground, gathering deep in the earth. People dig or drill into the ground to reach the water, creating a well. This water is technically fresh, but can be contaminated by any number of unwanted substances found in the ground, so it is important to filter and purify well water before drinking it.
Pros of drinking well water
If you have access to water purification and filtration equipment, such as a reverse osmosis system, this can help ensure your well water is safe to drink.
Many people in rural areas also appreciate the low cost and ease of use of a well, especially if they happen to have a well on their property already.
Drawbacks of drinking well water
As well water is typically untreated, it is not as safe to drink as tap water. Bacteria and viruses can contaminate the water as it flows through the ground, making it a bit of a risk.
It can be costly to treat and continuously test well water on your own, which is why many people prefer the ease of use – and safety – tap water provides.
7. Purified water
Purified water is typically fresh water that has been through a rigorous treatment process to remove any contaminants, including chemicals, fungi, bacteria and viruses.
Pros of drinking purified water
Purified water is about as safe to drink as you can get – even if the original water source, like a well or river, is contaminated, the water will be safe if it is purified.
In the UK, most tap water can be considered purified and safe to drink.
Drawbacks of drinking purified water
Purchasing bottled (purified) water can be costly, and installing an at-home filtration system can also come with additional costs. However, these are generally considered low maintenance compared to water filter jugs.
If you choose to filter your water, you may also miss out on some additives present in regular tap water, such as fluoride, and minerals like calcium and magnesium.
8. Flavoured or infused water
Flavoured water is increasingly popular, especially among younger people who enjoy the sweet taste.
Infused water has typically been mixed with an artificial sweetener or flavour, but can even come in the form of a water infuser bottle, with a special compartment for fruit slices. As the fruit sits in the water, the flavour infuses and your water tastes better.
Pros of drinking flavoured or infused water
Flavoured water is typically tastier than other types of water, and that’s by design. The improved taste can make it easier to stay hydrated and give you additional motivation to drink your 6-8 glasses per day.
Different fruit infusions are also a great way to add variety to your diet and fluid intake. If you’re ever bored of the taste of tap water (or simply dislike it) then you can easily add healthy flavours to your water.
Drawbacks of drinking flavoured or infused water
Flavoured water can be sweet, which is not to everyone’s liking. And like most sweet treats, it’s best to drink it in moderation. Monitor your intake of any flavours that contain sugar or artificial sweeteners, and be aware if you have any unwanted reactions.
9. Bottled water (sparkling, spring or glacier)
Bottled water can be the same as purified water, but often comes from other sources, such as mountain springs or glaciers with flowing water. While being similar to fresh water, glaciers and springs should actually be much cleaner and relatively safe to drink from.
Pros of drinking bottled water
Glaciers and springs are an excellent source of clean, relatively pure water. Because they are flowing sources of natural water, this type of water often contains minerals as well.
The mix of coming from a natural source and containing minerals combines with the ready availability of bottled water to create many people’s drinking water of choice.
Drawbacks of drinking bottled water
While bottled water from a trusted brand is safe to drink, it can be costly.
In addition, purchasing single-use bottled water can contribute to climate change and plastic waste.
Different types of undrinkable water
There are many types of undrinkable water to be aware of. It’s worth keeping an eye out for any ‘do not drink’ water warnings in your area as well, just to be sure you never drink water that is unsafe to consume.
Saltwater (seawater and brackish water)
If water has a salt concentration of 3.5% and higher, it’s considered salt water. Saltwater can be found in the earth’s oceans and seas. While it might not sound like a high salt content, drinking seawater can be lethal.
Brackish water also has a high salt content and is therefore undrinkable. However, its salinity is not as high as seawater, so it rests between fresh water and seawater on the scale.
Black and grey water
Black water refers to a specific type of wastewater that comes from human waste, kitchen sinks, and dishwashers. This water contains a high concentration of contaminants such as grease, faecal matter, urine, and potentially harmful pathogens. Safe to say, it’s not for drinking!
Similarly, grey water is also undrinkable wastewater, but not as severely contaminated as black water. It comes from washing machines, sinks, showers and bathtubs. It can be more easily treated and reused in gardens or toilets.
Raw water
Put simply, raw water is any water you find out in the wild, whether that’s a puddle or a lake, as long as it hasn’t been treated. Raw water can be made drinkable via the filtration and purification process, but drinking it as-is means you’ll also drink all the contaminants it contains – this can be anything from minerals and bacteria to harmful parasites.
Types of drinking water FAQs
Before we reveal the #1 best type of water to drink, let’s answer a few quick-fire questions about the types of drinking water.
Is boiled water the same as distilled water?
No, boiled water has simply been boiled, which does not remove minerals and microorganisms. While boiling can get rid of potentially harmful contaminants in the water, distilled water is much more pure. This is because the distillation process removes all bacteria, viruses, minerals, and any other impurities from the water.
What type of water do I have at home?
If you find yourself constantly battling limescale – a chalky white substance that remains once water dries on a surface – then you likely have hard water. This can make it harder to heat your home, wash surfaces (and yourself!) and make appliances less efficient overall.
Use our online water hardness checker if the above sounds like familiar problems in your home.
Are there different types of distilled water?
There are three main methods used to distil water, however the end result is essentially the same.
- Simple distillation involves boiling the water and collecting the steam, which condenses into pure water.
- Fractional distillation involves multiple stages of repeated heat, evaporation, condensation, and collection.
- Multi-stage distillation (MSF) places the liquid under high pressure, which allows it to be boiled at a lower temperature, the steam being collected and condensed in a lower-pressure chamber.
What’s the best water to drink?
The best water to drink depends on your preferences – some people prefer flavoured water while others prefer more neutral tap water. Some enjoy the slight saltiness of soft water, while others enjoy the minerals found in hard water.To enjoy the best of both worlds, we recommend having access to both soft and hard water in your home. This can be achieved by installing a water softener and water filter under your sink. As a result, you can enjoy drinking and cooking with H2O that is free from impurities like bacteria and PFAS while retaining the minerals that give most tap water its signature taste.


