What Minerals Are in Water?

When we consume food and drinks, we generally want to know what they’re made of before we put them into our bodies. This is because certain things can result in adverse health effects, while others can be very good for us. The same is true for water.

While we know it’s important to avoid contaminated water in order to remain healthy, what about the things in water that are good for us? In fact, minerals in water have been shown to have numerous health benefits. So, what minerals are in water?

The Most Common Minerals in Water

First, it’s important to note that there are different types of minerals in different types of water—mainly, tap and bottled. We’ll focus primarily on the minerals in tap water, since around 71% of Americans report drinking tap water to some extent. Here are the most common minerals found in tap water:

• Sodium
• Potassium
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Iron
• Fluoride
• Copper
• Manganese
• Phosphorus
• Zinc

Bottled water also contains some of these minerals, but the exact ones depend on the specific brand of bottled water, whether it is spring water—also known as mineral water—or not, and more. Here are a few of the most common mineral compounds in bottled water:

• Calcium chloride
• Magnesium chloride 
• Potassium bicarbonate
• Sodium bicarbonate
• Magnesium sulfate

Many of these minerals in tap and bottled water help to give water a slight taste and are also beneficial to our health in moderate quantities.

The Benefits of Minerals in Water

The benefits of minerals in water will depend on the exact type of water you drink, and how much you consume each day. Generally, the health benefits of minerals in water include:

• Lower cholesterol
• Lower blood pressure
• Strengthening bones
• Promoting digestive health
• Improving blood circulation

Drinking enough water each day is important for our bodies to stay hydrated and function properly, but it can also have added health benefits. However, a high concentration of certain minerals can be problematic and even lead to health issues. That’s why it’s important to know what’s in the water you drink and how much is in it.

At Aqua Clara, we provide access to clean water by designing, developing, and disseminating clean water technologies to benefit those who live on less than $2 per day. We also aim to provide safe drinking water by offering our Universal Cartridge Filter, which reduces many different contaminants while keeping beneficial minerals in your water. You can purchase a filter directly from our website, or they are also now available at Wal-Mart. 

Our Universal Cartridge Filter fits most household filter products, includes a rubber seal to protect against contamination, and will purify your home's drinking water at a reasonable price. The proceeds from these filters help fund our projects all over the world, so consider helping us make a difference by purchasing a filter today!

About Aqua Clara International

Scientists long ago discovered how to purify unsafe water. To us, the central issue has been in designing solutions that are both sustainable and scalable and that can reach the millions in need while at the same time continuing to function without sustained outside input. Our target populations are those individuals and families who live on $2 per day or less.

We are a technology transfer organization. Our niche in clean water continues to be in designing science-based technologies that utilize locally available materials where possible and then transferring what we learn to those working in areas of need. The cost of our technologies varies by country and is dependent on the prevailing costs of raw materials, such as plastic containers, PVC piping, sand, etc. Learn more by visiting our website.