Spring water is ground water that flows unassisted or by a pump or well to a surface opening. In other words, a spring is a concentrated discharge of ground water to the surface. Ground water flows through aquifers from certain recharge areas on uplands where it is replenished by rainfall and snow to discharge areas in valleys so that it flows to the surface into streams and rivers. The water flowing from this recharge area has energy acquired from the higher elevation of that area. This gravitational energy forces the water to move through the aquifer. Mostly, the energy is used up by the time the ground water becomes a stream. Most of these springs can be classified as the gravitational springs due to the above mentioned reason. Natural spring water is protected from microorganisms, but companies producing bottled drinking water in most states are required to reveal its source and the treatment system used to the state, and the source of the spring water must be stated on the label of the bottled spring water. Spring water can be collected only at the spring or through a borehole tapping the underground spring. External force may sometimes be used to collect the spring water but this must be from the same underground stratum as the spring and must have all the physical properties, composition and quality before treatment. Treatment for spring water is similar to that used for tap water. The water is treated to control any microbiological or chemical hazards of the raw water, and to provide consumers with clear, taste-and-odor free, colorless product. The water undergoes a minimum of filtration and disinfections by either ozone or UV light. Other treatment processes, such as reverse osmosis, UV, ozone or activated carbon filtration can also be used to remove minerals and trace organic chemicals. All the bottles undergo an internal, external wash before being filled with spring water. |
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