All plain water contains no calories or sugar. The mineral content of natural source waters can vary depending on the geology of the land where they come from. For example some waters are naturally higher in calcium or magnesium.

Natural source waters have different concentrations of minerals in them, depending on the geology of the land that they come from, which gives each natural source water its taste.

The amount of magnesium in natural source waters varies depending on the geology of the land. Levels are usually around 5mg/litre – 50mg/litre. The main sources of magnesium are vegetables and milk.

No. Water is not a significant source of magnesium, therefore switching from tap water to natural source waters or vice versa will not have a significant impact on your magnesium levels.

Yes, both still and sparkling water hydrate as well as each other.

No. Whether it’s still or sparkling, plain water does not contain any calories or sugar.

When looking at dental health, plain water (tap, still or sparkling) is an excellent drink of choice. Some sparkling waters have a lower pH than still water. Drinks with low pH values can have higher erosive potential than those with a neutral or alkaline pH. However, you would have to drink sparkling water on a regular basis for a long period for this to be a cause for concern. To put this into context, the average person in the UK drinks just 5.9 litres per year of sparkling water (Zenith International UK Bottled Water Drinks Report, June 2018)

Anything with a pH below 5.5 may have higher erosive potential than those with a neutral or alkaline pH. However, you would have to drink sparkling water on a regular basis for a long period for this to be a cause for concern.

Carbon dioxide can be added to the water; however, nothing else can be added to naturally sourced water. Naturally sourced water can also be naturally sparkling.

Some sparkling waters are naturally carbonated. Others have their natural carbonation adjusted by the addition or removal of carbon dioxide to make them sparkling water. Others are plain water to which carbon dioxide is added.

There is no scientific evidence to support this concern. There have been studies that look at the effects of carbonated soft drinks on bone density but these do not include water.

The amount of salt in sparkling water will vary from brand to brand depending on the geology of the land that they come from as the minerals are naturally occurring. The amount of sodium there is in bottled water is listed on the label.

No. The salt levels in sparkling water are significantly below health guidelines and pose no health concerns. The UK and EU set a maximum limit for sodium in bottled water which is 200mg/l and all naturally sourced waters are below this limit. The limit is set for taste reasons and not for health concerns (WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water, fourth edition, 2011).