Methodology
How we review bottled water
Every brand review on BotledWater.com follows the same six-step process. We use documented water chemistry — not marketing language — to score and compare brands.
Source the official water analysis
We start from the bottler's published water analysis (label, PDF or brand site). When multiple sources disagree, we prefer the most recent regulator-filed or label-printed values.
Record the core specifications
We log pH, TDS, calcium, magnesium, sodium, bicarbonate, sulfate, silica and (where applicable) nitrate. Units are normalized to mg/L. We also capture source country, source type (spring, artesian, mineral, purified) and packaging.
Verify against a second source
Each specification is cross-checked against a second independent reference (regulatory database, importer documentation, third-party lab report) when one exists.
Assess taste, packaging and use cases
We describe taste profile based on mineral composition (light/crisp/mineral-forward), packaging (PET, glass, aluminum, carton), recyclability and typical use cases (everyday, coffee/tea, sparkling pairings, fasting, athletes).
Write the verdict
The verdict summarizes who the water is for and who should skip it. Any numeric rating is computed from the published scoring rubric below — never assigned by gut feel.
Date and link the sources
Every review carries a Last verified date and links back to the brand's published analysis so readers can re-check the numbers themselves.
Scoring methodology
When a review carries a numeric rating, the rating is computed — not assigned. Each brand is scored on seven weighted factors. Every factor is rated on a 1–5 scale and combined into a single 1.0–5.0 overall using the weights below.
| Scoring factor | Weight |
|---|---|
| Taste / drinking experience | 20% |
| Source transparency | 20% |
| Mineral data availability | 15% |
| Packaging options | 10% |
| Availability | 10% |
| Price / value | 15% |
| Environmental disclosure | 10% |
| Total | 100% |
What each score means
Taste / drinking experience
Weight 20%- 1 / 5
- Off-putting, harsh or chemically aftertaste; widely criticized.
- 3 / 5
- Clean and neutral; no standout character.
- 5 / 5
- Distinctive, well-balanced drinking experience widely praised in editorial and consumer references.
Source transparency
Weight 20%- 1 / 5
- Source not disclosed beyond country.
- 3 / 5
- Region or aquifer named without geographic precision.
- 5 / 5
- Single named spring, aquifer or bottling location with geographic coordinates or municipality.
Mineral data availability
Weight 15%- 1 / 5
- No published mineral analysis.
- 3 / 5
- Partial label data (a few minerals only).
- 5 / 5
- Full published analysis with pH, TDS and the major cations and anions in mg/L.
Packaging options
Weight 10%- 1 / 5
- Single plastic SKU only.
- 3 / 5
- PET plastic in multiple sizes.
- 5 / 5
- Multiple materials offered (glass, aluminum, carton) and/or returnable formats.
Availability
Weight 10%- 1 / 5
- Direct-from-brand only or single-region.
- 3 / 5
- Available through specialty retailers or selected grocery chains.
- 5 / 5
- Stocked in major national grocery, mass-market and online retailers including Amazon.
Price / value
Weight 15%- 1 / 5
- Significantly overpriced vs. comparable waters in its category.
- 3 / 5
- Priced in line with category peers.
- 5 / 5
- Strong mineral profile, packaging or source-quality for its price band.
Environmental disclosure
Weight 10%- 1 / 5
- No environmental information published.
- 3 / 5
- General sustainability statement without specifics.
- 5 / 5
- Published carbon, recycled-content or circularity disclosures and verifiable third-party certifications.
Testing disclosure
Taste scores reflect comparative editorial analysis of published mineral profiles, carbonation levels and consumer reception — not laboratory or blind taste testing conducted by BotledWater. All other factors are scored from published product information, brand documentation and regulatory filings.
Reviews that have not yet been scored under this rubric are labeled "Editorial review — unscored" and do not display a star number.
Methodology last updated: June 2026.
