What Is American Mineral Water?

The FDA's definition, the 250 mg/L TDS rule, and why most US bottled waters are technically spring water, not mineral water.

The FDA definition

In the United States, bottled water labelling is governed by the FDA under 21 CFR §165.110. The regulation defines several categories — purified, spring, artesian, well, and mineral water — each with strict source and composition rules.

For a product to be labelled mineral water, it must (1) originate from a geologically and physically protected underground source, (2) be collected without exposure to surface contamination, and (3) contain at least 250 mg/L of total dissolved solids (TDS). No minerals may be added — every milligram on the label has to come from the source rock itself.

Spring water vs mineral water in the US

Both spring and mineral water must come from a protected underground source and be bottled at the source. The difference is the mineral threshold: spring water has no minimum TDS, while mineral water requires at least 250 mg/L.

That single number is why brands like Evian (~345 mg/L) qualify as mineral water in Europe but are typically labelled as spring water in the US — most American sources also fall below 250 mg/L, so the "spring water" label is genuinely the most accurate designation for them.

The geology behind American sources

The US lacks the volcanic, deep-bicarbonate geology that drives Europe's high-mineral waters. Most American springs draw from glacial, limestone, or granite aquifers with relatively short residence times — producing soft, low-TDS waters with crisp, neutral profiles. The exceptions are concentrated in Arkansas (Hot Springs), Texas (Mineral Wells), upstate New York (Saratoga), and Georgia (Warm Springs), where deeper aquifers and historic spa traditions produced genuinely mineralised waters.

US brands that qualify as mineral water

Crazy Water (Mineral Wells, TX) — up to 3,000 mg/L TDS in the No. 4 strength.
Saratoga (Saratoga Springs, NY) — naturally carbonated artesian water near the threshold.
Mountain Valley (Hot Springs, AR) — borderline TDS but qualifying mineral profile in some sources.
Lithia Springs (Lithia, GA) — high-lithium mineral water bottled since 1888.
Utopia Water (Texas Hill Country) — naturally high-TDS artesian source.

Frequently asked questions

What legally counts as 'mineral water' in the USA?

Under FDA 21 CFR 165.110, natural mineral water must come from a protected underground source, be bottled at the source, and contain at least 250 mg/L of total dissolved solids (TDS) from naturally present minerals — with no mineral addition allowed.

Why are most US bottled waters labeled 'spring water' instead of 'mineral water'?

Most American sources don't reach the 250 mg/L TDS threshold, so they qualify only as 'spring water'. Spring water has the same source-protection rules but no mineral-content floor.

Which US brands actually qualify as mineral water?

The clearest examples are Crazy Water (Mineral Wells, TX) — well above 250 mg/L — and several Saratoga and Mountain Valley product lines that sit near or above the threshold. Lithia Springs, Utopia and a handful of regional springs also qualify.

Is American mineral water as 'mineral-rich' as European mineral water?

Generally no. US sources average 100–400 mg/L TDS; European mineral waters routinely reach 1,000–3,000 mg/L, and outliers like Rogaška Donat Mg exceed 13,000 mg/L. The geology is simply different.