Claim: Drinking untreated spring water, marketed as "raw water," provides health benefits because they are "probiotic.
Verdict: REFUTES

Retrieved passages:
title: Raw water
text: through a series of chemical and physical treatment methods before reaching the filter". Around 2017 untreated spring water, described as "naturally probiotic" raw water, became a commercial product distributed through health food shops, but experts have raised public health concerns about the possible occurrence of harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites such as "Giardia". One raw water business in the United States has even claimed that methods used by bottled and spring water producers could change the molecular structure of water. The fad was mocked on "The Daily Show" in April 2018 in a segment that included an interview with Marion

title: Mountain Valley Spring Water
text: P. Allen Smith serves Mountain Valley Spring and Sparkling Water at his garden home. Mountain Valley Spring and Sparkling Waters are the official bottled waters of the Southern Foodways Alliance and the Society of Hickory Golfers. Because of the environmental impact of bottled water and the lack of any proven benefits of it compared to municipal tap water, states are increasingly banning its purchase using state funds. While of course individuals are free to purchase it, states like NY will not allow state money to be used to purchase it for any State events of at state-funded institutions. California and

title: Mountain Valley Spring Water
text: the connection between the low-sodium content of the water and its alkaline buffering ability. The extensive testing of the spring water enabled the company to present a strong and successful defense to 1956 allegations by the Food and Drug Administration that its advertising claims were too broad and exaggerated. In 2003, it received a Gold Medal at the Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting Awards for Non-Carbonated Bottled Water. Water varieties include regular spring water and sparkling water, and both varieties are available in glass bottles or plastic bottles that use 25% recycled PET. In 2011, Mountain Valley Sparkling Water won

title: Spring of St. Anna, Rivne region, Ukraine
text: capable of processing light energy in the tens of thousands of times the speed of regenerating reactions. Normal tap water, processed through flint, becomes healthier and can be preserved for many years. Flint water is bactericidal. It destroys the influenza virus, quickly stops external bleeding, soothes a toothache, is effective for angina and running nose, paradontosis, and eliminates heartburn. It is also effective for chronic diseases of stomach and duodenum. Flint water can reduce the sugar level in blood, eliminate sand from the kidney and gall bladder, affect the normalization of liver and kidney functions, improve metabolism, and significantly improve

title: Drinking water
text: to safe drinking water is indicated by safe water sources. These improved drinking water sources include household connection, public standpipe, borehole condition, protected dug well, protected spring, and rain water collection. Sources that do not encourage improved drinking water to the same extent as previously mentioned include: unprotected wells, unprotected springs, rivers or ponds, vender-provided water, bottled water (consequential of limitations in quantity, not quality of water), and tanker truck water. Access to sanitary water comes hand in hand with access to improved sanitation facilities for excreta, such as connection to public sewer, connection to septic system, or a pit

title: Wilhoit Springs
text: waters of Europe, such as the Seltzer." In large enough quantities a water like this could provide real relief from heartburn, constipation, certain skin conditions and iron-deficiency anemia, so it's not surprising the waters developed a reputation for medical efficacy. Not all medicinal claims made about Wilhoit Springs water hold up to scrutiny, though. One particular pamphlet boasted that the water "RELIEVES THE APPETITE FOR DRINK": "It is the much appreciated experience of many drinking men that this water will satisfy the craving for strong drink in a most remarkable manner," the advertisement announced. "The victim of drink finds Wilhoit

title: Tibicos
text: many different names/distinction in the scientific literature. Different ingredients or hygienic conditions might also change the fungal and bacteriological composition, leading to the different names. People who do not wish to consume dairy products may find that water kefir provides probiotics without the need for dairy or tea cultured products, such as kombucha. The finished product, if bottled, will produce a carbonated beverage. It will continue to ferment when bottled thus producing more carbonation—so bottles need to be capped loosely and allowed to breathe, or they may become explosive. At least two references in the scientific literature relate to the

title: Mountain Valley Spring Water
text: company in 2016 In an effort to discover what ingredient or ingredients made this spring water different from its competitors and beneficial to those with chronic disorders, the company encouraged the clinical and biochemical study of the water and its possible therapeutic effects in the 1920s and 1930s. Clinical tests at hospitals in New York, St. Louis, and Philadelphia demonstrated improvements in the health of patients suffering from kidney and liver disorders and rheumatism as a result of drinking Mountain Valley Water. Studies after World War II in facilities in New York, Cincinnati, Chicago, St. Louis, and Houston further investigated

title: Raw water
text: Nestle. Raw water Raw water is water found in the environment that has not been treated and does not have any of its minerals, ions, particles, bacteria, or parasites removed. Raw water includes rainwater, ground water, water from infiltration wells, and water from bodies like lakes and rivers. Raw water is generally unsafe for human consumption due to the presence of contaminants. A major health problem in some developing countries is use of raw water for drinking and cooking. Without treatment, raw water can be used for farming, construction or cleaning purposes. Farmers use it for watering their crops or

title: Water purification
text: that may be present in water from an unknown source. Even natural spring water – considered safe for all practical purposes in the 19th century – must now be tested before determining what kind of treatment, if any, is needed. Chemical and microbiological analysis, while expensive, are the only way to obtain the information necessary for deciding on the appropriate method of purification. According to a 2007 World Health Organization (WHO) report, 1.1 billion people lack access to an improved drinking water supply; 88% of the 4 billion annual cases of diarrheal disease are attributed to unsafe water and inadequate

title: Borsec
text: flow of the resort are the springs 1 and 2. Both are captured, their carbonated water - bicarbonated being used for bottling, external and internal cures. It is not advisable to use mineral water in the form of a cleanse without medical indication. In the internal cure (through the direct consumption of mineral water), the springs in Borsec are indicated: • In diseases of the digestive tract and the adjacent glands: chronic hypo- or normoacid gastritis, dyspepsia, mild enteritis, enterocolitis, fermentation colitis. • In chronic hepatitis, posthepatitis states, biliary disorders, sequelae after on the bile ducts surgery. • In nutrition

title: Probiotic
text: replace the harmful microbes by useful microbes." A growing probiotics market has led to the need for stricter requirements for scientific substantiation of putative benefits conferred by microorganisms claimed to be probiotic. Although there are numerous claimed benefits marketed towards using consumer probiotic products, such as reducing gastrointestinal discomfort, improving immune health, relieving constipation, or avoiding the common cold, such claims are not supported by scientific evidence, and are prohibited as deceptive advertising in the United States by the Federal Trade Commission. In a clinical setting however, some probiotics have been found to be useful in treating specific medical conditions,

title: Tap water
text: (see: Milwaukee Cryptosporidium outbreak). Regarding bottled water quality perceptions and reality, in 1999, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) released controversial findings from a 4-year study on bottled water. The results of this study claimed that one-third of the waters tested contained levels of contamination—including synthetic organic chemicals, bacteria, and arsenic—in at least one sample that exceeded allowable limits under either state or bottled water industry standards or guidelines. However, the bottled water industry was quick to dispute the claim, saying bottled water is one of the most highly regulated food products under the FDA regulatory authority and that the

title: Malvern Water (bottled water)
text: Enterprises, who currently own the Malvern brand, announced that due to the declining market share Malvern has on the overall water market, production would be ceasing on 3 November 2010. On 28 October 2011 it was reported that the bottling plant would be sold to a property company. The natural untreated water is generally devoid of all minerals, bacteria, and suspended matter, approaching the purity of distilled water. In 1987 Malvern gained official EU status as a natural mineral water, a mark of purity and quality. However, in spite of regular quality analysis, Malvern's reputation for purity suffered a blow

title: Bottled water
text: Sydney has stopped selling bottled water and started using a machine costing A$5000 to filter, chill and carbonate tap water to get the same quality water. Directive 2009/54/EC deals with the marketing and exploitation of natural mineral waters in the European Union. The two main types of bottled water recognized are mineral water and spring water. Broadly speaking, "mineral water" is groundwater that has emerged from the ground and flowed over rock. Treatment of mineral water is restricted to removal of unstable elements such as iron and sulfur compounds. Treatment for such minerals may extend only to filtration or decanting

title: Malvern water
text: containing just nothing at all...!"" William Heberden also noted the purity of Malvern water, stating "the Malvern water is purer than that of any other springs in England, which I ever examined or heard of". The natural untreated water is generally devoid of all minerals, bacteria, and suspended matter, approaching the purity of distilled water. In 1987 Malvern gained official EU status as a natural mineral water, a mark of purity and quality. However, in spite of regular quality analysis, drought in 2006 dried out the rock that filters the water, allowing the water to flow through it too quickly

title: Szczawnica
text: acidic mineral waters containing bicarbonate, chlorine, sodium, bromine and iodine. They are regenerative waters, with curative properties. Currently, six drinkable mineral water sources are offered in the Mineral Water Bar, rebuilt and reopened in its historical location on Dietl Square. HELENA - spring discovered in 1844. It treats diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract, rheumatologic disorders, chronic kidney inflammation, obesity, and osteoporosis. It is helpful in treatment of orthopedic diseases and orthopaedic trauma. JAN - spring discovered in 1869 - bicarbonate-chloride-sodium acidic water. Used in mineral baths and in production of Szczawniczanka table water. JÓZEF - spring discovered

title: Nestlé Waters North America
text: Ice Mountain brand, is a non-carbonated natural spring water, targeted towards children. It is packaged in an 11-ounce bottle, shaped like an orb. "With new orbtastic shape!" is the catch phrase commonly associated with the Aquapod range. Poland Spring is a brand of bottled water manufactured by a subsidiary of Nestlé. It was founded in 1845 by Hiram Ricker. Poland Spring water is derived from multiple sources in the state of Maine, including Poland Spring and Garden Spring in Poland, Clear Spring in Hollis, Evergreen Spring in Fryeburg, Spruce Spring in Pierce Pond Township, and White Cedar Spring in Dallas

title: H2NO
text: "Evening Standard" and was featured on "The Glass House." In a success story on Coca-Cola's online public relations portal, entitled "The Olive Targets Tap Water & WINS", Coca-Cola described the purpose, implementation, and success in reducing "tap water incidence". Coca-Cola stated that customers chose tap water out of habit, and that selling alternative beverages would increase guest satisfaction: Water. It's necessary to sustain life, but to many Casual Dining restaurant chains it contributes to a dull dining experience for the customer. Many customers choose tap water not because they enjoy it, but because it is what they always have drunk

title: Distilled water
text: Medicine" published a study on the mineral contents of different waters available in the US. The study found that "drinking water sources available to North Americans may contain high levels of calcium, magnesium, and sodium and may provide clinically important portions of the recommended dietary intake of these minerals". It encouraged people to "check the mineral content of their drinking water, whether tap or bottled, and choose water most appropriate for their needs". Since distilled water is devoid of minerals, mineral intake through diet is needed to maintain good health. The consumption of "hard" water (water with minerals) is associated