However, taste is not an indicator of safe water. Graham said the main difference between bottled and tap water is source and treatment of the water. Both are regulated by state and federal regulations. The variation in flavor depends on the amount of minerals it contains. Graham said there are at least five types of bottled water including distilled, drinking, natural, spring and mineral water.
Distilled water is treated to remove the minerals found naturally in the water.
It is often tasteless because of its lack of minerals. Drinking water is obtained from municipal water systems, wells or springs. This type of bottled water is purified, but contains some dissolved solids. Natural water comes from well or spring systems and has no extensive treatment. Because this water is almost exclusively from groundwater sources, it usually contains a wide range of minerals and it is therefore more flavorful.