The most important issue facing consumers purchasing bottled water is discovering the differences of the products available. Our goal is to provide complete and factual information about the industry as well as MONTAQUA. We want you to discover why MONTAQUA is in a class of it's own.

The actual waters that are bottled by competing brands differ just as much as the labels that set them apart. All brands of bottled water are not created equal. In an industry where labels spark pristine images of their sources, over 25% is bottled from municipal sources.

It has been left up to the consumer to educate themselves and fight through the misleading labels to discover the differences in brands. Pure drinking water, next to oxygen, is the single most important nutrient for sustaining human life. Most bottled water is not pure in its natural\ state, it is only after it has undergone numerous types of treatment steps.

Discovering that all bottled water is not created equal is only the first step. There is much to learn about the importance of the water's source, the benefits of staying properly hydrated, the alarming state of the world's drinking water, and numerous other facts. The more you learn, the more you'll understand why MONTAQUA is truly in a class of its own.

Naturally pure drinking water is hard to find these days. In the United States we have been lucky and have not had to deal with the issues of water quality as other parts of the world have, until now. Pollutants from our civilization over the years have increasingly contaminated our precious supplies of ground water. Now the all important question must be asked, "Where does my drinking water come from?"

This should be asked whether the water flows from a faucet or comes from a bottle. It is important to learn where the source is located and if there is any potential for contamination. Because most sources cannot protect the areas surrounding their source, pollution and contamination problems exist.

Use the contact information located on each bottle of water and find out where there source is. By discovering the location of the source you can decide for yourself if the label and name accurately portrays the product. You should also question the source and contents of local water supplies and what treatment methods are used. Getting knowledge about your water is the most important thing you can do in order to prevent possible health problems that are associated with drinking contaminated water.

Source is important if you want a drinking water that is without contaminates or pollution. A truly protected source will naturally be free from the harmful products that have caused consumers to look for safe drinking water. MONTAQUA's source is protected and the fact that it is naturally free from contaminates or pollution further testifies why Montaqua is in a class of its own.

Because of the problems concerning the quality of municipal drinking water that is available, people are starting to follow the European’s lead and depend on bottled water for their needs. Following are the different types of bottled water as defined by the FDA:

Artesian water/artesian well water - Bottled water from a well that taps a confined aquifer (a water-bearing underground layer of rock or sand) in which the water level stands at some height above the top of the aquifer.

Mineral water - Bottled water containing not less than 250 parts per million total dissolved solids. Mineral water is distinguished from other types of bottled water by its constant level and relative proportions of mineral and trace elements at the point of emergence from the source. No minerals can be added to this product.

Purified water - Water that has been produced by distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis or other suitable processes and that meets the definition of purified water in the United States Pharmacopoeia.

Sparkling bottled water - Water that, after treatment and possible replacement with carbon dioxide, contains the same amount of carbon dioxide that it had at emergence from the source. Soda water, seltzer water, and tonic water, which may contain sugar and calories, are not the same as sparkling bottled water.

Spring water - Bottled water derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface of the earth. Spring water must be collected only at the spring or through a borehole tapping the underground formation finding the spring. There must be a natural force causing the water to flow to the surface through a natural orifice.

Well water - Bottled water from a hole bored, drilled, or otherwise constructed in the ground, which taps the water of an aquifer.

These bottled waters cannot contain any sugar and must be calorie free. The bottled water is regulated by four different levels; federal by the F.D.A., state, industry association, and by the individual company.

Despite being highly regulated, bottled water might still be no better than other sources of water. Research the source of the water and what it contains so you can be sure you're getting your money's worth. With MONTAQUA you are getting what you paid for, pure natural spring water just as nature intended.

MONTAQUA can easily be stored in your home. This is a great option for people who want to be prepared for any event in which they would need drinking water. The taste of the water, however, might suffer the longer it is on the shelf if some of the following guidelines are not followed.

• MONTAQUA should only be stored with other food products. Never store it near strong smelling products such as moth balls, bleach, gasoline, or laundry detergents. Even onions will affect the smell and taste of the bottled water.
• Avoid storing MONTAQUA where anything could spill on the outside of the bottles. This could cause a problem with the taste or odor of the water.
• Rotate your inventory often because the freshest bottled water will be the best tasting.
• Avoid storing MONTAQUA in direct sunlight for long periods of time. Sunlight may affect the flavor of the water.
• MONTAQUA should not be allowed to freeze. Freezing bottled water can cause the precipitation of white solids, which are harmless. These white particles are actually minerals that were separated from the water by extreme temperature change. Freezing may also cause the bottle material to stretch, deform and/or rupture.

Water is the staple of life. A person will die after 4-10 days without water while most people could live a month or longer without food. Getting enough water is essential to good health and is something most people do not do.

You can’t rely on thirst to tell you when your body’s water level is low. If the amount of water in your body is reduced by just 1%-2% you feel thirsty. If it’s reduced by 5% your skin shrinks and you have difficulty moving your muscles or thinking clearly. If it’s reduced by 10% you will die.

In general, people should drink eight 8-oz servings of water per day. This is necessary in order to replace the two to three quarts of water that the average adult loses per day through elimination of body waste, sweating, and breathing. More than half of your body is water with large percentages in your brain, blood, and lean muscle.

As your body weight, activity level, and air temperature increases so should your intake of water. Plain water is best but you can also receive some of the needed water from other beverages. However, drinks containing caffeine and alcohol remove water.

Water is a great drink because of the absence of calories, artificial colors, and artificial flavors. Another reason is the benefits of water to your body such as it: quenches thirst, aids digestion, cools your body, flushes out wastes, carries nutrients to cells, reduces risk of kidney stones, lubricates joints, promotes good skin tone, relieves headaches, and helps in weight loss.

The following articles further discuss the health benefits of drinking enough water and keeping our bodies properly hydrated:

"What is your thirst telling you?" Mayo Health Oasis
"Are you drinking enough water?" Australia's NSW Department of Health
"Drink up!" KidsHealth.org
"Your body's many cries for water" Dr. F. Batmanghelidj

The world and the news of the world are always changing. The news about drinking water is no different. Mostly these changes reflect negative attributes about the quality of our drinking water. As more time and money is being spent researching and testing our water sources around the country we are finding out how widespread the problem is.

Below we have gathered articles and will continue to do so as we find more or new ones are published, so check back often. All of the articles are fascinating and deal with the problems of contamination in our drinking water and ways they are trying to correct it. If there are any articles that you find to be educational and you would like to see them in this section please contact us.

"Lax Oversight Raises Tap Water Risks" USA TODAY
"Safe Water Programs Questioned" Montana Standard
"Our Children At Risk" Natural Resources Defense Council
"Some Bottled Water Said Not Pure" Associated Press
"E. Coli Haunts Small Water Systems" Bottled Water Reporter