In India, "mineral water" and "packaged drinking water" are two different categories under the BIS framework. The first refers to water drawn from a protected source with a stable mineral profile; the second covers most of what is sold in PET bottles, regardless of where the water came from. Both have to meet safety standards, but the mineral character of what you are drinking can vary dramatically between them.
What "mineral water" actually means
Mineral water carries dissolved minerals — calcium, magnesium, potassium, bicarbonates — picked up either from a natural spring or from a controlled mineralisation process. Total dissolved solids (TDS) typically sits between 80 and 500 mg/L; anything below 30 mg/L drinks flat, anything above 1000 mg/L starts to taste mineral-heavy.
What changes when you drink mineralised water daily
- Mouthfeel — softer, rounder, less sharp than RO-purified water at low TDS.
- Hydration efficiency is slightly better because of the electrolyte content.
- Bone and dental health get small contributions from calcium and magnesium intake over time.
- Cooking and tea — mineralised water makes a perceptibly better cup of tea or rice than low-TDS RO water.
BIS, labels, and what to ignore
BIS certification (IS 14543 for packaged drinking water, IS 13428 for natural mineral water) is the floor. Beyond that, look for a printed mineral profile and a pH range. Anything else on the label — "from the Himalayas", "20-stage purification" — is marketing, not specification. The numbers are what matter.