The Science

A note on status. The summaries below are written for a general audience and are being reviewed and referenced by our scientific advisory group. Treat them as an accessible starting point rather than clinical guidance, and expect citations and refinements to be added.

What is remineralization?

Many bottled and purified waters are produced with processes — such as reverse osmosis or distillation — that remove not just contaminants but also naturally occurring minerals. The result can be water that is very pure but very low in beneficial minerals.

Remineralization is the deliberate process of adding minerals back into water. Done thoughtfully, it aims to restore a mineral profile closer to that of good natural sources — rather than simply adding a pinch of something for taste.

Why calcium and magnesium?

Calcium and magnesium are two of the most studied minerals in drinking water. They are common in natural mineral waters, they influence taste, and they are frequently the minerals lost during purification. Magnesium in particular is often under-represented in modern diets.

Because of this, our framework starts with these two minerals as a practical, measurable foundation — while remaining open to incorporating others as the science and advisory review progress.

Why balance matters

It is not only how much calcium and magnesium are present, but their ratio to one another. Water that is high in one and very low in the other is not as well-rounded as water that provides both in sensible proportion. This is why our rating requires a water to meet thresholds for both minerals to reach a given level, rather than letting a high value in one compensate for a low value in the other.

What this means in practice

• Purified water is not automatically "better" — purity and mineral content are different things.
• Mineral content is measurable and can be stated clearly on a label.
• A simple, shared scale makes it easier to compare waters honestly.

That shared scale is The Standard.