What Is Really in Spring Water?

Spring water is among the best-selling drinks in Dutch hospitality and retail. Every year, some 400 million litres of mineral water or spring water in plastic bottles are sold over the counter. Yet most business buyers do not know exactly what distinguishes spring water from mineral water or tap water – even though that difference feeds directly into price, quality and purchasing decisions.

This article explains what spring water is, how it compares with mineral water, and which brands are suitable for hospitality, retail and vending. It also shows how to put this knowledge into practice: serving customers better, managing stock more intelligently and strengthening your range in a targeted way.

WHAT IS SPRING WATER AND WHAT DOES IT CONTAIN?

Spring water is groundwater that is naturally drinkable and is extracted directly at the source. It undergoes no chemical or microbiological treatment before it ends up in the bottle. That makes the difference from mineral water immediately apparent: mineral water also comes from an underground source, but its composition is fixed by law and must remain constant.

The distinction between spring water and mineral water comes down mainly to two factors:

• Bottling – Mineral water is packaged directly at the source. Spring water may first be transported by tanker to a bottling plant.
• Composition – The mineral composition of spring water does not have to be stable, unlike that of mineral water.

In terms of quality requirements, spring water is subject to a lighter regime than tap water. However, every brand must at least meet the requirements for drinking water set out in the Water Supply Act (Waterleidingwet). Strikingly, in 60% of cases spring water comes from the same soil layer as tap water.

The mineral content per 100 ml is generally as follows:

• Calcium – approximately 3 mg
• Magnesium – around 1 mg
• Sodium – approximately 1 mg

The label of every brand of spring water must state the recognised source. As a buyer, this lets you check origin and quality straight away, even before you select a supplier for your hospitality business or shop.

SPRING WATER AND HEALTH: WHAT BUYERS NEED TO KNOW

Is spring water healthier than tap water? It is a frequently asked question among hospitality business owners and retailers. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum), the answer is no: tap water meets the strict requirements of the Drinking Water Act (Drinkwaterwet) and contains comparable minerals. Spring water does seep naturally through layers of soil, but its purification is monitored less strictly than that of tap water. What is more, checks are carried out only on whether the source itself is of good quality – not on the water at every point in the chain.

Then there is the issue of microplastics. Bottled water can contain up to twice as many microplastics as tap water. This is mainly because plastic particles are released by heat or prolonged storage. Do you store large stocks? Then the storage location and temperature have a direct impact on product quality.

Does your range include spring water sold for preparing baby food? Always check the label for low levels of nitrate, nitrite, sodium and fluoride – not every brand is suitable for this.

Clear guidelines apply to shelf life:

• Opened, at room temperature: 2 to 3 days
• Opened, in the fridge: 5 to 7 days
• Unopened: up to 2 years, as indicated by the best-before date

The water itself does not go off. The best-before date mainly protects against substances leaching from the bottle. That makes stock planning predictable – and prevents unnecessary write-offs in the warehouse.

HOW BUSINESSES CAN MAKE SMART USE OF SPRING WATER IN 2026

Business buyers in hospitality and retail have different priorities in 2026 than they used to. The question of what spring water is now plays only a limited role – the focus is on suppliers who align stock, range and delivery times well. Wholesalers such as Bidfood, Van Dijk Groothandel and FOOX offer a broad package for this purpose: from Chaudfontaine and Spa to San Pellegrino and Marie Stella Maris.

Table water is more than just a thirst-quencher here. Sparkling water stimulates the appetite on the terrace, while still water neutralises sour and bitter flavours between courses. On hot days, that also makes table water a serious margin earner.

Minimum order values apply to business orders. At Bidfood, you can order directly from €549. Van Dijk Groothandel works exclusively through business accounts with a dedicated account manager and delivers the next working day throughout the Netherlands.

The sectors that buy water vary considerably:

• SME canteens and meeting rooms – often with 18.9-litre Culligan bottles for water dispensers
• Sports club canteens and associations – as a healthy alternative alongside soft drinks and sports drinks
• Vending operators – with premium brands in 33cl and 50cl for combination vending machines
• Care institutions, education and event organisers – for large volumes in canteens and on location

Combine spring water and mineral water in a single order with coffee, tea and confectionery. That keeps purchasing straightforward: one invoice, one point of contact.

CONCLUSION

Spring water, mineral water and tap water differ mainly in extraction, bottling and quality control. For business buyers, this distinction is of direct practical relevance: it determines quality, shelf life and margin. Tailor your range to the sector – canteens, vending or hospitality – and check labels for origin and composition before selecting a supplier.

Combine reliable wholesalers such as Bidfood or Van Dijk Groothandel with well-known brands for fast delivery and security of supply. That way, you can use spring water in a targeted and profitable way for your business.

Two choices to check: I gave the Dutch acts and the Voedingscentrum English names with the original in brackets, and I rendered "A-merken" as "premium brands".