Over the last couple of decades, there has been a major shift in the way we see water from a health perspective. With the exception of those living in major cities, most of us just tended to trust the stuff that came out of the kitchen tap. These days, we are more concerned about substances added by local authorities to kill harmful microbes or keep our teeth strong, as well as those less intentionally added by, for example, deteriorating metal and ceramic pipes. Encouraged by various health advocates, we are also drinking a lot of more of it in order to remain youthful and vibrant and detoxified.
Many of us have responded to these changes by increasing our consumption of “spring water.” Usually not the type that comes bubbling out of the ground into our own container, but the artfully packaged bottled variety shipped from exotic locations semi-direct to our supermarket shelves. However, several trillion liters later, various doubts have also started to arise about the wisdom of this trend.
In addition to the huge environmental impact, there is a growing awareness of the chemical leaching that occurs when water is stored in plastic bottles for long periods without refrigeration. Studies also show commercial filtering breaks down or removes the naturally occurring minerals, nutrients and beneficial microbes in H2O (though this shouldn’t be a particular problem if you eat a healthy diet). It’s still water, just with more of some things we don’t really want and less of others we do.
Although most of us have basically chosen to ignore such points, a growing number are investing in filtration systems, and some are even collecting their own water from natural springs. Obviously self-sourcing takes a bit more effort than going to the supermarket so people doing it tend to be interested in natural health or the rewilding and prepping movements, among others. If you do have a chance though, it can be fun, healthy and a real taste experience. You may be surprised. But if you plan to drink spring water, it is important to know the source is reliable.
Potential issues
While the safety point may seem beyond obvious, many people don’t really appreciate how easily agricultural and industrial runoff can seep into groundwater. In Japan, my part-time home, there is a long tradition of using and drinking spring water for its health benefits. Many Japanese plan regular trips to soak in onsen hot springs or fill containers at sources believed to have curative properties. These places are usually closely monitored but people also often fill bottles at, for example, inner-city sources – something that requires more care.
In Kyoto, my city, I often see brave souls collecting water at a source in the Imperial Park. This is a large chunk of land, however, it is also right in the middle of a big, old urban area with major construction and industry. The situation in Kyoto, and many Japanese cities, is fairly unique, with a very high rate of building replacement. Zoning laws are also a relatively new idea so you often see houses with workshops or small factories on the ground floor in the middle of residential neighborhoods.
This means, for example, that each time a new structure is built, pollutants from concrete, roof sealants, paints, etc. are washed directly into the soil and drains when it rains, where they join waste disposed of by the many small businesses around town. This chemical brew then potentially leaches into the water table to be shared across the city. While the Kamo River has improved dramatically in recent years, some fairly toxic-looking substances still float by from time to time.
It’s a similar story in the surrounding land. My impression is things have improved greatly here as well but waste dumping used to be a major problem in Japan. Even now it’s not uncommon to come across illegal dumps or suspicious-looking containers while hiking (pro tip: never open those containers and report them if you can). With Japan being a hot, humid insect paradise in Summer, huge amounts of chemicals are also used to grow commercial crops, which puts a lot of highly dubious substances into the environment.
Safe sources
The above should not put you off – as you’ll appreciate when you taste live spring H2O. Once you get, preferably, above the level of farm land, the flow should be clean. However, be cautious with any spring located where it could be contaminated by run-off from livestock, in particular. You risk exposure to various undesirables, including pathogens such as E. coli. Likewise, it is advisable to take water from sources that have a good flow or rate of turnover to avoid parasites. You may also wish to pour it through some kind of cloth before drinking.
If you are interested in more information, many natural health Websites have a variety of how to materials. Sites such as Daniel Vitalis’s Findaspring.com are also great resources. But please note that Findaspring offers a user-submitted database and does not test water itself. Laboratory testing is the only way to ensure a source is completely clean, however, recommendations from people who regularly drink the water are generally a good guide.
I’m afraid Japan is not well represented on the site despite its many natural springs. While I have sampled the water at various temples, shrines, springs and other spots, I haven’t felt sufficiently confident about recommending these places. This may sound a little surprising. However, for example, I went to one spring resort that made impressive claims about the properties of its source only to learn the resort actually added some of the substances itself. The water was probably as good as claimed but somehow I felt it didn’t really qualify.
Of course, it’s not just about the wet stuff. If you are in Kyoto, Fushimi has been famous for its pure water for centuries, leading several of Japan’s finest sake makers to set up shop there. Kizakura brewery actually provides a free spigot, from which local people often fill up. The water tastes good but the metal pipe looks slightly less fresh. A place I can recommend is Kaimai spring, located not too far from my home in New Zealand. It is clean and fast flowing and has been well tested by thousands of people over many decades. This is one you can read about on Findaspring.com.
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