Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in soil and rocks. Due to rainwater or surface water runoff, it’s likely to end up in water sources, including springs, where companies bottle water.
Although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deems 4 mg/L of fluoride to be safe in drinking water, many Americans opt for fluoride-free drinking water. That’s mainly because fluoride is associated with various health issues, such as arthritis and thyroid dysfunction (see the final section of this article for more information.)
That said, not all bottled water springs have fluoride.
In this article, we put together a list of the best water brands in two categories — fluoride-free natural spring water and treated water categories.
1. Acqua Panna
Acqua Panna is a natural spring water brand from Tuscany, Italy.
The water journeys for fourteen years through underground rock formations (mainly sandstone) with high mineral content and natural filtration properties before it reaches the spring where it’s bottled. Since these rocks don’t contain fluoride, the untreated Acqua Panna water is completely fluoride-free.
Additionally, Acqua Panna has only 150 mg/L of total dissolved solids (TDS) in its body alongside 8.2 mg/L of silica. The low TDS levels and medium silica presence in this spring water give it a light mouthfeel and smooth texture.
The glass bottling helps preserve the water’s distinct taste while ensuring it’s BPA-free.
You’ll also be happy to know that the water is naturally alkaline with a pH of 8.8.
2. Penta
Penta is one of the most heavily treated water brands on the market. Before bottling, the water passes through thirteen different treatment phases.
While the way Penta treats its water is proprietary, and the brand chooses not to disclose two of its treatment methods, we know about the other eleven: four different microfiltration stages, a two-stage reverse osmosis process, two-stage deionization process, two-stage ultraviolet exposure, and ozonation.
Since reverse osmosis and deionization are effective ways of removing fluoride, the end product is fluoride-free.
In addition to containing no fluoride, Penta water is entirely free of other potentially problematic impurities, including arsenic, chlorine, hexavalent chromium, and lead. That’s why the brand advertises its water as the purest water available.
3. Evian
Evian is one of the most popular natural spring water brands on the market, and the fact that it’s completely fluoride-free justifies its popularity. It also contains high calcium (80 mg/L) and silica (15 mg/L) counts, which gives it a unique crispness and a smooth mouthfeel.
The Evian spring is in the French town of Évian-les-Bains, near the French Alps. The snowmelt from the French Alps travels through glacial rocks for fifteen years. When it emerges in the spring, it’s naturally filtered, mineral-rich (345 mg/L TDS), and fluoride-free.
Despite its high mineral content, Evian water maintains a neutral pH of 7.2.
4. Dasani
Coca-Cola owns Dasani, so it’s fair to say that the brand has the resources to purify its water optimally to ensure it’s fluoride-free. And that’s what they do through their proprietary blend of heavy filtration techniques, which includes reverse osmosis.
However, unlike Penta, Dasani enriches its water with magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, and sodium chloride (i.e., salt).
These additives raise the water’s electrolyte (dissolved minerals) content while giving it a fresh taste.
Despite the electrolyte presence in Dasani, its TDS count is only 36 mg/L.
Lastly, Dasani water has a pH of 6.25, meaning it’s acidic. This is no surprise since we already know that reverse osmosis produces acidic water.
5. İcelandic Glacial
Similar to Evian and Acqua Panna, Icelandic Glacial is a naturally fluoride-free spring water bottled directly at the source without treatment. The source is Ölfus Springs, located unsurprisingly in Iceland.
What distinguishes it from the other spring water brands on our list is its journey of 5,000 years through multiple layers of lava rock. This journey naturally cleanses the water of impurities, including fluoride, and gives it a low mineral content (62 mg/L TDS).
Despite its low mineral count, Icelandic Glacial is one of the most naturally alkaline water brands on the market, with a pH of 8.4.
6. Glaceau SmartWater
Glaceau SmartWater is another brand owned by the Coca-Cola Company, but unlike Dasani, this brand doesn’t market its purity. Instead, it targets athletes and other physically active people, and its main selling point is that it’s electrolyte rich. As the cherry on top, it’s free of potentially harmful minerals such as sodium and fluoride.
Glaceau SmartWater is also heavily treated. First, it goes through vapor distillation to remove insoluble or dissolved minerals and impurities. Then, additives (calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, and potassium bicarbonate) come into play to raise its electrolyte count and give it a unique taste.
Distinguishing itself further from Dasani, the Glaceau SmartWater has a neutral pH value. However, the brand also produces vapor-distilled alkaline water with a pH of 9.5.
7. 1907 New Zealand
Our spring water journey now takes us to New Zealand, the other side of the world. The source of 1907 New Zealand sits at one of the remote plateaus of the country, which protects it from external fluoride contamination.
But the real strength of the 1907 New Zealand water lies in the 200 kilometers (approx. 125 miles) of natural journey the water it’s bottled from takes. During this journey, the water passes through many sandstone and volcanic rock layers containing no fluoride.
These rock formations also filter out impurities and make the water alkaline. As a result, 1907 New Zealand entertained a pH value of between 7.8 and 8.2.
8. Essentia
Although heavily treated, Essentia’s popularity can challenge Evian’s. After all, Essentia’s marketing involves famous basketballers, footballers, dancers, and actors (including Millie Bobby Brown). That’s not only because the water is electrolyte-rich (meaning suitable for athletes) but also because it’s completely free of potentially harmful ingredients such as fluoride.
The brand subjects its water to microfiltration and reverse osmosis to filter out the impurities. Then, similar to other treated water brands, it adds electrolytes (sodium bicarbonate, dipotassium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, and calcium chloride) to it in the post-filtration process.
Yet, the process doesn’t end there. The removal of its acidic content further ionizes the water. The end result is highly alkaline, with a pH of 9.5.
9. Waiākea
Waiākea is one of the best bottled water brands on the market due to its balanced mineral content, slightly sweet taste, light mouthfeel, and smooth texture. So, you’ll also be happy to learn that it’s completely fluoride-free.
Even though the brand itself doesn’t provide information on its water’s fluoride count, many customer tests (conducted with test strips and fluoride meters) show it’s indeed fluoride-free.
This is no surprise as, similar to all the other spring water brands on our list, Waiākea’s water is naturally filtered through a porous lava rock that stretches 14,000 feet. This rock naturally filters the water and enriches it with minerals.
Chief among these minerals is silica, with 44 mg/L. That’s why its taste, mouthfeel, and texture appeal to most consumers.
10. Niagara Purified Water
Niagara Purified Water has bottling plants across the United States, and it’s the largest family-owned water company in the country. That can be seen as evidence of the effectiveness of the brand’s treatment methods and the quality of its fluoride-free water.
To maintain high quality, the brand subjects its water to three main filtration phases: reverse osmosis, distillation, and disinfection by ozone. Since the first two of these methods are efficient against fluoride, there are no traces of this mineral in the end product.
Instead, there are trace electrolytes: potassium bicarbonate, magnesium chloride, and calcium chloride. These electrolytes prevent the bland taste of heavily treated water.
11. Eska
The Eska natural spring water hails from the cold of Canada, namely from the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of northern Quebec. The water travels through fluoride-free rock formations that act as natural filters and a good mineral source.
Eska’s water distinguishes itself from all the other spring water brands on our list with its unique filtration process. The water passes through a 2 km wide and 125 km long esker bed full of glacial sediment and gravel. This bed protects it from external contamination sources.
Despite its long journey, the water doesn’t pick up much mineral salt. Eska’s TDS count is only 85 mg/L, with a more or less neutral pH of 7.8.
12. Aquafina
It’s possible to say Aquafina is Pepsi’s response to Dasani. This brand also has state-of-the-art water treatment techniques and produces 100% fluoride-free water.
Aquafina’s water source is municipal water. Municipal authorities often pump fluoride into their water supply to promote teeth health. However, the brand uses reverse osmosis, among other undisclosed methods, for removing fluoride from the water.
Similar to Penta, the brand doesn’t add anything after the filtration process. So, Aquafina is pure water that tastes neutral.
13. Poland Spring Water
Poland Spring Water doesn’t come from a single source, unlike the other spring water brands on our list. Instead, it’s bottled at ten different springs, all located in Maine.
The variety of its sources has little effect on the fluoride status of the Poland Spring Water. No matter where it’s bottled, it’s surprisingly consistent in being fluoride-free.
Although its TDS count, mineral content, and pH levels vary from bottle to bottle, these changes aren’t big-scale. Its TDS only ranges between 38 – 120 mg/L.
The pH value of Poland Spring Water has a broader range: 6.6 to 8.2. While 6.6 is slightly acidic, 8.2 is alkaline.
So, if pH is a concern for you alongside fluoride, you better check the bottle you’ve picked up to ensure you’re getting the pH you want.
14. Core Hydration
Core Hydration aims to optimize hydration for athletes so they can replenish their muscles and nerves after heavy workouts. To that end, they heavily treat municipal water, ensure it’s free of fluoride and other impurities, and add in electrolytes.
The Core Hydration water treatment process has seven stages. While the brand chooses to keep these stages a secret, it’s fair to assume reverse osmosis and distillation are among them because the end product is fluoride-free. Besides fluoride, the water doesn’t have sugar or sodium.
The brand adds potassium bicarbonate, magnesium chloride, and calcium chloride to make the water more athlete-friendly. These electrolytes also replace the bland taste of purified water and give the end product a more crispy feel.
15. LIFEWTR
LIFEWTR is another treated bottled water brand owned by PepsiCo, but unlike Aquafina, LIFEWTR doesn’t focus on purity. Instead, this particular PepsiCo brand is focused on taste and artistic creativity, with the ever-changing bottle art being a testament to that.
Yet, it doesn’t mean LIFEWTR is anything less than Aquafina in terms of quality. On the contrary, the water goes through the same treatment process to ensure the contents of each bottle are free of fluoride and other impurities.
However, two electrolytes are added to LIFEWTR in the post-filtration period: magnesium sulfate and potassium bicarbonate. These two electrolytes give the water a lingering mouthfeel and a distinctly fresh taste.
Finally, LIFEWTR has a slightly acidic pH range of 6.4 – 7.4.
Health Concerns Associated With Fluoride
Many Americans prefer drinking water with no fluoride. The following health implications play a significant role in that preference.
- If fluoride is present in drinking water over the limit set by the EPA, 4 mg/L, it can lead to bone issues, including arthritis.
- If the fluoride count in water is more than 2 mg/L, it may cause teeth discoloration (dental fluorosis) and damage the tooth enamel.
- Research suggests fluoride can disrupt thyroid function even in doses approved by the EPA.
- A quick internet search will also raise concerns regarding the adverse effects of fluoride on children’s behavior, cognitive function, and ADHD tendency. Yet, these claims lack scientific backing.
Permanent Solutions for Your Fluoride Problems
Paying for fluoride-free bottled water is one way to stay safe, but it’s not exactly cheap. Don’t worry, though, as we have many guides that offer effective long-term solutions for fluoride in drinking water:
- Best Fluoride Water Filters
- 4 Water Filter Pitchers That Remove Fluoride
- Effective Ways to Remove Fluoride from Water
If you don’t have time to get through all of them, here’s the TL;DR — the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher is the best fluoride filter on the market. It reduces fluoride by at least 99.5%.
Poland Springs is now owned by Nestle Foods. Most other Flouride survey sights list Poland Springs as containing Flouride from 0.0-0.25. I do not trust Nestle Foods.