Short answer: there’s no single “best” bottled water — the right one depends on what you care about (taste/minerality, purity, electrolytes, carbonation, price, or sustainability). Below are quick, practical picks by use-case and the key facts to help you choose.

How to decide (brief)

• Taste/minerality: look at “mineral” or total dissolved solids (TDS) — higher TDS = more mineral flavor.
• Purity: “purified” (RO/distilled) means most minerals removed.
• Source: “spring,” “artesian,” and “mineral” have specific FDA/industry definitions. The FDA and NSF explain these categories and testing/labeling requirements. (fda.gov, nsf.org)
• Safety note: the FDA published bottled-water PFAS testing results on April 14, 2025; a small number of samples had detectable PFAS but none exceeded EPA MCLs for public water in that testing. If PFAS is a concern, look for recent company testing or third‑party reports. (fda.gov)

Practical recommendations by goal

• Everyday / budget: Aquafina, Dasani — purified, inexpensive, widely available (often bottled municipal water that’s been treated). (Popular with U.S. consumers.) (foodandwine.com, fda.gov)
• Mineral / “premium” still water (more body/texture): FIJI, Evian, Mountain Valley Spring, or award-winning specialty waters (Fine Waters awards highlight premium contenders). If you want terroir and minerality, try these. (foodandwine.com)
• Sparkling: Perrier, San Pellegrino, Topo Chico, Gerolsteiner — try different bubbles and mineral profiles to find your favorite.
• Electrolytes / alkaline / enhanced: Essentia, Smartwater, CORE (marketed for added electrolytes or higher pH) — useful for workouts or if you prefer a “smoother” mouthfeel.
• Low-mineral / very neutral: many “purified” waters or ultra-low‑mineral brands (look for “purified”/“distilled”/“reverse osmosis” on the label).
• Best for sustainability: canned water (aluminum) and paper‑carton brands reduce single‑use plastic footprint; examples include boxed/paper options (Boxed Water Is Better, JUST Water) and canned brands (Liquid Death, others). Note recent reviews and industry panels have examined and moderated environmental claims — some boxed‑water claims were reviewed by the NAD in 2025. If sustainability is top priority, prefer recycled‑aluminum cans, recyclable cartons, or bring a reusable stainless/glass bottle and refill. (globenewswire.com, theguardian.com)

Quick tips before you buy

• Read the label: it should say source (spring, well, municipal) and processing (reverse osmosis, distilled). FDA rules require accurate labeling. (fda.gov)
• If you care about minerals, check the TDS or mineral content (many premium bottles list mg/L of key minerals).
• For long‑term health/environmental concerns, prefer refillable bottles (stainless or glass) and test/ask brands for recent lab results if you want assurance about contaminants (PFAS, microplastics, etc.). The FDA’s PFAS testing is a recent resource to consult. (fda.gov)

If you want, I can:

• Recommend 3–5 specific bottles to try based on where you live and your budget, or
• Help interpret a water label (send a photo or the text), or
• Compare two brands you’re choosing between.

Which would you like?