Natural mineral water “Borjomi”
Natural mineral water “Borjomi” – a sparkling mineral water from Georgia, known for its unique composition and rich mineral content. “Borjomi” comes from volcanic springs and contains natural carbon dioxide. Because of its mineral content, it is often used to help with digestive problems and to support the body's overall health.
I remember well the times when “Borjomi” could only be drunk by high-ranking Party officials and government members. Occasionally this water could also be found in cafés and restaurants. And in those days “Borjomi” was highly prized. Back then, many food and non-food goods were in “short supply”. Thankfully, the days of shortages are over. Other troubles have appeared that didn't exist before. But this article isn't about that. Let's get back to “Borjomi” and see whether it really is as valuable and miraculous as its reputation suggests, especially now that “Borjomi” can be bought without any trouble.
“Borjomi” mineral water, bottled in a 0,5-litre plastic bottle, purchased on 2013-04-22 at the “Hyperrimi” supermarket (Žirmūnų St.).
Information on the bottle label:
10-12-12 16:32 (apparently the bottling date?)
10-12-13 L 00282 (apparently valid until this date?)
Bottled in Georgia.
Manufacturer: “IDS BORJOMI BEVERAGES Co.N.V.”
Contains more than 1,5 mg/L of fluoride; not suitable for regular consumption by infants and children under 7 years of age.
Total dissolved solids concentration: 5,9 g/L
Chemical composition, mg/L:
Na+ 1305-1650
K+ 24-35
Ca2+ 45-66
Mg2+ 30-45
HCO3– 3660-4270
Cl– 350-435
F– 3,0-4,5
The water is prepared using an officially approved adsorption method.
Brief comment: we can see that this water is dominated by sodium (Na+) and hydrogen carbonate (HCO3–) ions. Trailing well behind in third place are chloride ions. Hydrogen carbonate ions alone amount to 3,66-4,27 g/L. This water should therefore be classified as a sodium hydrogen carbonate water. Converting the hydrogen carbonate ion concentration into a sodium hydrogen carbonate concentration gives a figure of 5,04-5,88 g/L. This calculation isn't entirely accurate, since some of the sodium ions belong to chlorides, i.e. table salt. Either way, the truth is that sodium hydrogen carbonate dominates this water, assisted by sodium chloride. Not much room is left for other salts, since the label states a total dissolved solids concentration of 5,9 g/L. For readers who've forgotten their chemistry, a reminder: sodium hydrogen carbonate is known in everyday life and in medicine (pharmacy) as baking soda. Baking soda is used in the kitchen when cakes or pancakes need to be puffed up, and in medicine when excess stomach acidity needs to be reduced. That's because, at higher temperatures, sodium hydrogen carbonate breaks down, releasing CO2 gas, which makes baked goods rise. On the other hand, even at room temperature sodium hydrogen carbonate partially reacts with water (hydrolyses), producing a strong sodium alkali that neutralises the hydrochloric acid forming in the stomach. This means that for people whose stomachs produce too much hydrochloric acid, drinking “Borjomi” is beneficial, but I wouldn't recommend it for people with normal or reduced stomach acidity; it may cause digestive problems.
I used the calcium and magnesium ion concentrations given on the label to calculate this water's hardness, and found that its total hardness ranges between 4,72 – 7,0 melv/L.
I must admit I'm a little puzzled by the fairly wide ranges given on the label for the concentrations of mineral substances. Can the concentration really vary that much in borehole water? It's hard to believe. Something isn't quite right here. I recalled that in my youth, the necks of 0,5 L glass “Borjomi” bottles always had a lot of rust (iron hydroxide) deposits on the outside, and the labels stated a fluoride ion concentration of around 10 mg/L. This little bottle, however, was completely clean. It seems that iron is removed at the bottling site, and the fluoride concentration is also considerably reduced. Apparently, the label's wording “The water is prepared using an officially approved adsorption method” indicates that this water's quality is enhanced and only then is it bottled. What water treatment technology is actually used is, apparently, a secret. The sentence given on the label, “The water is prepared using an officially approved adsorption method” shows that the author of this sentence has no understanding whatsoever of water treatment methods, or that their understanding is extremely vague. Anyway, let's be forgiving.
In my opinion, this water contains very little of the mineral substances the human body needs most – namely calcium, magnesium, and potassium ions – and this fact considerably reduces the value of this mineral water. The fluoride concentration in this water is also rather high. The tap water flowing at my place has a total hardness that likewise fluctuates around 5 mekv/L. This means my own drinking water contains a similar amount of calcium and magnesium ions. All that's left is to dissolve a heaped teaspoon of baking soda and a bit of sodium fluoride in a litre of my tap water, and the “Borjomi” is ready. Oh right, to fix the taste it also needs to be “carbonated” (CO2 dissolved under pressure).
I decided to run a partial chemical analysis of this water. Here's what I found:
Iron…….. 0,008 mg/L
Ammonium……… 0,32 mg/L
Nitrites………. 0,006 mg/l
Fluorides…….. 2,5 mg/L
Total hardness……….. 5,0 mekv/L
Permanganate index……. 0,25 mg O2/L (this indicator reflects the amount of organic matter)
Hydrogen carbonates ………. 4500 mg/L
The results of the chemical analysis show no other issues with this mineral water (a baking soda solution). Cheers to your health.