USES OF SPRINGWATER

The many uses of springwater around the world span history. Springwate r has been used for basic survival, medicinal purposes, and for man's entertainment, pleasure, and dalliance. Hippocrates and ancient Greek physicians were versed in the health benefits of mineral water therapy . In early recorded history, the Egyptians, Arabians, and Mohammedans discussed the use of mineral waters for healing the ill. Mythology and legend date the thermal springs of Bath, England, to 800 BC. Hannibal refreshed himself with bubbling springwater at Vergeze on his way to attack Rome in 218 BC. Therapeutic application of mineral waters was v ery popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Significant expenditure s were made throughout Europe and the United States to develop lavish resorts and vacation spots at the famous mineral springs. The Romans m ay have initiated the uses of mineral waters, but the French are tradi tionally the modern developers and promoters of bottled waters. Evian was exported to the United States as early as 1905. Mountain Valley, o f Hot Springs, Arkansas, has been bottled since 1871. Poland Spring wa ter of Maine has been distributed since the mid-1800s. Springwater has become the health drink of today. Uses of springwater through time, f amous springs and famous consumers of springwater, and the therapeutic attributes of springwater are summarized in the following paper. Rese arch included technical, nontechnical, and trade information. The pape r provides a retrospective of historical aspects of the development of springwaters, a concise summary of medicinal characteristics of sprin gwater, and insight to commercial enterprise of bottled water.