"Many people consider ground water deep beneath their feet as mysterious, perhaps even supernatural. To clarify matters, hydrogeologist Frank Chapelle has written a definitive history and science of subsurface water in his Wellsprings, a book both accessible to the lay reader while being filled with startling nuggets of information pleasing to the professional water scientist."-Donald Siegel, professor of earth sciences, Syracuse University

"This book tells the story of bottled water in the United States in a highly readable and in-depth way, covering both the facts of the subject, and the persons and events that resulted in this now ubiquitous product."-Stephen C. Edberg, professor, Yale University

Bottled water is a part of everyday life for millions of Americans. Per capita consumption in the United States now tops fifteen gallons per year with sales over $5 billion in 2002. Even as fuel prices climb, many people are still willing to pay more for a gallon of bottled water than they are for the equivalent in gasoline. At the same time, bottled water has become a symbol of refined taste and a healthy lifestyle. But despite its growing popularity, many people cannot quite put their finger on just why they prefer bottled water to the much less expensive tap variety. Some have a vague notion that bottled water is "healthier," some prefer the convenience and more consistent taste, and others are simply content to follow the trend. The fact is most people know very little about the natural beverage that they drink and enjoy. It is reasonable to wonder, therefore, just what differentiates bottled water from other water? Is it really better or healthier than tap water? Why is it that different brands seem to have subtle variations in taste?

As Francis H. Chapelle reveals in this delightful and informative volume, a complex story of geology, hydrology, and history lies behind every bottle of spring water. The book chronicles the history of the bottled water industry in America from its beginnings in Europe hundreds of years ago to the present day. Subsequent chapters describe the chemical characteristics that make some waters desirable, and provide an overview of the geologic circumstances that produce them. Wellsprings explains how these geologic conditions vary throughout the country, and how this affects the kinds and quality of bottled water that are available. Finally, Chapelle shows how the bottled water industry uses this natural history, together with the perceived health benefits of spring waters, to market their products.

Accessibly written and well illustrated, Wellsprings is both a revealing account and a user's guide to natural spring waters. Regardless of your drinking preference, this timely exploration will make your next drink of water refreshingly informed.

Francis H. Chapelle, Ph.D., a hydrologist at the U.S. Geological Survey for twenty-five years, is the author of Ground-Water Microbiology and Geochemistry. He has written over one hundred papers for peer-reviewed scientific journals, and received the 2000 O. E. Meinzer Award in Hydrogeology given by the Geological Society of America. Since 1998, Chapelle has been a trustee of the Drinking Water Research Foundation, which provides independent research to the drinking water industry.

Contents
List of Illustrations
Preface
Acknowledgments
Part One: A History of Bottled Water
1 Water from the Heart: Why Americans Drink Bottled Water
2 Myths and Mysteries: The Geology of Springs
3 Medicines and Miracles: The Chemistry of Spring Waters
4 The Urns of Cana: Evolution of the Bottle
5 Hidden Life, Hidden Death: The Microbiology of Bottled Water
Part Two: The Business of Bottled Water
6 The Winds of Fashion: A History of Drinking Water
7 Paying Dues: The Bottled Water Business
8 The Battle of Ice Mountain: Bottled Water and the Law
Part Three: An Endless Sea
9 An Endless Sea: Regional Geology and the Variety of Spring Waters
10 Granites and Glaciers: The Northeast
11 The Land of Springs: Florida
12 Desert Crossings: The Southwest
13 Silver Clouds Below: California and the Pacific Northwest
14 Zen and the Art of Water Quality: What Makes "Good" Water Good?
Notes
Index
Illustrations