Mineral water processing involves a series of steps designed to purify and package water from natural sources while preserving its unique mineral composition. Here's a breakdown of the process:
1. Water Diversion & Aeration
- Diversion: Mineral water is typically sourced from underground aquifers or surface springs. The process begins with diverting this water in a controlled manner. This can involve using pumps for underground sources or carefully managed channels for surface sources. Diversion is categorized into underground and surface methods.
- Aeration: Aeration is often employed to remove undesirable gases (like hydrogen sulfide) and volatile organic compounds, improving the water's taste and odor. This can be achieved by spraying the water into the air or passing it through an aerator.
2. Primary Filtration
- This step removes larger particles, sediment, and debris from the raw water. Common methods include:
- Sand filtration: Passing water through layers of sand and gravel to trap particulate matter.
- Screen filters: Using mesh screens to physically remove larger particles.
3. Precision Filtration
- After primary filtration, the water undergoes finer filtration to remove smaller suspended solids and microorganisms. This ensures clarity and safety. Examples include:
- Cartridge filters: Using replaceable filter cartridges with varying pore sizes to remove specific contaminants.
- Membrane filtration: Employing membranes with tiny pores to filter out bacteria and other microorganisms.
4. Sterilization
- Sterilization eliminates or deactivates any remaining microorganisms to ensure the water is safe for consumption. Common sterilization methods include:
- UV sterilization: Exposing the water to ultraviolet light, which damages the DNA of microorganisms and prevents them from reproducing.
- Ozonation: Introducing ozone (O3) into the water, which is a powerful disinfectant that kills bacteria and viruses.
- Microfiltration: Specialized filters with extremely small pore sizes to physically remove microorganisms.
5. Filling
- The sterilized water is then filled into sanitized bottles or containers. This process typically occurs in a highly controlled environment to prevent contamination. Automated filling lines are commonly used to ensure speed and accuracy.
6. Inspection & Packaging
- Filled bottles undergo inspection to check for defects, proper fill levels, and sealing integrity. After passing inspection, the bottles are labeled, packaged into cases, and prepared for distribution.
