Awareness of the importance of minerals and other beneficial constituents in drinking water has existed thousands of years, being mentioned in the Vedas of ancient India. In the book “Rig Veda”, the properties of good drinking water were described as follows: “Sheetham (cold to touch), Sushihi (clean), Sivam (should have nutritive value, requisite minerals and trace elements), Istham (transparent), VimalamlahuShadgunam (its acid base balance should be within normal limits)”. That water may contain desirable substances has received less attention in guidelines and regulations, but an increased awareness of the biological value of water has occurred in the past several decades.