Monday, June 21, 2010

What the hell is artisan water

In a world where we can literally sell ANYTHING and get away with it, water has become the weapon of choice to reach new heights of idiocy. It wasn’t that long ago when I remember that I could drink water from a garden hose and only have to worry about maybe adding a rubbery hint to my flatulence. But nay, those days are long gone and we are left with a world that has to pay for something that pretty much makes ¾ of our body.

Oh and if you haven’t noticed, business is booming. From Dasani to Naya to Aquafina, Deer Spring, Evian and Fiji water, that little cocktail consisting of two parts hydrogen to one part oxygen sells like hotcakes and just like cars, apparel and neighborhoods, each brand caters to a specific person looking for basic hydration.

If you’re like me, you go to Costco, pick the cheapest brand that doesn’t taste like plasma from a Styrofoam monster and chug away, often refilling from your work’s ample and free water supply. But of course, this isn’t enough for some people and for these little wonders, we came up with artisan water.

In case you’re wondering, artisan water is not made by artists. It is also not the water used to clean brushes between color strokes while painting on a canvas. Just in case, it isn’t water used to make moving pieces of art either. In fact, there is actually no such thing as artisan water. What some people sell as artisan water is actually artesian water, which comes from ground wells dug up. Artisan water is just the trendy name given to the water type just to sell easier and pique intrigue in passersby from around the world.

Which brings me to one more point: just how much are we willing to pay for water in the long run? A bottle of Pellegrino can set you back almost $6 (US) in some places. Fiji water goes upwards of $2 (US) in most places. Dasani sells for $1-$2 depending on your venue and guess what, it’s treated tap water (I say treated because purified this ain’t, and in case you were wondering, Dasani is a made up word). The varying hydro markets shift and change with the greatest of ease and in the end, what do we get? Something that we used to be able to get from the faucet for little or no cost.

So next time your sipping on your premium water of choice, just remember that once upon a time, water, unlike you, was free.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Apologies, but i don't think you a clue before you typed all of that..

Water does come in a variety of types including mineral contents of particular kinds of water sources.

I do realise that buying water of any kind mind feel stupid but as a matter of fact, mineral water is much purer and contains lesser amount of sodium than regular tap water.

I would recommend checking your sources before creating some mindless nonsense..

Anonymous said...

Artesian Well, a well in which water rises under its own pressure, without pumping. If the pressure is great enough, the water will rise all the way to the surface and flow freely from the well. The name "artesian" is derived from Artois, France, where such wells were sunk as early as 1126.

An artesian well is drilled into an aquifer, a water-bearing layer of porous rock. The aquifer lies between two impervious layers of rockthat is, layers of rock through which water cannot pass. The artesian system (the aquifer and the impervious layers) slopes, and the well is sunk at a point where the aquifer is lower than the place where water, from rain or melting snow, enters the system. The weight of the water held in the upper portions of the aquifer results in the pressure that forces water to rise in the well. Where there is a natural opening in the impervious layer above an aquifer, water is sometimes forced to the surface, forming an artesian spring.

The water in many artesian systems is pure, while in others it is strongly mineralized. The principal areas where artesian systems occur in the United States are the Great Plains, from North Dakota to Texas, and the Atlantic Coastal Plain. The Central Valley of California is also an artesian area. Portions of the Sahara have been reclaimed by the use of artesian wells. Australia's Great Artesian Basin, a vast area to the west of the Great Dividing Range, is noted for its artesian wells.

Giogio said...

I actually didn't know about some of the information you said, so thanks for the 411. As for the post, well to be honest I really didn't think anyone read the blog, so thanks for not only reading but for leaving two comments.

Although I do agree on many if not all the facts you mentioned and shared in your comments, I was referring mainly to two things: the price of water and how some people, not organizations, companies, or water lovers dedicated to the craft of bringing water to the masses, but simple people, have branded their own water.

Also, I think that sodium like calories and carbs get a bad rep, mainly because I see people saying sodium is bad, because of X, Y and Z and last I check, the human body needs sodium to work, although not at the levels often gorged on in fast food establishments.

Again, thanks for the comments and for reading and the opinions and even if you did think me a complete ass for being off the facts, the reality is I was bored and wanted to write anything. I promise I will check my facts in the future and simply hope you were able to go with a smile, even if it came from a feeling of superiority.

Cheers (and sure, we can toast with artesian water)

Anonymous said...

I like your response :-)

Velatoget said...

That was a really good reply. I think the original article had some truth to it as well. But the reply won me over!

Unknown said...

I've just seen on tv an artisan water £10 per litre. The whole idea of artisan water is that it's free. Usually local council is digging a artesian well to provide good quality public water supply for local community. The idea of charging £10 for it and saying that it's posh and exclusive is ridiculous.

mkdubose said...

Love, love, love your reply Giogio!!! Uber classy! peace...

mkdubose said...

Love, love, love your reply Giogio!!! Uber classy! peace...

Unknown said...

I drank some artisan water and i feel like the blueberry kid from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, ohhhhhh