IS 13428 (Natural Mineral Water Standard)

IS 13428 is the Bureau of Indian Standards specification for **Natural Mineral Water**, water sourced from a defined, protected underground source, bottled at source with minimal treatment, retaining its natural mineral composition. Distinct from IS 14543 (Packaged Drinking Water), IS 13428 has stricter requirements: - Source water must be from a registered, protected aquifer (with hydrogeological survey) - Composition must be naturally consistent (no significant mineral variation) - Treatment limited to: aeration, filtration, decantation, ozonation - No demineralisation or remineralisation allowed - Source disclosure on label - Natural mineral content (calcium, magnesium, etc.) preserved Most Indian "mineral water" brands are actually packaged drinking water under IS 14543. True IS 13428 brands are rare, they require source protection, hydrogeological documentation, and a much narrower process scope. Typical natural mineral water sources in India: Himalayan glacier-fed, Western Ghats spring-fed, hill-zone protected aquifers.