Every bottled water brand on Alternative Health has been tested for heavy metals by an independent laboratory. Here's what the data shows, brand by brand.
What we tested
The heavy metals panel typically includes 15-20 analytes: lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, chromium, barium, antimony, beryllium, thallium, uranium, selenium, copper, and others. Each analyte is tested against EPA or FDA maximum contaminant levels where they exist.
The results
All 11 verified brands passed -- zero heavy metal exceedances across any brand. The EPA maximum contaminant level for lead in bottled water is 5 ppb (the FDA standard). Every brand tested below this limit or came back not detected.
Here's the breakdown:
Zero detected (all heavy metals ND):
- Hallstein -- 19 heavy metals tested, 0 detected
- Acqua Filette -- tested for lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, chromium, all ND
- Panama Blue -- 18 heavy metals tested via EPA 200.8, all ND (1 exception: barium at trace levels, within limits)
Trace detections, all within limits:
- Acqua Panna -- barium and strontium detected at trace levels, well within limits
- Evian -- 4 of 17 heavy metals detected at trace levels (barium, strontium, lithium, nickel), all pass
- Aqua Carpatica -- trace barium detected, all within limits
- Three Bays -- multiple trace minerals detected in the metals panel, all pass
Limited panel coverage:
- Hawaii Volcanic, Mountain Valley, Saratoga, Vellamo -- tested for key metals (lead, arsenic, mercury) but with narrower panels (6-12 analytes vs. 15-20 for brands with broader coverage)
Why coverage matters
A brand tested for 19 heavy metals with all ND gives more confidence than a brand tested for 6 metals with all ND. Both "pass" but the first provides more information. This is why our COA Purity Score includes a coverage bonus -- testing more analytes and getting ND results earns a higher score than testing fewer.
Trace detections are normal
Detecting trace barium or strontium at levels far below regulatory limits is expected in natural water sources. These elements exist in rock formations and dissolve into water naturally. What matters is whether any detection exceeds the MCL. None of our verified brands have any heavy metal exceedances.
What about unverified brands
Brands like Fiji, Voss, Smartwater, Liquid Death, and Essentia appear on our platform with public data only. Their heavy metal data comes from annual water quality reports or manufacturer disclosures, not from independent third-party COAs that we've verified. These brands are scored in the "unverified" tier with a maximum score of 50.
The takeaway
Heavy metals in bottled water are largely a non-issue for COA-verified brands -- the lab testing confirms what the brands claim. The real differentiator is whether a brand invests in comprehensive independent testing and publishes the results. All 11 verified brands on our platform do.
View the full bottled water rankings | Learn more about lead | Learn more about arsenic