The sight of cool water emerging mysteriously out of the deep-delved earth has long fascinated humans who once believed some springs were sacred, with the power to inspire poets or miraculously cure diseases.
Now some people believe that there are "probiotics" in water that comes straight out of the ground.
Rebranded as "raw water," "live water," "real water" or "unprocessed water," untreated spring water is commanding a high price in places such as Silicon Valley, according to a New York Times article published in December.
The article noted that a grocery store in San Francisco frequently is selling out its stock of unfiltered, unsterilized spring water. A 2½-gallon container costs $36.99.
Raw water fans say they avoid municipal water — or "dead water," as some call it — because they want water free of the chlorine and fluoride often added to tap water. Some argue that raw water has healthy bacteria.
"They're nut cases. You can quote me on that," said Stew Thornley, a Minnesota Health Department health educator. Thornley said tap water is the safest, most thoroughly tested water available.
Spring water, in contrast, is susceptible to contamination and can vary rapidly in quality depending on changes in the environment or land uses around the spring, according to the Health Department.
Dr. Donald Hensrud, medical director of the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program in Rochester, said he's unaware of any health benefits of untreated water. But there are some health risks, such as the potential presence of nitrates or giardia.