Crystal Geyser Water Company or just Crystal Geyser is a private company founded in 1977 in Calistoga, California. They produce bottled sparkling water based on mineral water and spring water sources at their original facility in Calistoga. The company also produces Tejava in Bakersfield. In 1990, Crystal Geyser Water Company was acquired by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co's parent company Otsuka Holdings Co. Ltd. Crystal Geyser Roxane or just C G Roxane http://www.crystalgeyserasw.com is a separate company and often confused with CGWC. Crystal Geyser Water Company was the first to introduce flavored sparkling water into the United States. In 2019 the company partnered with Pacific Forest Trust to create a new initiative called "Springs for Life Forest Water Alliance". The partnership helps to fund the protection of forests in critical watersheds and the water that flows downstream from them. By helping to protect the forests, Crystal Geyser Water Company is also protecting the water sources for their products sold. The Pacific Forest Trust CEO and president, Laurie Wayburn, and Crystal Geyser Water Company's CEO, Yasu Iwamoto, hope to involve many other water companies in the Springs for Life Forest Water Alliance to better protect even more watersheds in the future.
Watersheds
Many of the springs used for water collection are located on public owned forestland. Forests protect watersheds for drinking water by filtering the water, regulating water flow, and preventing erosion. Many do not know that the water they drink is coming from the watersheds behind dams and by protecting the watersheds, they are protecting their own drinking water. Forest watersheds are increasingly threatened by climate change and dry conditions as they are susceptible to drought, wildfires, and misguided management. Watersheds are often susceptible to non point source pollution, meaning from multiple sources. These polluters include motor oil leaked from parking lots, plastic bags, pesticides, and fertilizers. Runoff picks up the pollutants and then they are able to directly enter the streams. By protecting the forests surrounding the watershed, the forests are able to absorb some of the runoff before it can enter the water.
The Carbonation Process
Carbonation through carbon dioxide gas is what makes sparkling water "sparkle". Carbon dioxide is a colorless, odorless, and incombustible gas which must be added under pressure to cold water to carbonate it. Carbonating warm water makes it more likely to go flat as the carbon dioxide molecules become more active with heat and can escape easier. Carbonation also changes the taste of the water giving it a "bite" to the tongue. When carbon dioxide dissolves into water it forms carbonic acid, giving it the fizziness that is associated with carbonated beverages.
Water Chemistry
A PH number refers to how acidic or basic a water based solution is. The pH scale ranges from 0 - 14, with 7 being considered neutral. Any solution with a pH reading below 7 is considered to be acidic, with 0 being the most acidic. A water based solution with a pH reading above 7 is then considered to be more alkaline, with 14 being the most basic. The term "pH" refers to parts hydrogen ions. A solution with more free hydrogen ions is considered to be acidic. Pure water should have a pH of 7, making it a neutral solution. Surface water systems have a pH that ranges anywhere from 6.5 - 8.5, with groundwater systems having a pH range of 6 - 8.5. The ideal pH for Drinking water is between 6 and 8.5. Drinking water with a PH below 6.5 can be considered acidic or corrosive, with possible health impacts. Acidic water can contain metal ions such as Iron, Manganese, Copper, Lead, and Zinc.
Health Effects
Many choose sparkling water as a healthy alternative to a sugary carbonated soda. However, many have concerns over the effects on teeth from the carbonation of sparkling water. Dental health is influenced by both the sugar content and acidity content of any type of sparkling beverage. The effect that a beverage will have on teeth can be measured by its pH, beverages with a pH under 3.0 are considered to be highly dangerous for tooth enamel and most sodas are under the 3.0 threshold. Crystal Geyser Water Company's sparkling water products contain zero sugar and low acidity. The sparkling spring water has a pH of 5.4 and the sparkling mineral water has a pH of 5.8 - 6.0 and are considered to be "tooth-friendly" beverages.
