Ice Mountain is claimed to be a purely natural spring water product from BlueTriton Brands. It is owned by One Rock Capital Partners LLC and Metropoulos & Co. – which acquired the brand from Nestle Waters North America in 2021.
The company pledges to offer you premium quality freshness with every sip. The product has garnered lofty ratings and reviews on online portals. Does this mean it is safe for you? Let’s do an assessment.
Table of Contents
What is in Ice Mountain water?
Most of the water that is used in Ice Mountain water comes from three springs in Michigan, while some also come from freshwater sources and selected springs from other parts of the USA.
The pH and TDS details of Ice Mountain water is listed below.
| pH | 7.2-8 |
| TDS | 170-310 parts per million (ppm) |
Salt content
The 2021 Water Analysis Report furnished by Ice Mountain indicates that its bottled water contains 2.7-8.9 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of sodium. This is considered a safe composition as experts propose sodium concentration in drinking water to be below 20 mg/L. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends sodium content of 30-60 mg/L.
Sodium is an essential mineral that balances fluid levels in the body, helps efficient functioning of nerves and muscles, and maintains optimal blood pressure. The composition of the mineral also gives water its specific taste.
While low sodium levels can cause headaches, nausea, fatigue, and cramps, elevated sodium levels can increase the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and heart diseases.
Fluoride content
Ice Mountain water contains 0-3.6 mg/L of fluoride. This is within EPA’s enforceable levels of four mg/L of fluoride for drinking water.
Fluoride is a mineral that is important for good oral health, strong teeth sans cavities, and mineralization of tooth enamel. Fluoride deficiency can result in weak teeth and bones. On the other hand, an excess of it can cause dental and skeletal fluorosis.
Chlorine content
Ice Mountain water does not contain chlorine. The product goes through a stringent purification process that does not use the disinfectant.
Chlorine is widely used in drinking water systems as a disinfectant to kill harmful microorganisms, bacteria, and viruses that can spread diseases such as typhoid and cholera. In levels of up to four mg/L, they are considered safe for consumption. In higher concentrations, the chemical is known to trigger sore throat, nausea, vomiting, skin irritation, and wheezing.
Potassium content
Ice Mountain water contains 0-1.9 mg/L of potassium. A daily intake of 3,500-4,700 mg of potassium is recommended for good health – besides water, potassium is extensively found in our daily diet.
The mineral promotes good fluid balance, healthy muscles and nerves, and optimal blood pressure. It lowers the risk of water retention, kidney stones, and strokes. While lower intake of Potassium can lead to constipation, muscle spasms, fatigue, and palpitations, higher levels of it in the body will cause diarrhea, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
Electrolytes in Ice Mountain water
Electrolytes are essential minerals with electrically charged ions. They are vital to the human body.
Here’s a glimpse of the electrolyte blueprint in Ice Mountain water.
| Mineral | Composition (mg/L) |
| Sodium | 2.7-8.9 |
| Potassium | 0-1.9 |
| Calcium | 46-79 |
| Chloride | 1.2-15 |
| Magnesium | 16-34 |
| Sulfate | 10-17 |
| Manganese | 0-0.028 |
Electrolytes perform a variety of functions in the human body – they hydrate the body, maintain energy levels, regulate nerve signals, assist in muscle functions, rebuild tissues, balance acidity, preserve optimal fluid balance, and control osmotic pressure.
Water is one of many sources of electrolytes for humans. A source that is rich in minerals will offer a good electrolyte replenishment. Dietary recommendations profess a daily intake of 1,600-2,000 mg of electrolytes.
If your body is deficient in electrolytes, you could experience symptoms like vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, sweating, acidity, muscle cramps, poor blood clotting, and improper fluid balance.
Calcium chloride in Ice Mountain water
Ice Mountain water has 46-79 mg/L of calcium and 1.2-15 mg/L of chloride. Calcium chloride is an important electrolyte that regulates fluid balance, and muscle and nerve functioning. Insufficient concentrations of it in the body will result in brittle nails and hair, weak bones, fatigue, vomiting, and nausea. Meanwhile, higher levels of the minerals can cause kidney stones, dehydration, and metabolic disorder.
Do Ice Mountain water bottles contain BPA?
Ice Mountain water is available in these types of plastic bottles.
- Single-serve bottles: containing eight ounces to three liters of water – made from non-recycled PET #1 plastic that is free of BPA
- One-gallon and 2.5-gallon bottles: made from non-recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) #2 plastic that is free of BPA
- Five-gallon bottles: made from PET #1 plastic that is free of BPA
- Three-gallon bottles: made from polycarbonate #7 plastic. BPA is present in less than one part per billion
So except for the three-gallon Ice Mountain water bottles, BPA is not present in any other packages.
Bisphenol A or BPA is an industrial chemical used in the manufacture of certain plastics. FDA has stated that there could be no harmful effects from low exposure to BPA, however health experts opine differently. Research has found that the harmful chemical causes brain damage, high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, prostate gland issues in fetuses, and lower sperm count in adults.
Is Ice Mountain water healthy?
Generally speaking, Ice Mountain water is healthy for you. These pointers support our statement.
- Total dissolved solids (TDS) indicate the concentration of dissolved organic and inorganic substances in water. Ice Mountain water has a perfect TDS score at 170-310 ppm, which is within EPA’s proposed higher limit of 500 ppm.
- Ice Mountain water has a healthy pH level of 7.2-8 – drinking this water will give you robust immunity and well-regulated blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels.
- There are several essential minerals like sodium, potassium, manganese, calcium, chloride, sulfate, and magnesium in Ice Mountain. Their composition is also in line with the recommendations of health experts.
- Sodium concentration is not too high – this ensures ingestion of the correct amount without an overdo that could cause health risks. The right proportion of the chemical also gives water the perfect taste.
- Electrolytes – without their existence, water cannot provide hydration. Ice Mountain has sufficient electrolytes that will keep you hydrated and energetic – you can consume it even while you are exercising. Further, the presence of essential minerals not only provides you with the requisite electrolytes, but also ensures the ideal weight, healthy bones, glowing skin, improved digestion, and perfect fluid balance for you.
- Ice Mountain water has an ideal fluoride score to offer you good oral health and keep cavities at bay.
Is Ice Mountain water acidic or alkaline?
The pH of Ice Mountain water is 7.2-8. This is higher than the neutral pH of seven of normal water. Also, the alkalinity as reported in the water analysis report is 170-320 mg/L. These scores compare with the recommended pH of 6.5-8.5 and alkalinity of 20-200 mg/L for drinking water.
Therefore, Ice Mountain water is alkaline and healthy. Drinking alkaline water provides a plethora of health benefits – it is good for overall immunity, controls blood pressure and blood sugar levels, prevents acid reflux, improves digestion, keeps your bones and teeth strong, and enhances nutrient absorption.
Is Ice Mountain water safe?
Yes, Ice Mountain water is safe. It is sourced from spring and underground water. It undergoes a 10-step purification process that includes microfilters and ultraviolet light that eliminate harmful particles and bacteria. The product is also free of heavy metals like arsenic, chromium, zinc, and mercury.
However, the plastic bottles that the product comes in are of concern. Here’s why –
- BPA is a harmful chemical with various health risks to people of all ages. It is present in Ice Mountain’s 3-gallon bottles.
- Bottles made from PET plastic are known to leach phthalates and antimony trioxide. PET plastics also have low heat resistance and are predisposed to oxidation. Remember that PET plastic bottles are not meant for reuse.
- HDPE plastic is another type of material used for Ice Mountain water bottling. Long-term use of this material and its exposure to sunlight can make it cause toxicity and endocrine disruption.
- The company also uses polycarbonate plastic – it is linked to cardiovascular issues, diabetes, and poor reproductive development.
Therefore, to reap the benefits of the product while avoiding the harmful effects of plastic, you can transfer the water to other containers made of glass or metal. If you cannot do this while traveling, make sure you keep the bottles away from sunlight and heat.
At this point, it could be useful to be aware of the litigation that the brand was caught in during the times of Nestle ownership. In 2009, a Chicago-based company had alleged that the five-gallon PET water cans that it was purchasing for its office dispensers came from municipal tap water sources. However, the product was falsely represented to be containing purely spring water.
Without digging further into the past, we shall now observe if Ice Mountain water is safe in the following cases.
Ice Mountain for babies
Ice Mountain water is safe for babies. It has good pH and TDS scores. It is purified through a laborious process and does not contain harmful materials.
Nevertheless, the plastic bottles that the water comes in could make the product harmful to your baby. So, use the product only while traveling or in emergencies. Newborn and younger babies do not require much water anyway – they get hydration from breastmilk. For daily requirements, use municipal tap water after boiling it well.
For baby formula
You can use Ice Mountain water to prepare baby formulas. The product is thoroughly purified and has mineral supplements to reinforce the baby formula. However, this is not recommended for daily use. BPA and plastic toxins are extremely dangerous for babies. For day-to-day use, trust municipal tap water.
Ice Mountain during pregnancy
It is safe to use Ice Mountain water during pregnancy. It is well purified, has an ideal pH, is rich in electrolytes, and has balanced traces of many minerals.
The deterrent however is the plastic bottle – studies have shown that ingesting plastic toxins during pregnancy will impact the fetus’ brain development and result in the child becoming obese. Plastic toxins also interfere with estrogen and other hormones in the body.
So, if you are pregnant – use Ice Mountain water when you do not have access to public tap water sources.
Ice Mountain for dogs
Ice Mountain water is safe for dogs. Again, plastic toxins could have serious health hazards to your pet if consumed regularly.
Municipal tap water is ideal for your dog that requires immense hydration. Bottled water is not a cost-effective option either.
ALSO READ: Our safety guides on other brands of bottled water
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