Mineralwasser#

Mineral Water, natural, (until 1994 mineral and table water) comes from a subterranean water source, free of any kind of pollution, and must be filled from a natural or drilled spring. Natural mineral water has to be absolutely pure and must neither be treated in a chemical nor microbiological way. Only physical methods like filtering, decanting or airing, which do not change any properties (e.g. deferrisation) as well as adding carbon dioxide may be employed. Exploitation of mineral springs is subject to severe regulations. - Sales amounted to 5.7 million hectolitres in 1997, the annual per capita-consumption increased from 33 litres (1980) to 72 litres (1997). - The geographical location of mineral springs is determined by Austria´s geological structure. Mineral springs are mainly concentrated on fracture border zones in the east and southeast. Their composition varies according to their occurrence. There are drinking water and bathing springs, as well as a number of springs which are not at present exploited.

Mineral water springs in Austria: Burgenland: Bad Tatzmannsdorf (Martinsquell), Deutschkreuz (Juvina), Edelsthal (Roemerquelle), Gerersdorf (Guessinger), Kobersdorf (Waldquelle); Poettsching (Markus-Quelle), Carinthia: Graebern-Prebl (Preblauer); Lower Austria: Laa an der Thaya (Vitus-Quelle), Bad Voeslau (Voeslauer); Upper Austria: Frankenmarkt (Frankenmarkter); province of Salzburg: Bad Gastein (Gasteiner); Styria: Deutsch-Goritz (Peterquelle), Mettersdorf am Sassbach (Rosenbergquelle), St. Nikolai ob Drassling (Sulzegger); Tirol: Brixlegg (Silberquelle), Reith im Alpbachtal (Alpquell, Astoria).

Literature#